Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Kyra Watkins
School: Charleroi
Year: Senior
Sport: Soccer
Watkins’ week: The Cougars’ midfielder scored three goals to help Charleroi defeat New Brighton 5-2 in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals last Wednesday.
In a downpour at Peters Township High School and facing one of the top offenses in WPIAL Class A, Watkins helped the Cougars returned to the semifinals. She scored a goal off a free kick from 35 yards.
“I was kind of speechless,” Charleroi head coach Jim Rue said. “The weather was terrible for both teams, but she finds a way to get the ball into play. Some of the shots she makes are unbelievable. They are instinctive and natural. The accuracy she has, especially from 35 to 40 yards, is unbelievable. It’s a gift.”
Running out there: Watkins, a four-year starter and Charleroi’s captain, began playing soccer a 4-year-old, but her fearless attitude on the pitch was on display during matches for her older sister, Briana Stanko.
“Whenever I was little, my older sister used to play and my parents would say they had to always watch me because I’d run out onto the field with the ball any chance I got,” Watkins said with a laugh.
Not much has changed except now Watkins, who has 45 goals this season, is running through opposing defenders before firing a shot or distributing the ball to a teammate. She’s the quarterback of an offense that is preparing to play in the WPIAL Class A championship against top-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic Saturday at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff is 10 a.m.
The Cougars clinched a spot in the WPIAL title match with her penalty-kick goal Monday night in a semifinal match against Shady Side Academy. It was her 100th career goal.
“I wouldn’t ever say I doubted us, but I never thought we’d make it to this point – we only won one playoff game last year,” Watkins said. “This is a huge accomplishment for all of us and it’s something we’re going to remember for a very long time.”
Four years: As a freshman, Watkins’ goal was to making the starting lineup and it came to fruition. What followed was a four-year stretch that has included four playoff appearances, two section titles and a championship game appearance.
Though Watkins is one of the WPIAL’s leading scorers, the Cougars have received offense from almost every player on the pitch. The group is close to winning the program’s first WPIAL title.
“I give credit to everyone on the field. Our defense works their butts off to get the ball out and our speed up top is something most teams don’t have,” Watkins said.
“I’m happy we can do this for our school. This has turned into something much more than just our team. This has brought the whole community to our games and everyone has come together for this.”
Compiled by Lance Lysowski