The soccer freshman striker who beat the single-season goal record returns to the sport. After an exhilarating first year as a freshman, Kyra Ayler ultimately decided not to return for her sophomore year. Now, as a junior, she has returned to the team, and many have high hopes that she will continue where she left off her freshman year and lead the Lady Cubs to success.
During Ayler’s year away from the Madison soccer program, she wanted to continue her soccer career, so she found a travel team. “I found a travel team in Louisville, and I played for them,” said Ayler.
Ayler then realized that she wanted to continue her career at Madison when she noticed a change in the program. “I saw the program improving and wanted to join,” replied Ayler
Therefore, she expected this year to be different from the years before. Ayler noticed the change quickly through her current teammates as their demeanor and attitudes grew and changed positively. Making the program feel different and improving. Ayler said, “I think everybody has a positive mindset and is willing to do new things.”
Many may say that returning to a program may come with several challenges. This was not the case for Ayler. Ayler expressed that the team was very supportive of her return. “Everybody’s most welcoming, so I don’t really feel like there’s a challenge,” said Ayler.
With no grand challenge to face, she is ready to make an even more significant impact in the program, hoping it will allow the team to achieve great success. Ayler explains how she hopes to improve the program “by helping people get better and to help the team get the goals that they want.”
She is no doubt getting this done. Her teammates have also noticed that she significantly impacts the team. One of her teammates, Peighton Chatham, says that her speed allows her to help the team greatly. Chatam said, “She has a really big impact on us. She has speed, and she has the ability to bring it up the field really good. So I feel like it’s helping us a lot with us scoring.”
Another teammate, Kylie Montgomery, explained how Ayler had a tremendous impact on the program in her first year, and it felt different when she left. “I feel very excited that Kyra has returned to our soccer program because she was a big part of us for freshman year, and without her, it kind of felt like we lost somebody,” stated Montgomery
Montgomery also noticed the many characteristics Ayler brings back to the team and how well they help the program. “Some characteristics she brings is speed and knowledge because she knows what she’s doing. She gives a hundred percent every time she’s on the field. This helps our program a lot because she can push the ball up more because last year we didn’t really push it up, and this year, we can. She has great footwork, that helps a lot. She’s also very talkative,” said Montgomery
Ayler explains how she has a goal for the team to try to accomplish this year. With this goal, she also talks about the steps the team has begun taking to try and achieve it. Ayler said, “At least making it through the first round of sectionals” is the goal. The actions taking place are “Communication and a lot of hard work,” replied Ayler
With Ayler having a goal for the team, she also has a goal for herself. “To look at everything with a new mindset and be ready for all the challenges,” said Ayler
The lady Cubs recently had an 8-0 victory over Scottsburg and a 2-1 win over Switzerland County. With Ayler returning, the future for Lady Cubs soccer looks even brighter.
