Larry Penkava
ASHEBORO — A love for soccer has led to an athletic grant-in-aid for Athena Bless.
A senior center-midfielder for Southwestern Randolph High School, Bless signed a letter-of-intent to play soccer for Catawba College next year. She chose the Salisbury school over Pfeiffer, Western Carolina and UNC-Wilmington.
“I like the school, the community and the coach, Chad Miller,” she said after signing ceremonies Monday at Southwestern. “I’ve always loved to play soccer. I have a love for the game.”
She said she started playing recreation soccer at the age of 4, then joined a traveling team at 8.
Bless has been named to the All-Conference team the past two years and was honorable mention her freshman year. Last year she made the All-Region squad.
This year she went out for the SWR tennis team and made All-Conference.
Present when she signed her name were her parents, Alfred and Vicki Bless, and three of her coaches – Jimmy Walker, Ray Criscoe and Wes Lewis. She thanked her parents for their support and her coaches for her development as a soccer player.
As for Lewis, her high school coach, she said, “He helped me get the scholarship. He’s trained me the last two years and taught me so much.”
The aid package at Catawba is for $8,000 a year. Bless said she’s also earned an academic scholarship for another $8,000 and is hoping for more financial assistance.
She’s looking at more than just soccer when she leaves for Catawba. “I want to double major in athletic training and exercise science,” said Bless. “I want to be a trainer/coach.”
