Northview High School alumna, Jenna Sapong, plays in the World Cup
Jenna Sapong inspires her community through dedication and an excellent work ethic
Photo credit: Special
Liana Sabnani, Opinions Editor & Niki Karimifard, Staff Writer
Jenna Sapong, a Northview High School alumna and current Auburn University student, has built a reputation as a goalie on and off the soccer field. From high school games to the U-20 Women’s World Cup, she has always pursued her love for the game and committed herself to hard work. Sapong’s passion for soccer and devoted work ethic have continued to inspire her community back home in Johns Creek.
Sapong's passion for soccer began at an early age, where she easily distinguished herself by consistently demonstrating dedication. She always had incredible teammates around her and constantly worked to set an example and motivate others on the team to do their best.
“During difficult games, she was always the source of calmness and composure and did her best to ease [any] stress that her teammates were feeling.” former Coach Sonia Field said.
While attending Northview High School, Sapong was involved in multiple extracurricular activities, with the most prominent being band and soccer. She had to balance practices all while keeping up her academic standing.
“I remember she would go to band practice and then straight to a game. She’s definitely very committed and has a great work ethic.” Senior goalkeeper Ellie Rosen, one of Sapong’s former teammates, said.
Sapong’s shift from high school to college soccer brought major changes. Sapong was used to being a top player at the club and high school level; however, when she began playing at Auburn University, she found herself in an atmosphere where every athlete was very experienced and competitive.
“The hardest part is staying mentally focused and not saying, ‘This is hard; I’m just going to quit,’” Sapong said, reflecting on the transition.
She has always maintained this mentality, especially when she experienced one of her favorite memories: finding out she would be playing in the U-20 Women's World Cup for Ghana while training at Auburn University. It’s safe to say that she was beyond thrilled, and her family, friends, and teammates were equally as excited. She recognized this as a huge turning point in her career.
“My coach called me and said, ‘You have to go to the academic advisor to figure out your schedule for the fall,’ because they had just gotten an email saying I was going to go,” Sapong said.
Playing at the U-20 World Cup was nothing short of exciting for her. Before competing, she took a few moments to collect herself and take deep breaths, keeping herself calm, collected, and content regardless of the outcome. She was excited to have a large audience witness her compete and represent her heritage. Her friends and family were so delighted that she received dozens of messages and videos after watching her play on television.
Sapong’s journey from competing for Northview to competing for Ghana represents the power of hard work. Whether she’s playing in her hometown or for a global audience, she is satisfied win or lose. With her drive, the possibilities for what she will achieve next are endless.
“I think the most rewarding part [of playing soccer] is just knowing that I'm lucky enough to be at a place where I know I can reach my potential,” Sapong said.
