Senior captains of the undefeated Girls Soccer Team, Riley Boyd and Blair Satterfield, have taken on one of the most important responsibilities in high school athletics: leading a team filled with talent, grit, and high expectations. While their approaches to this role differ, they are a united front as they have the same drive and ambition to keep their teammates motived and on track to success.
For Boyd, she sees this position as more than wearing the title, but rather about setting the standard.
“Being in a captain role for such a talented team has truly made me step up in many different ways,” Boyd said. “I think I’ve done a good job at not just leading through my words but through my actions… encouraging people through a tough game or practice, showing consistency, full effort, sportsmanship, and love for the game.”
That balance of vocal encouragement and leading by example has been the foundation for Boyd’s leadership this season. She believes the most important trait of a captain comes down to one word, trust.
“Trust in any situation on and off the field leads to success,” Boyd said. “A great captain is someone your teammates can trust.”
Satterfield agrees, but her perspective adds another layer. For her, a captain must be steady regardless of the circumstances.
“There’s always going to be external factors, challenging games, personal struggles,” Satterfield said. “But a true captain should be able to put all of that aside and be present in every moment for their team.”
Satterfield, who stepped up into her first captain title, has leaned on the lessons she grew up with. Both of her parents are coaches, and she credits them for teaching her the value of clear, confident communication on the field.
“My strength as a captain is my voice,” Satterfield said. “I do my best to provide instruction for my teammates and work through different issues that present themselves as we play.”
That voice has been a complement to Boyd’s natural encouragement. Uplifting those around her and being a constant motivator has been the easiest part for Boyd.
“When you’re part of a team full of such talented girls, you get a stronger sense of empathy when you see someone put their head down after a mistake,” Boyd said. “My immediate reaction is to lift them up and encourage them that they got it next time.”
With both of their strengths in mind, they also do not shy away from recognizing their weaknesses. Boyd admits her emotions sometimes get the best of her, leading to frustration. While Satterfield notices that she is still learning to shake off mistakes quickly and stay present for her team. Together, they have been able to utilize these weaknesses not as setbacks, but rather as opportunities of growth.
As the season has unfolded, the captain role has altered not only their own individual confidence, but also the team’s trajectory.
“Individually, this role has given me a boost of confidence to play like a leader,” Boyd said. “As a teammate, it’s given me a stronger passion to encourage those who need a boost of confidence or love to get through the game or practice.”
Satterfield echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the collective nature of the team’s success.
“Although I’m a captain, it’s not because of the things I’ve done that has gotten the team to where we are or plan to be,” Satterfield said. “It’s a collective effort every day that alters the trajectory of the season.”
As they approach the home stretch of their regular season, both captains are intentional to finish with the same intensity they started out with. Boyd and Satterfield are paving the way for leadership to be more than just guiding a team to wins, but building trust, resilience, and connection that in hopes will carry them to the State Championship.
