Battle Creek soccer standout Ava Cook turns pro, sees ‘dream come true’
It was 2017 and Ava Prepare dinner was enjoying soccer on the fields of Battle Creek during her high faculty period at Lakeview.
A several short several years later on and the former Spartan is now having all set to engage in versus the greatest gamers in the globe as a experienced.
Struggle Creek’s Cook was the best range of the Chicago Red Stars in the Countrywide Women’s Soccer League Draft on Saturday.
Pursuing a standout senior period at Michigan Condition University, Cook dinner was the 18th choose general, acquiring taken in the next round by the Purple Stars.
“They reported my title throughout the draft and I feel I actually blacked out,” Cook said. “To listen to my name referred to as for that is a aspiration arrive correct.
“To come to be a specialist soccer participant is some thing I have labored my overall lifestyle for, due to the fact I was a small female.”
The NWSL is considered the top rated expert women’s soccer league in the world and Cook dinner was 1 of eight Major 10 players chosen in the four-round 2021 draft. She is the to start with MSU player to be picked given that 2012.
“I am so thrilled for Ava and the Purple Stars,” MSU head mentor Jeff Hosler claimed in a release by the college. “It is so good that her individual dedication to expansion and growing her sport over the several years has led to this possibility. Her mentality will present for a prolonged professional profession.”
Soon after a standout career with Lakeview, Cook dinner initially went to Grand Valley Condition University and helped that plan to four straight league titles, winning a countrywide championship in 2019. An NCAA Division 2 All-American range two times, she finished ranked third all-time in aims scored at GVSU.
With an added year of eligibility owing to COVID-19, Cook spent in this article ultimate year in college or university participating in at MSU this slide. She led the Spartans in plans in the normal season and was named 2nd-Team All-Significant Ten.
“I assume my move to Michigan Condition was a crucial section of all of this, me acquiring drafted,” Cook said. “Not to choose just about anything from Grand Valley, but receiving a prospect to enjoy in the Major Ten, enjoying from ladies that were being currently set to get drafted, took my match to the up coming degree.
“I am super satisfied I designed the transfer. It was a difficult just one at the time, but certainly it worked out for me and I wouldn’t transform it for everything.”
It will be a rapid transition for Cook dinner as the preseason for the NWSL commences in February.
“I couldn’t be happier to get picked by Chicago. It can be the closest team in the league to Struggle Creek, so it will be wonderful to proceed to have that area guidance,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “It truly is a minor scary to consider about that I will be enjoying experienced soccer here soon. But I am undoubtedly thrilled for the problem and to exhibit what I have to present. Taking part in with the very best players in the earth …. could not check with for nearly anything else than that.”
Monthly bill Broderick can be achieved at [email protected]. Abide by him on Twitter: @billbroderick.
This report originally appeared on Fight Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek soccer star Ava Cook turns pro, sees ‘dream occur true’