Region championships have become an expectation for Tift County girls soccer, and sisters Abby Kay and Emma Choate are a major reason why. The Lady Blue Devils have won back-to-back region titles thanks to the talented duo, who combined for 51 goals and 35 assists a season ago. Now with an added year of experience and greater chemistry than ever, the Choate sisters will hope to lead Tift County to another region title and a deep state playoff run in 2017.
“With her being older, I’ve always looked up to her as a person and as a player,” Emma said of her older sister Abby Kay. “Especially after we moved (from Arkansas), we got so much closer because all we had was each other. So our relationship really helped us become better players by working with each other on and off the field.”
Abby Kay echoed Emma’s sentiment that the sisters got closer during the family’s time of transition.
“I love playing with Emma,” said the older Choate sister. “It is always so fun because we work very well together. We know where the other one is without having to really look. When we moved from Arkansas to Georgia, Emma and I got to be extremely close. We were each other’s friends until we met new people. We played soccer in our free time and I can see now how much that has helped us.”
Abby Kay and Emma have been playing soccer together since they were small kids, and one game last season perfectly epitomizes the connection that the two have built. The game, which occurred in Valdosta against Lowndes, was cited by the older Choate sister as her favorite soccer memory ever.
The sisters had helped Tift defeat Lowndes in a penalty shootout just a couple weeks before and they knew that the matchup on the road versus the Vikettes would most likely be their toughest contest of the year because the LHS coach was their former travel ball coach.
“(Lowndes’ coach) had us, and a couple other of our teammates, man-marked the whole game,” the older Choate sister recalled. The strategy ultimately failed, however, because the sisters teamed up for two goal-scoring plays.
First, Abby Kay played a through ball to Emma that resulted in a penalty kick, which the older sister converted. Later, Abby Kay again played Emma into space and she found the back of the net to put the game out of reach. The game is just one of several examples that have shown the importance of the Choate sisters to Tift County’s team.
Despite the fact that both Abby Kay and Emma have already proven to be elite in terms of soccer talent in South Georgia, the duo has its sights set on constant improvement. Last season, between just the two of them, the Choate sisters accounted for 46 percent of Tift’s goals and assisted 31 percent more, but the two still feel there is room for improvement. The 2015-16 Tift squad finished 18-4, 10-0 in region play, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the GHSA state playoffs. This year, the sisters are more motivated than ever and are set on topping last year’s playoff run.
“I think that if we improve our attitude at practice and care about what we’re doing as a team, then we may have a better chance of advancing further than the second round,” Emma stated. “When we work on that, then we can all learn each other’s strengths and play to them. Last year was not fun and very frustrating. So this year, I just want to play and enjoy playing with my sister and my friends. I feel as soon as we all start enjoying playing the game again, winning will come with it.”
With a motivating force in the form of a sister out on the field at all times, however, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see the Choate sisters push Tift County soccer to even greater heights.
“I don’t want that to sound cliché, but Emma is my number one supporter,” Abby Kay stated. “She is always pushing me to do better, whether she directly means to or not. We are both so competitive and determined to play our best. She has my back and looks out for me. The past almost four years have brought us so close together. Her drive to become a better soccer player pushes me to do my best. I don’t want to disappoint her.”
In addition to leaving a lasting legacy in Tifton, Abby Kay and Emma Choate have used their talent and strong bond to inspire a younger generation of female soccer players. While their time on the high school field together is limited, the impact they have already had on Tift County and the South Georgia area at large is lasting.
“Never back away from a challenge,” Abby Kay stated as her number one piece of advice to younger soccer players. “It might be hard, but all of the work you put into it will definitely be worth it. The most important thing I can say though is have fun with it. Enjoy playing a great game with great friends. You’ll make memories that you will never forget.”
Abby Kay is committed to play college soccer at Birmingham Southern, while Emma is undecided on her college choice but also plans to play collegiately. Expect the Choate sisters to again score goals in bunches as Tift County girls soccer stays as one of the best programs in South Georgia.
Tift County Soccer Article
South Georgia | January 2017
Jacob Dennis
Choate Sisters Lead Dominant Tift Team Into New Season
