Athlete of the Week: Evan Horne, Varsity Boys' Soccer

Senior co-captain Evan Horne charges an opposing forward, gains possession of the ball, and sends it to the midfield. These types of plays are routine for the senior defender; he's one of the most reliable players on the varsity boys' soccer team.

Horne began playing soccer at the young age of three, when he took up the game after watching his two older sisters play. As a freshman in high school, Horne joined the JV team. Towards the end of his sophomore year, he moved up to the varsity level and has been in the starting lineup ever since.

He usually plays the center back position, which means he is the leader of a solid Blair defense and is often in charge of keeping the opposing team's best player in check.

Horne believes that one of his best attributes is the tenacity that he brings to each and every game. "Defensively, I go in hard for every tackle. I also think I'm good one-on-one,” Horne says. He also notes that playing for club teams has helped him become a better leader.

Coach John Haigh agrees that Horne is a great leader, but also explains that his senior defender has other skills. "I think that leadership is a strength, but he has more strengths that he doesn't see,” Haigh says. "He does all the little things, and he's become more vocal this season,” Haigh says. "Evan's the type of person you can count on.”

This year, Horne helped lead the Blazers to a solid 11-4 season, in which they reached the regional semifinals for the first time in three years. However, Horne's soccer career won't end at the high school level. He has been recruited by multiple colleges, including Ferrum College and Bates College. Despite these colleges showing interest, Horne plans to try out as a walk-on at a college of his choosing.

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