Right from the start, it was obvious that Catherine Reddick had talent. Her five-year-old soccer team was all boys except for three girls.  Catherine scored five goals in one game. The other girls were skipping and acting silly, but not Catherine.  Catherine was playing hard and she wanted to win.

Catherine loved soccer, but her family made sure they taught her that there was more to the game than just winning. Catherine’s parents, Phil and Anne Reddick, taught her that the only way to win was to train harder than the opposition.  Cheating wasn’t an option.   If she was going to play the game, she’d better play fair.

Catherine soon outgrew recreational soccer leagues.  When she was in Grade 5 she joined an all-boys team. The coach noticed Catherine’s drive and talent and told her parents that she should try out for the Olympic Development team.

“At that point, I knew that she was an amazing female soccer player,” Anne said.

In Grade 8, Catherine began playing with the girls traveling team. She also played for her high school team and the Olympic Development Program.  Soon she made the Under-16 National Team, then Under-18 and Under-21 National teams.  At one of her high school matches, Catherine was scouted by Anson Dorrance, University of North Carolina women’s soccer coach. After Catherine graduated from high school, she headed for the University for North Carolina.

But Catherine’s first year in the university soccer program didn’t go quite as expected. “I came in kind of naïve…and I didn’t come in as fit or even as technically prepared as good as I should have.  A walk-on player beat me out of my position,” Catherine said.

Catherine had not earned the right to play.  She still played on the team for University of North Carolina, but she didn’t start: she came in off the bench.  This began the hardest season Catherine ever faced.  All her life she had made every team she’d tried for and always started.

But instead of becoming discouraged, Catherine began to see the situation as a challenge.  It took a long time and a lot of humility.  Many days at soccer practice the starters and reserves were separated.  Instead of getting angry, she worked hard.  Soon Catherine was starting for the team.

“I think that’s where her character came through because I think a lesser human being would have blamed me [or] had some excuse to protect herself from the fact that she just didn’t get it done on her own in the summer.  [She could] have whined to everyone around her and sort of brought down the whole environment, and she didn’t,” Anson Dorrance said.

The first time Catherine started for the team was her freshman year at the National Championship Finals.  She ended up being MVP on defense for the entire NCAA Tournament. After that game, Catherine was picked to be on the U.S. Women’s National Team.

“You would think that everything was handed to her on a silver platter but all along the way, you know there’d been those hard time[s]. You know, those little things that make you a better person,” Anne said.

Through every step Catherine had to climb to get to where she is now, her faith has been her base.

“I look at the field as my sanctuary, my place to show other people that I do have something different from everybody else on the field. I bring my competitive spirit in with me and I don’t think that anybody would want anything less and if I give 100 percent, then that means that I’m giving true worship.”

Catherine’s team went on to win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics.   “I’ve been successful because of the way that God has wanted to use me and I wouldn’t be successful without Him. I know that for a fact. It’s all about the love for what you do and it’s given to you, and you have to use it to the best of your ability. If you want to succeed at the high level, you have to persevere through hard times and they’re always gonna be there. My freshman year was there and not making different national teams was there….Faith was a big part for me just because it’s allowed me to worship God. It’s allowed me to still have fun with the game. It’s allowed me to still love it and that’s what has ultimately driven me to win that Olympic gold medal to…see my dreams come true.”

Would you like to become the person that God meant for you to be? Jesus can help. If you don’t know Jesus, we encourage you to pray the following:

Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be.

Is it the desire of your heart to make this prayer yours?

If yes, pray now and according to his promise, Jesus Christ will come into your life.