Sophia McNeal '26 Recruiting Profile

Hi my name is Sophia McNeal, and I play goalkeeper for Orange Beach High School.  A term we use at my school is “Mako Grit”, our mascot is the makos, and I feel that I embody this on and off the field. When I am at practice I not only try to push myself to get better but also those around me. I come to practice with a positive attitude and encourage others to do the same. I make sure to listen to my coaches and if someone’s confused I make sure that they know what we are doing so that way they can use the drill to improve. 

When I am at school, I interact with the students around me and strive to maintain good grades. I cultivate good relationships with not just the students around me but also the staff. Being involved in multiple different clubs/extracurriculars gives me a chance to get to know those around me and help to improve our school culture. An example is at my school I am a Peer Helper, which is specifically designed to help out students who might be struggling. If a student isn’t doing well in class or is about to lash out, I am able to pull them out of class and talk to them. Before the school year all of us not only underwent an interview process to enter into the program but then we also took a seminar to train us on how to deal with certain situations. 

When I am not at school or practice I’m at my youth group which meets every Wednesday. I arrive early, as I do with most things, and volunteer before the event starts. This is usually sweeping the sanctuary, restocking snacks within the commissary, or even helping the younger students with things they need. I love worshipping Jesus and I want to continue to help those around me when I’m an adult just like I do now. That is why I am wanting to go into ministry and hopefully share the gospel around the world one day. Thank you so much for reading this and feel free to reach out anytime. 

Sophia