Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Decade-long dream draws to an end

Crystal River senior Jackie Boltin's world has revolved around soccer much of her life.

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published December 23, 2005

Before her first game, Jackie Boltin lamented the beginning of the end of her final soccer season.

"It's my last first game," Boltin told her father, Chris.

Then she scored three goals against North Marion to help lead Crystal River to an easy win in its season opener.

She hasn't scored since - the 17-year-old plays mostly defense - but Boltin promises she is enjoying the end of her soccer career. She doesn't plan to play in college, though she hasn't missed a soccer season in 10 years.

Around age 8, she began playing with the boys at Pope John Paul II Catholic School. The self-described tomboy thought the game looked fun, so she started kicking a soccer ball.

Before long, she became obsessed.

Every Christmas present revolved around her favorite sport. Boltin's favorite gift: a goal that automatically returned the ball after she shot it.

"Everything was soccer," said her mother, Gloria Boltin. "She was my little tomboy. Jackie was always out there with the ball."

There was only one problem. Boltin wasn't good.

"I was actually really bad," she said. "I was horrible. I played defense and I sat on the bench the whole game. They put me in just out of pity." She has improved since, becoming a four-year varsity player for the Pirates. Though she played forward the first three seasons, Boltin has switched to defense this year. Scoring fewer goals bothers her slightly, but Boltin said she knows she can help the team in her new position.

Still, she teases teammate and best friend Leah White because while White gets the goal-scoring glory, Boltin toils mostly in anonymity.

"I'm left "D,' " Boltin said with a laugh. "It doesn't sound so cool."

About a month remains in her soccer career, and Boltin acknowledges she is upset. She wants to attend the University of South Florida, but said she'll likely go to community college because of her mediocre grades. Boltin relishes her extracurricular activities - the Key Club, the school yearbook and the Teen Cancer Society - but loathes classes.

"I don't try," she said. "I'm lazy. I'll admit it. School is not for me."

She does, however, call herself a "computer geek" and said she's familiar with the HTML computer language.

Though she likes computers, her love of soccer trumps everything else. She dabbled in volleyball and track early in high school, but now is just a one-sport athlete.

Boltin's love of the game has impressed her parents.

"Soccer has always been something she's been devoted to," Chris Boltin said. "I wish I could say that about school."

Now, with soccer about to end, Boltin isn't sure how she'll pass the time.

"I'm going to become fat, I know that," she said.

Brian Sumers can be reached at bsumers@sptimes.com or 564-3628.

[Last modified December 23, 2005, 01:13:18]