Perrault with special freshman season at Tipp

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Featured Athlete Of The Week

For most freshman athletes entering high school, their top goal in athletics is to give it everything they have to make the varsity squad in their sport.

But Maryn Perrault was not your normal freshman.

The Tippecanoe dual athlete not only reached the goal of making varsity in one of her sports, but in her other sport, she reached the pinnacle with an appearance at the state track meet this past spring.

Perrault participated in both soccer and track, and as she heads into her sophomore season in both, she reflected on her success as a rookie.

“What made last year so special was the support and encouragement I received from the upperclassmen, and the opportunities Coach Brent (Palmer) gave me throughout the season to prove myself as both a soccer player and someone who loves to compete,” Perrault said. “Coming in as a freshman, I knew I would have to earn my place, and having coaches and teammates who believed in me gave me confidence to keep improving every day.”

“Another thing that made the season memorable was the friendships I built. I became much closer with my teammates, and those relationships made every practice, game, and bus ride something I looked forward to. Being part of a team that worked hard together while having fun made my freshman season one I'll always remember.”

Even with her success, it wasn’t always easy for Perrault, and like all freshmen, she dealt with an adjustment period as she learned to handle the pressure of contributing as a first-year varsity player.

“The toughest thing I had to adjust to was the expectations I put on myself as an individual, a teammate, and an athlete,” she said. “I wanted to contribute to the team's success and prove that I belonged at the varsity level, so I often put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well every game.”

“The speed and physicality of varsity soccer were an adjustment. Players were stronger and more experienced. As the season went on, I became more confident, learned to trust my preparation, and realized that continuing to work hard every day was the best way to improve.”

And improve is what she did, to the point where she earned all-conference even though it was something that never crossed her mind at the start of the season.

“Honestly, my goals coming into the season were pretty simple—to have fun playing a sport I love, compete as hard as I could, and enjoy being part of the team with my friends,” she said. “Being named Second Team All-MVL wasn't something I set as a goal before the season started, so it was definitely an honor and something I'm really grateful for.”

“Heading into my sophomore season, my goals are still centered around helping the team succeed. I want to compete to the best of my ability, continue improving my game, beat our biggest rivals, and make a deeper tournament run than we did last year. Individually, I'd love to earn First Team All-MVL, but more importantly, I want to be someone my teammates can count on and continue growing as both a player and a leader.”

Once soccer season ended, Perrault turned her attention to what she hoped would be a fun and successful track season. Mission accomplished.

“My freshman track season surprised me because it was actually my first year ever competing in track and field,” she said. “I wasn't sure what to expect, but I ended up loving every part of it.” “The coaches were incredibly supportive and helped me learn new events while constantly encouraging me to challenge myself. Even though track is different from soccer, they believed in me from the beginning, and that gave me confidence.  Actually, I think the competitiveness of soccer helped me to compete on the track.”

“The friendships I built with my teammates also made the season special. Breaking school records, qualifying for the state meet in three events, and earning the opportunity to compete at Nationals in Philadelphia in two events were experiences I'll never forget. Looking back, I'm thankful I tried something new because it turned into an unforgettable season.”

Just a few weeks ago, Perrault finished her season on the podium at the state track meet, and it was something she admitted was very special to close out her freshman year.

“Competing at the state championships in Columbus was definitely surreal,” Perrault said. “It was exciting to be on such a big stage, but I was also nervous because you're competing against the best athletes in Ohio. Just walking into the stadium and seeing that level of competition motivated me to keep working.”

“The biggest lesson I learned was not to give up when things get hard. Racing at that level taught me that every little detail matters, and I still have a lot of work to do if I want to improve. One quote Coach Clendening said that really stuck with me is, "Pressure is a privilege," and I've learned to look at pressure as an opportunity instead of something to fear, and I'll carry that mindset with me as I continue training and competing over the next few years.”