AVA CALDWELL AVA CALDWELL’S MOM, CINDY, SAYS HER ALL-AROUND ATHLETE RAN HER FIRST 5K when she was in first grade, and she got to finish on the 50-yard-line inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Now, her focus is soccer and Auburn Thunder 2005 Girls Blue Coach Meghan Kemp plays Ava as center striker but has also played her as one of the center midfielders. “Ava is very hard worker,” Kemp says. “She always puts 110% effort into practices and games. Ava is always looking to improve herself. She attends extra training sessions regularly, sometimes five sessions a week.” Kemp says Ava attended more than 100 extra training sessions for the 2016-2017 season, and was one of the top jugglers in the club this year. The youngster is extremely competitive. “Ava is very ball hungry. She is always looking to get the ball, so she always tries to be in the right place to receive the ball. She is a very calm player,” Kemp says. “When she has the ball at her feet, you know she is going to make something happen. Her speed with and without the ball is very hard for anyone to defend against.” Ava’s coach says her extreme competitive spirit rubs off on the team as a whole. “She never loses her cool when she plays; if she makes a mistake she fixes it, she doesn’t try to blame anyone else.” Cindy Caldwell adds that Ava has been playing soccer since she was four years old. “She has a very strong work ethic, and is tenacious on the field.” She has a younger brother, Spencer, and an older sister, Ansley. Ava and Ansley work “very, very hard at being good soccer players,” Mom says. “They spend many hours outside practicing together. Ava’s love for Coach Meghan and her teammates is what she loves the most, though. She looks forward to practice and games just so she can hang out with all her all her buddies.” Ava also plays basketball and she still loves to run. She also enjoys snow skiing and has even swooshed down some Black Diamond trails. She makes straight As in school, and was on the student council last year. Her favorite color is orange. Which is a good thing if you live near Auburn.
Club Independent Soccer