With the cancellation of the spring sports season, the Enquirer is spotlighting senior athletes from its coverage area with Q-and-A stories. We’ll look to touch base with many more seniors over the next few weeks.

Bethany Speegle has been a part of the Lady Bulldogs soccer program since the 7^th grade. She has helped turn the program into a state playoff contender.

She has seen the growing pains in the Lady Bulldogs program. This year, she was one of the team leaders for a Lady Bulldogs team that had turned the corner. They were 6-0 with wins over West Morgan, Madison Co., and Madison Academy.

It was shocking to her when she heard that her season had first been postponed. But her heart broke when she got the news two weeks later that her season had come to an end due to the coronavirus.

The AHSAA moved to cancel the spring sports season on March 27^th after Governor Kay Ivey announced on March 26^th that schools would be canceled for the remainder of the school year.

The Enquirer spoke with Speegle about her soccer career and the disappointment she has experienced due to the cancellation of her season.

Q: When did you get started playing soccer?

A: I started playing soccer when I was 6 with the PCRA.

Q: When did you know you wanted to play for the Lady Bulldogs?

A: I have played soccer all my life and I wanted to take it a step forward and continue playing in high school.

Q: What was it like waiting for your moment to come?

A: The moment I was waiting to see if I made the high school team in 7th grade was very nerve-racking. There were only a few spots to be filled, and I was hoping I would be one of them.

Q: What were your thoughts when you found out when the season would first be postponed?

A: When I found out my season was going to be postponed I was upset but then I realized there was a chance to still play. did not want to jeopardize the team with my negative attitude being a senior and a leader on the team when knowing my season might be cut short. I kept a positive attitude and was ready to keep winning some games with my teammates.

Q: How did your thoughts change from when the season was postponed to when you got the news that your season had come to a close, long before you had planned?

A: When I found out my season was canceled I was very shocked and upset especially it being my senior year. Knowing that I would never get to play the sport I love with my teammates again and never get to put on my cleats and walk on to the field one last time was heartbreaking.  But I know God has a plan for all of this and there was a reason for all it to be happening and I trust him through all of it.

Q: What are your plans for after graduation?

A: I will attend Wallace State Community College to study radiology for 2 years and earn my associate’s degree.

Q: What is one thing that you would want to say to your teammates or coaches?

A: I want to say thank you to the best coaches, Josh Caldwell and Jonny Pool for coaching all my 4 years of my high school career. They taught me how to be open-minded, a team leader, and to always listen to my heart and to make the right decisions in life and on the field. I also want to thank my teammates for always having my back and making soccer practices and games very interesting. I will miss them so much but I promise to come watch them kick butt next year!