By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SILVERTON, Ore.– As a sophomore, Silverton’s Marley Wertz made a name for herself.
During this past Fall, Wertz anchored an aggressive Foxes offensive attack that saw Wertz score 20 goals and assisted on another ten goals. All the while, helping the Silverton squad go 14-1-1 and reaching the second round of the 5A State Playoffs.
The strong performance garnered her Mid-Willamette Conference Player of the Year and 5A All-State First Team honors.
“I really went into the season confident in what I can do. I wanted to contribute to the team and help our team do super good, so it was nice to see the work paying off. Espically, after trying so hard since I was younger until now,” said Wertz. “It was definitely part of my offensive end. My teammates around me made it so easy to get all those stats. We played off each other a lot.”
That aggressive play became who they were. Offensively, they brought the pressure. Defensively, they backed up their goalie. They went into every game with confidence and wanted to give it their all every game. It became their identity.
With four seniors graduating from that squad, Silverton returns a solid core entering this season with aspirations of continuing that aggression into this Fall. Monday’s summer training was just part of their preparation for what they’re hoping for being another great season.
“We went into every game with our all. No matter whether the team or whatever is going to happen, we just go into it confident and know what we can do as a team. It really helped us stay composed as a team,” Wertz said of last season.
For Wertz, her improvement is done yet. Having played this game since she was three, four years old, she already comes off as a natural, yet she knows that the finer details are still a work in progress for her going into her junior year.
“Just getting more touches on the ball and just working with my fundamentals. My foot skills just add to what I can already accomplish. Also, I’m just being with my teammates. Just working together consistently and starting the summer season has already helped so much,” said Wertz.
