Teammates now, rivals later
Rodgers commits to Florida, Smith to Ole Miss; Vickrey to play at Florida Atlantic, Robles to sign with UWF next month
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Rodgers

Maggie Rodgers and Alyssa Smith are teammates at Gulf Breeze for the next 13 months. But in the fall of 2010, they'll be on opposite sides of the pitch.

Rodgers, a sophomore on the Lady Dolphin soccer team, recently gave a verbal commitment to the University of Florida, while Smith, a junior, committed to Ole Miss last week.

And with junior Jesse Vickrey's verbal commitment to Florida Atlantic last week, that makes at least four current Lady Dolphins who'll continue playing after high school. Senior Noelle Robles, who's committed to UWF, will sign her papers next month.

"They're all talented young athletes. I just hope they continue their level of success in college," GBHS coach Sharon Kerby said. "I enjoy their attitudes and their outlook on the game. Their work ethic is phenomenal." Rodgers, who's scored 14 goals and made five assists this season, caught UF's attention while participating in their camp this past summer.

"(Florida coach) Becky (Burleigh) gave me a tour and I fell in love with it right away," said Rodgers, who's a member of the state's U16 Olympic Development Program team. Rodgers said Burleigh told her to make a top three list of colleges she wanted to attend. "Florida was number one," Rodgers said. Central Florida made an offer to Rodgers two weeks ago, but Rodgers wasn't to be swayed.

Smith

"Florida's where she wanted to go and they wanted her," Maggie's mother Casey said.

The SEC Champion Lady Gators went 17-5-5 this past season, making it to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. They were the 1998 national champions.

Florida's leading scorer this past season was Stacy Bishop, whose goal for Land O'Lakes in double overtime ended the Lady Dolphins' season in 2003.

When Rodgers gets there, she'll be teamed up with current Washington High senior Lindsey Williams, who like Rodgers, verbally committed to UF as a sophomore. She is the first Lady Dolphin to verbally commit to UF since Annie Adams in 2003.

Rodgers' goal is to play in every game as a freshman in 2010, be it as a starter or a reserve.

"Maggie's just a worker," Kerby said. "Anything you ask of her, she does 100 percent."

Smith, who has six goals and six assists, drew the attention of Ole Miss while playing in the Texas Shootout, along with Rodgers, as guests players with the Destin Wave - along with the urging of her regular select team (and former GBHS coach) Mike Lagow.

Vickrey

"Lagow told Ole Miss they need to watch me play," said Smith, who received an offer from Ole Miss in October before accepting last week. "It's been sitting on the table for a while," she said.

Smith said Miami and Florida Atlantic also expressed interest, but chose Ole Miss because "I felt I would fit in there."

"Alyssa's a very strong leader for us," Kerby said.

Ole Miss was 7-7-5 this season and 4-4-3 in the SEC. They lost to Georgia in the first round of the SEC Tournament.

Vickrey verbally committed to FAU last week. She caught the eye of the FAU coaching staff while playing for Lagow's Pensacola Futbol Club team with GBHS teammates Smith, Amanda Green and Aubrey Curington in the Sweet 16 last summer.

Vickrey's getting accustomed to the pitch at FAU - it's the site where the Lady Dolphins lost in the state championship game last year.

"I like playing in south Florida," said Vickrey, who's scored four goals and made eight assists this season, had interest from a couple of other schools, but "I just narrowed it down to FAU," she said.

Robles

"Jesse's been the go-to girl - wherever we need her, she's there," Kerby said.

Vickrey will run up against a former teammate in the Sun Belt Conference in South Alabama defender Kristi Lee (GBHS c/o '07).

FAU went 9-8-2 this season and 6- 4-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. They lost to Denver in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Robles, the only senior of the four, had scored three goals and handed out 10 assists, second most on the team. She's scheduled to sign her scholarship papers in February.

She'll be reunited at UWF with former Lady Dolphin Kaley Morris

class of '06).

Fellow GBHS Class of 2009 members Curington and Jessica Majewski are also fielding offers from several schools. Both are at least a month away from a final decision.

Verbal commitments by high school athletes are non-binding as they can't sign with a school until their senior years.

Photo courtesy of Fed Barona Maggie Rodgers (left) will be head-ing to the University of Florida - in the fall of 2010. Photo courtesy of Deanna Smith Junior midfielder Alyssa Smith (left) will run with the Ole Miss Rebels in 2009. She verbally commited there last week. Photo courtesy of Deanna Smith Junior Jesse Vickrey (10) verbally committed to Florida Atlantic University last week. Photo courtesy of Fed Barona Noelle Robles (21) will join former teammate Kaley Morris next fall at West Florida.