The Long County Lady Blue Tide soccer program had been under the guidance of Harley Kennedy since the 2021 season. However, the team will now be led by Kelsey Persinger after a successful stint as head coach of the middle school program.
Persinger said she is “optimistic” about her first year as varsity head coach and was very excited about the group of girls who came to tryouts. She told people to stay away from the assumption that the team will be in a “rebuilding” season.
“I really really enjoy this group of girls and the girls who came out to conditioning. I could have kept them all,” Persinger said. “We’re a young team so people may assume it’s our ‘rebuilding year.’ However, coming from the middle school and having coached most of these girls, I know we have some talented athletes. I’m excited to see how this season plays out.”
Having coached middle school soccer the last few years, Persinger knows the game is going to be a lot different at the varsity level, but she’s used to it and ready for the challenge. However, she said she is having to adjust more to the off-field component.
“Coaching wise, the high school procedures are very different from what I’m accustomed to and familiar with from the uniforms to the management of a booster club down to ordering equipment. It’s a learning curve but I’m getting it,” Persinger said. “As for the best part - soccer - the level of play is more intense. High school soccer is generally faster and more aggressive with larger opponents...and I can’t wait!”
Persinger had a lot of success coaching the middle school girls program, winning a few area championships and completing an undefeated season two years ago.
She said that it “feels like a family reunion” with her having already coached 17 of the 23 girls on the team this year.
“They’re had their time to grow, to experience different coaching styles, and now here we are again,” Persinger said.
Despite just having one freshman on the varsity squad, she urges her players not to get complacent.
“However, as I told the girls at practice, they all have the ability to play varsity,” Persinger said. “I just think players naturally work harder when there’s a goal in mind so I don’t want to guarantee anyone a slot until they’ve proven worthy. What I will say is that there are several we already have eyes on that we think technically and physically will be a huge asset for the varsity squad as the season progresses. We simply want them to get their feet wet first.”
One interesting note about the roster this season are Persinger’s younger sisters. Freshman Kadyn Higgason and junior Macey Higgason. They will both be on the team this year and Persinger is excited about getting to coach them, but it wasn’t her initial intention and she knows it will be “tricky” to coach family.
Regardless, she says she will try to avoid being their big sister on the field and focus on being their coach.
“I did not intend on coaching them. In fact, I was previously the boys’ coach before being selected to take over the girls’ program,” Persinger said. “Soccer is a sport our family loves so naturally they felt compelled to play. As their sister, it’s sweet knowing I’ll have that quality time with them, the braiding of hair on bus rides, the laughter at practice, the big moments during games. In that same breath though, they’re at a disadvantage because I’m usually harder on them. I’m not their pal during soccer season. I’m their Coach P.”
The Lady Tide soccer team has been very successful over the last decade. They have made the playoffs every year since 2014, outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 year.
Persinger hopes to continue that trend, but wants her team to build real life skills that they will be able to use long past their careers on the pitch.
“Ultimately, everyone wants to win, but I think the greatest accomplishment as a coach is creating a team culture that is supportive, uplifting, and goes beyond the game itself: real life skills,” Persinger said. “How will my players deal with success and failure? Are they respectful to their teammates, their coaches, the officials? These are values I hope to instill as well as accountability. This is high school and these players will be adults one day. I want them to be successful ones.”
The Lady Tide will likely contend for a region championship, something they have never won, and teams they will be fighting with are Calvary Day, Islands, and Southeast Bulloch.
Calvary Day made the AAA playoffs as the three seed in Region 3 in 2024. Islands and Southeast Bulloch both made the second round of the AAAA state playoffs with the Sharks winning the region championship in 2024.
The Lady Tide will scrimmage former region rival Pierce County at home on Friday, February 7 and will host the Claxton Tigers on Monday, February 10 to open the regular season.