Coupeville Sports

Kenzie Perry

The Whidbey Islanders GU18 select soccer squad, which brings together players from all three Island high schools, returns to action in December. This is one in a series of articles on the girls who proudly wear the jersey.

Soccer is an unpredictable game, and Kenzie Perry likes that.

The Oak Harbor High School junior, a standout goalie both with her Wildcat squad and as the primary net-minder for the Islanders select squad, is an avid photo bomber.

And just like you never know where or when she’ll pop up in a photo, the same is true on the pitch. She often moves out of the net and plays in the field, and, when she does, she plays like a girl on fire.

“I enjoy the game. Simple as that,” Perry said. “There’s so many different outcomes and ways to play that it’s always fun and never gets boring.

“I like to think my strength is my presence on the field,” she added. “I don’t get much time on the field, so, when I do, I do everything in my power to get the ball.”

Perry has been chasing a soccer ball for most of her life, first playing in a rec league as a third grader. Three years later she made the jump to select soccer and continues to improve by leaps and bounds.

Not that there’s not a lot of hard work involved. She puts in the time behind the scenes so she can dazzle when the spotlight comes on.

“I’d like to work on my foot skills so when I get my time on the field I can really wow the other team!,” Perry exclaimed.

Away from soccer, she enjoys her science classes (“I’ve always liked science, at least when I understand it!”) and spending time with her many teammates, who she’s drawn quite close to over the years.

“I really think my team has been my inspiration,” Perry said. “Soccer has always been a big part of my life and having not only teammates but great friends right by my side playing with me has really impacted me.

“From getting coffee to random trips to the beach, we are usually together,” she added. “I don’t know where I’d be without them!”