“I’ve always been intrinsically motivated, always driven to do my best in school and on the soccer field.”
CAROLYN RUOFF EYE ON THE GOAL
This fall, the OES girls’ soccer team hoisted the state championship trophy for the third time in four years. For the seniors on the team that is a pretty amazing accomplishment. But for Carolyn Ruoff this championship was all the more special, because, unlike the other two championships she had been a part of, she got to share this one with her sister. “We’d been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” said
Carolyn. “I’d watched her on the field for years, and she had watched me. So to get the chance to play this season on the same team with her was a lot of fun. Not to mention the way we finished. And being a senior, winning was a good way to go out.” Carolyn’s interest in the sport started at an early age. Her dad
had played soccer in college and she wanted to play too, joining her first team in kindergarten. After arriving at OES in sixth grade she naturally joined the Middle School team, figuring it would be a good way to meet people at her new school. “Tis team offered me the chance to make new friends and do something I enjoyed,” she said. Soccer has also taught her other skills that she has been able to apply to another interest of hers, engineering. “In soccer when you have a team you have to get the best out of everyone, while playing to everyone’s strengths,” she said. “Most of the engineering that I’ve done has been with other people, so being able to build off each other and use
the best ideas from the group is extremely important.” And like soccer, her interest in engineering also started at an early age. She first remembers really enjoying it while working
with LEGO® Robotics in grade school and that enjoyment has continued throughout her time at OES. She entered engineering- related projects for the science fairs and even tried to build a model merry-go-round that created energy while it spun. Tis project was accepted to the ISWEEEP Finals in Houston, Texas. “I’ve always been intrinsically motivated,” she said. “Always
driven to do my best in school and on the soccer field.” Raising that third championship trophy was not the end to her successful soccer career, but rather just a chapter. In the fall she will head to Cornell University to play for their team and attend the School of Engineering. “I’ve always wanted to play Division I soccer,” said
Carolyn. “Cornell provides the opportunity to combine a really great education while playing soccer at a high level.”
Carolyn was named the 2014 All-State Soccer Player of the Year and finished her OES career with 44 goals and 28 assists.
Summer 2015 19
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