Smalley signs to play soccer at Wheeling Jesuit

| February 2, 2017
River View High School’s Zoe Smalley, center, signed to play soccer at Wheeling Jesuit University. She is pictured with her mother Lynnette Dobson and father Chris Smalley.  Josie Sellers | Beacon

River View High School’s Zoe Smalley, center, signed to play soccer at Wheeling Jesuit University. She is pictured with her mother Lynnette Dobson and father Chris Smalley. Josie Sellers | Beacon

WARSAW – When Zoe Smalley stepped on to Wheeling Jesuit’s campus she knew it was the right place for her.

“I got that feeling and knew it was for me,” said the River View High School senior. “It was an easy decision.”

Smalley signed her letter of intent to play soccer at Wheeling Jesuit University on Feb. 1 in the library at RVHS.

“I started playing in first grade and I love everything about soccer,” she said. “I play all year and love being part of a team. My team at the high school was like family.”

Smalley played defender for the Black Bears, but filled in anywhere but at the goalie position.

“One of my favorite memories from soccer was my goal against West Holmes my junior year,” she said. “It was terrible weather and West Homes was a pretty good team, but in the second half I pretty much got to walk the ball in almost all the way. It was a good win for us against a tough team.”

Smalley’s team is what she is going to miss the most about high school soccer, but she knows she wouldn’t be where she is without them, her parents or her coaches.

Dave Kridler, the head girls soccer coach at River View, said he’s a little sad to see Smalley go, but knows Wheeling Jesuit is getting a great athlete and person.

“Her greatest asset is her versatility,” he said. “She can play a lot of places on the field, but what I think they will like most is her as a person. She’s very reliable.”

Zoe is the daughter of Chris Smalley and Lynnette Dobson.

“I’m very proud of her and excited to see her take this next step in life,” Dobson said. “The coaches at Wheeling Jesuit have been really helpful and supportive.”

Chris is glad Zoe found a school she is comfortable with and knows that will help her excel both as a student and an athlete.

“It’s great to see her going from the high school to college level,” he said. “She has worked hard and earned this.”

Zoe plans to major in accounting at Wheeling Jesuit.

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Category: High School, Sports

About the Author ()

I started my journalism career in 2002 with a daily newspaper chain. After various stops with them, I am happy to be back home! I graduated from Coshocton High School in 1998 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2002 from Walsh University. I also earned several awards while working for daily papers, including being honored by Coshocton County’s veterans for the stories I wrote about them. I am honored and ready to once again shine a positive light on Coshocton County. I also am the proud mother of a little girl named Sophia!

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