Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Alex McPhee

Drive, intensity, and a competitive spirit are attributes all athletes like to use to describe themselves. Those who excel often have these, but there are a select few where their competitive spirit embodies their life and they will constantly do whatever it takes to succeed. Senior soccer player Alex McPhee is one of those individuals, which is one of the reasons she is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

“Alex has been a competitive person ever since she was little,” says Kami McPhee, Alex’s mother. She goes on to add, “I remember her first-grade teacher called me about Alex’s need to always be first in line. She was willing to push and shove to be first.”

Head coach Juan Leal has watched as Alex has grown into a senior captain for the undefeated Wolves, and has witnessed Alex’s competitive spirit first-hand. “Alex has something inside of her that is only found in those athletes that will do anything to win and continue to push themselves to outwork the opponent so that she does not lose again,” says Juan. He goes on to add, “She hates to lose at anything, and I would say that would even include something like Go Fish, Uno, or Sorry!”

Alex’s competitive spirit, combined with her natural skill and willingness to continue to outwork her competition, is why she earned a full scholarship to play soccer at Ball State University. Although she has the competitive drive to outwork everyone, her personality is as kind as it is competitive. “Although she is super competitive, she is also the sweetest, kindest person ever,” says Juan.

As a defender, Alex has still managed to find herself in the stat column, tallying 6 goals and 13 assists this season in 13 games, which is an incredible feat for someone who plays the defender position. The Wolves were able to capture the SPC championship yesterday, a first in school history, and a great deal of that can be attributed not only to Alex’s play but also to her leadership.

“Alex has become a leader on our team and has become someone that the girls look up to and go-to for all sorts of chats, advice, and questions about the game,” says Juan. Alex contributes her drive and motivation to improve comes from her teammates, saying, “My teammates are the reason I push myself.”

An additional treat for Alex this season has been having an opportunity to play with her sister, Samantha, who is a goalkeeper for the Wolves. Samantha has been a standout in her own right, giving up only 1 goal this season in 11 games. The overall success of the Wolves is something Alex contributes to the team as a whole being more cohesive, and a great deal of that is due to Alex’s leadership. Earlier this season, Alex helped set up an opportunity for the team to visit Feed my Starving Children in Aurora, and used that opportunity to create a bonding experience for all of her teammates.

Alex’s hard work earned her a scholarship to Ball State University, something that is a bit of a family affair. “Ball State University was a school Alex had her heart set on early in her soccer career,” says Kami. She goes on to say, “Her grandfather, Aunt, and Uncle, who played football at Ball State, all went there.”

The location also provides Alex an opportunity to spend more time with her extended family, a great deal of which live in Indiana. “I’m the oldest of all of my cousins, so I’ll be able to babysit and hang out with my family,” says Alex. She goes on to say, “In my freshman year letter about my goals I wrote about how I wanted to go to Ball State, and now it is really happening.”

Hoping to parlay her love of sports and outgoing nature, Alex is intending on majoring in either sports marketing or journalism, with a dream job being a journalist for the Chicago Cubs. Dan Dunbar, a social studies teacher at Oswego East, believes Alex has the temperament and ability to succeed in the field, saying, “Alex has the drive and intelligence to be successful in anything she wants to do.” He goes on to add, “She is very personable and easy to talk to, and with her personality, I believe she would do very well in journalism or sports marketing.”

Having achieved a school first and team goal of an SPC championship, the Wolves head into the playoffs undefeated, looking at a second-round match-up with a very talented Neuqua Valley team, one the Wolves took down 3-0 earlier in the season. With graduation already behind her, but the task of leading her team into the state playoffs still ahead, Alex has an opportunity to reflect on what the past four years at East have meant to her, and provide advice from her experience to future Wolves.

“I remember sitting and listening to seniors as a freshman say how time flies and to live in the moment and not thinking anything of it,” says Alex. She goes on to say, “I now sit here and think where did the time go. Don’t ever wish time away. When you are at practice play like each day is your last. Hang out with friends and one day you will be walking the halls of East with them for the last time. My mom has always said 20 seconds of bravery. All it takes is 20 seconds. Live life to the fullest and never regret anything.” The Wolves have already achieved more than any team in school history, and if they continue to give the effort and play with the same determination, they will truly have zero regrets when the season ends.