CONWAY — Sophie Killeen wants young girls to dream big and know that those dreams can become a reality if you’re willing to put in the time, effort and hard work.
Sophie, 17, the daughter of Michele and Jamie Killeen of Tamworth, has worked hard over the past decade and her dream of playing collegiate soccer is close to becoming a reality.
kAm$@A9:6[ H9@ H:== 36 2 D6?:@C 2E z6??6EE w:89 $49@@= E9:D 72==[ 92D 366? :?G:E65 E@ G:D:E q6?E=6J &?:G6CD:EJ :? (2=E92>[ |2DD][ E9:D (65?6D52J] %96 D49@@=[ H9:49 :D 9:89=J C682C565 7@C :ED 24256>:4D[ 2=D@ A=2JD s:G:D:@? xx D@446C]k^Am
kAm“p 4@FA=6 @7 H66<D 28@ x H6?E E@ 2? xs 42>A H:E9 2 8C@FA @7 4@==686D 4@2496D E96C6 2?5 x H2D 7@CEF?2E6 6?@F89 E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 q6?E=6J 4@249 W{2FC6? {F<:D[ H9@ 92D 366? E96 9625 4@249 7@C `f J62CDX] q6?E=6J :D }@] ` @? >J =:DE 7@C D49@@=D C:89E ?@H] x’> D@ 6I4:E65] %96 H9@=6 AC@46DD 92D ;FDE 366? DFA6C 6I4:E:?8 7@C >6] x H@C<65 H:E9 96C :? D6DD:@?D 2?5 E96 `` GD] `` 82>6D]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@249 H2D :>AC6DD65 3FE 367@C6 E2=<:?8 2?J 7FCE96C 23@FE E96 7FEFC6[ D96 H2?E65 E@ E2=< 24256>:4D] ~G6C `f J62CD[ 2== @7 {F<:D’ A=2J6CD 92G6 8C25F2E65]k^Am
kAm“q6?E=6J >66ED H92E x’> =@@<:?8 7@C :? 24256>:4D 2?5 2E9=6E:4D[” $@A9:6 D2:5] “%96 8:C=D @? >J W}!{X E62> 92G6 8@?6 6G6CJH96C6 7C@> s:G:D:@? x E@ xx 2?5 xxx] x H2?E 2 =@E 3@E9 @? E96 7:6=5 2?5 :? E96 4=2DDC@@>] W{F<:DX :D?’E 8@:?8 E@ C64CF:E 2?J@?6 H9@ 42?’E 86E :?E@ E96 D49@@= 24256>:42==J] $96 H@F=5?’E 92G6 8@EE6? 324< E@ >6 :7 x H2D?’E 24256>:42==J 23=6 2?5 42A23=6]”k^Am
kAmpD:56 7C@> q6?E=6J[ 4@==686D :? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 92G6 C624965 @FE E@ $@A9:6 2=@?8 H:E9 t>6CD@?[ $@FE96C? }6H w2>AD9:C6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ uC2?<=:? !:6C46 2?5 qCJ2?E &?:G6CD:EJ :? }6H t?8=2?5]k^Am
kAmr@==686D 42? =62C? >@C6 23@FE $@A9:6 E9C@F89 96C $A@CED#64CF:ED A286[ H9:49 :D D:>:=2C E@ 2 u2463@@< A286 2?5 4@?E2:?D 2 9:89=:89E G:56@]k^Am
kAmq6?E=6J DE277 =@@<65 2E 96C AC@7:=6]k^Am
kAm$@A9:6[ H9@ :D H2:EC6DD:?8 42E6C65 5:??6CD E9C66 ?:89ED 2 H66< 7@C 2? 277:=:2E6 @7 E96 q2C?DE@C>6CD %962E6C :? %2>H@CE9[ E9:D DF>>6C[ D2:5 A=2J:?8 4@==68:2E6 D@446C 92D 366? 2 5C62> 7@C BF:E6 2 H9:=6]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 366? 2 5C62>[” D96 D2:5] “x 8C6H FA @3G:@FD=J H2E49:?8 s25 A=2J 2?5 :E’D 366? 2 A2CE @7 >J =:76 7C@> DF49 2 J@F?8 286] x 5:5 @E96C DA@CED H96? x H2D =:EE=6] x 7:8FC6 D<2E65 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6] x A=2J65 32D<6E32==[ x D<:65[ x EC:65 6G6CJE9:?8] xE 42>6 E@ 2 A@:?E H96C6 x 925 E@ 49@@D6 36EH66? 7:8FC6 D<2E:?8 2?5 D@446C] x 49@D6 D@446C[ 2?5 x’G6 366? 49@@D:?8 D@446C 6G6C D:?46]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565i “xE’D 2=H2JD 366? 2 5C62> 3FE :E’D 364@>:?8 C62= ?@H D@ :E 5@6D?’E 766= =:<6 2 5C62> 2?J>@C6]”k^Am
kAmpD:56 7C@> A=2J:?8 7@C z6??6EE w:89[ H96C6 D96 62C?65 p==\$E2E6 $64@?5\%62> 9@?@CD =2DE 72==[ D96 A=2JD 7@C E96 $624@2DE &?:E65 }!{ W}2E:@?2= !C6>:6C {628F6X ’_` 4=F3 6:89E >@?E9D @FE @7 E96 J62C[ EC2:?:?8 E9C66 52JD 2 H66< :? tAA:?8] $96 92D 366? F?56C E96 $624@2DE &?:E65 F>3C6==2 7@C ?:?6 J62CD] p== @7 96C E62>>2E6D 92G6 C646:G65 4@==686 @776CD E@ A=2J 2E E96 ?6IE =6G6=]k^Am
kAm“W%96 AC@8C2>X 92D AC@G:565 >6 H:E9 D@ >2?J @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 D<:==D6E 2?5 E@@=D6E E92E x ?665 E@ <:?5 @7 >2<6 >J 5C62>D 4@>6 ECF6[” $@A9:6 D2:5] “x 9@A6 3J H92E s25 :D 5@:?8 2?5 H92E E96 4=F3 :D 5@:?8 E92E >@C6 8:C=D H:== 92G6 E92E @AA@CEF?:EJ]k^Am
kAmy2>:6[ $@A9:6’D s25[ :D E96 G2CD:EJ 8:C=D’ D@446C 4@249 2E z6??6EE w:89 2?5 :D 2=D@ E96 4=F3 5:C64E@C @7 $624@2DE }@CE9]k^Am
kAmz:==66?[ H9@ 8C6H FA :? t?8=2?5 A=2J:?8 E96 362FE:7F= 82>6[ 92D bd J62CD 4@249:?8 6IA6C:6?46 @? 9:D C6DF>6[ :?4=F5:?8 =625:?8 2 $624@2DE &?:E65 $@446C r=F3 3@JD’ E62> H9:49 A=2JD :? E96 }6H t?8=2?5 !C6>:6CD9:A] x? a_`e\`f 96 4@24965 2 &`d 3@J’ DBF25 E@ 2? F?56762E65 D62D@? :? E96 }6H t?8=2?5 !C6>:6CD9:A }@CE9 2?5 :E H@? E96 $F>>6C r@2DE2= r92==6?86 :? q6CH:4<[ |2:?6]k^Am
kAm$@A9:6 92D =62C?65 2 E@? 23@FE E96 DA@CE 2?5 96CD6=7 7C@> 96C $624@2DE 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am
kAm“r@>:?8 @?E@ E@ E96 E62> x 925 2=H2JD A=2J65 46?E6C >:57:6=5[ E92E H2D >J A@D:E:@?[” D96 D2:5] “qFE E9:D J62C[ 2D @?6 @7 E96 J@F?86DE A=2J6CD @? E96 E62> x 8@E E@DD65 2C@F?5 :?E@ 5:776C6?E A@D:E:@?D] |J 4@249[ r9C:D {6q6C86 W2=D@ E96 9625 4@249 @7 |2?496DE6C r6?EC2= 7@C b_ J62CDX[ H2D 8C62E 7@C >6 2?5 x 4C65:E 9:> H:E9 2 =@E @7 DEC:56D x’G6 >256 2D 2 A=2J6C] w6 AFD965 >6 C:89E @FE @7 >J 4@>7@CE K@?6 2?5 x H2D 7@C465 E@ A6C7@C> 2?5 5@ H6== 2?5 E92E H2D 2 9F86 E9:?8 7@C >6] x A=2J65 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> C:89E\H:?8 E@ =67E\H:?8[ 6G6CJH96C6 6I46AE DEC:<6C 2?5 8@2=:6]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 7F?] x =62C?65 D@ >F49 A6CD@?2==J 23@FE >J 82>6 2?5 E96 82>6 :? 86?6C2= 3J ;FDE A=2J:?8 2== @G6C E96 7:6=5 2?5 36:?8 23=6 E@ 92G6 E92E G6CD2E:=:EJ] |66E:?8 E96 q6?E=6J 4@249[ x H2D A=2J:?8 46?E6C\>:5 E92E 52J[ @? E92E xs 52J[ 3FE D96 H2D =@@<:?8 7@C W2 ?F>36C @7 A@D:E:@?DX[ 2?5 x H2D 23=6 E@ E6== 96C x 92G6 6IA6C:6?46 6G6CJH96C6] xE H2D <:?5 @7 2 4@@= E9:?8 7@C >6 E@ 36 23=6 E@ D2J E92E 2?5 ?@E @?=J A=2J65 6G6CJ A@D:E:@? 3FE 92G:?8 5@?6 :E :? E96 }!{]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565i “xE’D 3@@DE65 >J 4@?7:56?46 E@ H96C6 :7 2 4@249 D2JD[ 8@ A=2J =67E\H:?8[ x 42? 5@ E92E] %92E H2D E96 3:886DE 244@>A=:D9>6?E 7@C >6 @G6C E96 A2DE J62C ;FDE 36:?8 23=6 E@ 92G6 E96 4@?7:56?46 2?5 E96 36=:67 :? >JD6=7 E92E :7 4@249 ?665D >6 D@>6A=246 x 42? 8@ A=2J E92E A@D:E:@? 2?5 5@ >J ;@3]”k^Am
kAmr@249 {F<:D C624965 @FE E@ $@A9:6 2?5 C6BF6DE65 E@ D66 96C EC2?D4C:AED[ $p% D4@C6D[ D6?:@C J62C 4=2DD6D 2?5 >J 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“$96 925 E@=5 >6 2E E96 xs 42>A x H2?E J@F E@ 4@>6 5@H? 2?5 G:D:E E96 D49@@= 2?5 x’5 =@G6 E@ E2=< >@C6[” $@A9:6 D2:5] “~3G:@FD=J[ 962C:?8 E92E x H2D D>:=:?8 7C@> 62C\E@\62C] x H2D =:<6[ ‘x’> D@ 6I4:E65[ x’== 5@ H92E6G6C J@F H2?E]’ $96 8@E 324< :? E@F49 H:E9 >6 27E6C x 925 6>2:=65 96C 2?5 E92?<65 96C 7@C 96C E:>6 2E E96 42>A]”k^Am
kAm(65?6D52J[ $@A9:6 H:== 5@ 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 25>:DD:@?D 2E q6?E=6J[ E96? >66E H:E9 r@249 {F<:D E@ 5@ 2? 62C=J C625 :? 25>:DD:@?D] $96 H:== 86E 2 E@FC @7 E96 42>AFD 2?5 :ED 724:=:E:6D]k^Am
kAm$@A9:6 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ DEF5J DA@CED >2C<6E:?8 H:E9 2 >:?@C :? ;@FC?2=:D>]k^Am
kAm“x D2J :E E@ >JD6=7[ ‘x’> 8@:?8 E@ 36 A=2J:?8 4@==686 D@446C ?6IE J62C[’ 2?5 :E D66>D ?@C>2=[” D96 D2:5[ D>:=:?8] “%9C66 J62CD 28@ x ?6G6C E9@F89E 2== @7 E9:D H@F=5 36 92AA6?:?8] *@F ;FDE 5@?’E E9:?< E92E J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 :? E96D6 A@D:E:@?D F?E:= J@F 86E E96C6] x E9:?< >J 92C5 H@C< :D 567:?:E6=J A2J:?8 @77]”k^Am
kAm%92E 92C5 H@C< :?G@=G6D E:>6 2H2J 7C@> E96 D@446C 32==] $:?46 =2DE H:?E6C $@A9:6 92D 366? H@C<:?8 @FE F?56C 2 AC@8C2> DA64:7:42==J 56D:8?65 3J E96 D49@@=’D 2E9=6E:4 EC2:?6C r@=3J {@4<6 @7 |@F?E2:? r6?E6C !9JD:42= %96C2AJ]k^Am
kAm“r@=3J 92D 366? 2>2K:?8[” D96 D2:5] “x? E96 H:?E6C x’5 92G6 AC24E:46 EH:46 2 H66< 2?5 E96 @E96C 52JD x’5 36 :? E96 8J> H:E9 r@=3J] x’5 5@ 42C5:@ 2 4@FA=6 @7 52JD 2?5 =:7E @E96CD] (6’C6 =:<6 36DE 3F55:6D[ H6 DA6?5 D@ >F49 E:>6 E@86E96C] w6 <66AD >6 9@?6DE[ H6 6IA64E 6249 @E96C E@ 36 E96C6] ~G6C E96 DF>>6C[ x’> 5@:?8 |@?52J[ (65?6D52J 2?5 uC:52J[ @?6 9@FC 2 52J[ @7 42C5:@[ H@C<:?8 @? 82>6 7:E?6DD E@ 36 23=6 E@ 4@>6 :?E@ E96 72== 2?5 A=2J 2 7F== h_ >:?FE6D]”k^Am
kAmz:==66? :D AC@F5 @7 9:D 52F89E6C 2?5 82G6 2? 9@?6DE 2DD6DD>6?E @7 96C 82>6]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 @?=J 6G6C 4@24965 96C 2E D49@@= 3FE ?@E 2E E96 4=F3 =6G6=[” 96 D2:5] “$@A9:6 :D 2 E6?24:@FD A=2J6C] $96 H@C<D C62==J[ C62==J 92C5[ D96’D 2 92C5 H@C<6C] ~G6C E96 A2DE 76H J62CD[ D96’D DE2CE65 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 82>6[ D@ 96C 82>6 x" ?@H :D @?6 @7 96C 3:886DE 2EEC:3FE6D]k^Am
kAmQw6C E649?:42= D<:==D 92G6 4@>6 2 =@?8[ =@?8 H2J 7C@> H96? D96 7:CDE DE2CE65[ D@ E649?:42==J D96’D 8@E 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E D96 ?665D :? 96C E649?:42= 23:=:E:6D] $96’D ?@E E96 >@DE E649?:42= A=2J6C J@F’== 6G6C >66E[ 3FE E649?:42= A=2J6CD 5@?’E C6=J 2D >F49 @? E96:C 92C5 H@C< 2?5 x =:<6 2 =6DD E649?:42= A=2J6C E92E H@C<D 92C5]k^Am
kAmQ$@A9:6 :D G6CJ E@F89 :? E96 E24<=6[ D96’D G6CJ A9JD:42==J DEC@?8[ G6CJ 5:77:4F=E E@ 86E @77 E96 32== — D96’D 2 G6CJ H6==\C@F?565 A=2J6C] $96’D A=2J65 2=>@DE 6G6CJ D:?8=6 A@D:E:@? @G6C E96 =2DE EH@ J62CD]”k^Am
kAm%96 z6??6EE w:89 8:C=D’ D@446C E62> H:== @A6? :ED AC6D62D@? @? pF8] `g] %96 t28=6D 4=@D65 @FE E96 a_`g D62D@? @? 2 C@== H:??:?8 E96:C 7:?2= EH@ >2E496D @7 E96 C68F=2C D62D@? E@ 7:?:D9 ;FDE A6C46?E286 A@:?ED @FE @7 E96 `bE9 2?5 7:?2= A=2J@77 DA@E :? s:G:D:@? xx]k^Am
kAmzw$ C6EFC?D 2 D@=:5 4@C6 27E6C =@D:?8 ;FDE EH@ D6?:@CD w2??29 %6DD:6C 2?5 #636442 $49:==6C E@ 8C25F2E:@? :? yF?6]k^Am
kAm$@A9:6[ H9@ 92D 366? ?2>65 2 42AE2:? 7@C E9:D 72== H:E9 w6=6? q2586C[ $J=G:6 qCFDE:? 2?5 |288:6 |:==6C[ 36=:6G6D E9:D J62C’D E62> >:89E 36 E96 36DE :? E96 AC@8C2>’D 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 =@@<65 2E E96 D4965F=6 2?5 D66 E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 A@E6?E:2= H:?D @? :E[” D96 D2:5] “u@C >6[ :E’D C62==J 4@@= E@ 36 23=6 E@ >2C< @FC AC@8C6DD 7C@> >J 7C6D9>2? J62C E@ ?@H] (6 H@? EH@ 82>6D E92E J62C E96? 7@FC E96 ?6IE J62C 2?5 W7:G6X =2DE J62C] %9:D J62C x 9@A6 H6 42? AFD9 7@C ]d__ @C 36EE6C 2?5 36 2 A=2J@77 E62>] |6[ w6=6?[ |288:6 2?5 $J=G:6 <66A E2=<:?8 23@FE 9@H H6 H2?E E@ 8@ @FE H:E9 2 32?8]”k^Am
kAm$@A9:6 25565i “|J 8@2= 92D 2=H2JD 366? E@ C6:?G6?E E96 4F=EFC6 @7 8:C=D D@446C 2?5 2=D@ D@446C 96C6 2E z6??6EE] x H2?E E@ 36 2 E62> E92E 8:C=D =@@< 2?5 2E D2J E96J’C6 D@ 6I4:E65 23@FE] xE’D ;FDE 4@@= E@ D66 H96C6 H6 H6C6[ H96C6 H6 2C6 2?5 H96C6 H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36] x 42?’E H2:E E@ 86E E96 32== C@==:?8]k^Am
kAmQ%96 8:C=D <?@H H6 2== ?665 E@ 36 @? E96 D2>6 A286 2?5 H6 2== ?665 E@ 36 AFEE:?8 :? >2I:>F> 677@CE] x7 J@F 42? 2D< J@FCD6=7[ ‘p> x H@C<:?8 2E >J 92C56DE[’ 2?5 :7 J@F 92G6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE :E[ 2?5 J@F 42?’E 2?DH6C J6D :>>65:2E6=J[ J@F ?665 E@ H@C< 92C56C] %92E’D H92E x H2?E 7C@> 6G6CJ3@5J] x7 6G6CJ3@5J 8:G6D ``_ A6C46?E[ H6’C6 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 =62AD 2?5 3@F?5D] x’> 6I4:E65[ =@ED @7 6I4:E6>6?E 96C6]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.