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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Sydney Ormsby has repeatedly shown she has what it takes to succeed on the high-school level, and soon she’ll get a chance to show what she can do against college soccer players.

Ormsby, a senior, has signed a letter of intent to join the Columbus State University women’s soccer program, and she’ll be a member of the team when the season gets underway in the fall of 2021.

“This is what I’ve wanted to do since I started soccer,” Ormsby said. “It’s really exciting.”

It didn’t take Ormsby long to make an impact at LaGrange.

As a freshman, Ormsby scored 17 goals for a team that won a region championship and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Ormsby kept up the scoring pace as a sophomore while helping LaGrange win a region title and another stage game.

Ormsby was off to a fast start as a junior with seven goals in 11 games, but the season was cut short because of the coronavirus.

While that was disappointing, Ormsby at least knew that she had one more season to play, and she’s looking forward to returning to the field with her teammates in February.

“I think we can do big things,” Ormsby said.

Ormsby has the athletic ability to do anything on a soccer field, and she’s also a ferocious competitor.

“I’ve always hated to lose,” Ormsby said. “I’ll do whatever I can to win. That’s just always been me.”

Andy Fritchley, who coaches the LaGrange soccer team along with Colin Ross, believes Ormsby’s fiery attitude makes the team better.

“She is so competitive, and she expects that from her teammates, too,” Fritchley said. “That’s awesome to have that for a competitor on your side. Not only putting it all out there for herself, but for her teammates. She makes her other teammates better. That’s what’s really special about her.”

Ormsby will be joining a successful program at Columbus State, and she’ll be close to home, which was important to her.

“I love having my family and my parents there, so it works out,” Ormsby said.

Since 2005, Columbus State has won 12 Peach Belt conference championships, and it has qualified for the NCAA tournament 13 times since 2006, and it played for a national title in 2016.

“Columbus State is a premier soccer program in the nation, so we’re really proud that Sydney is going to be representing LaGrange High School at Columbus State,” Colin Ross said.

Ross added that “I’m super thankful that I got to spend time with Sydney. She’s a rare player that you come across If you’re a fan of the game.”