Nichols has selected The United States Military Academy at West Point to play college soccer starting in 2023.
Describing her decision, Nichols said, “The United States Military Academy at West Point exists to develop leaders with a high-level of character. Playing soccer since I was four has also taught me many character lessons for life, and I’m looking forward to continuing my personal growth in soccer, academics, and leadership at USMA. During my visit to West Point, I realized how closely it matched what I was looking for in a college, a team, and as I prepare for a future career. Tracy [Chao], Tori [Ball], and Justin [Howell are building a great team and I am excited about where we are going to go together.”
Nichols’ journey has been anything but easy. She recalls working to reach the next level of the game in every season of her development, even homeschooling for a couple of years to train for hours every day. Her recruiting process began with her contacting nearly 200 NCAA Division I coaches at dozens of universities.
Over the past year, she received hundreds of personal emails texts, and made countless calls with coaches. She visited more than 20 university campuses.
Nichols says she often questioned if it was worth it, adding, “One thing is for sure, I would not be the person I am today if I had not chosen the difficult path.”
Along the way, she learned to be calm and confident when facing intense adversity. Soccer taught her to harness and, at just the right moment, release the intensity she had previously kept locked deep inside. As she progressed from each level to the next, she learned that the intensity and passion she brought to the game was also important in the game of life. What began in a difficult season of her development, Nichols says, worked its way into every area of her life, from academics to relationships to soccer and to her personal growth.
Several years ago, she would never have believed this level of intensity and intentionality was possible for her. Today, having embraced it, she has learned that living intentionally rather than accidentally is the only way to experience significant growth and reach improbable goals. Nichols also did not know she would need these character qualities to embrace the calling to what she believes is one of the highest honors in all the world – the army officer. She says she wants to be a guide to those who come after her to help them develop character in response to the character they see in her.
Nichols knows the path ahead will be challenging. Yet she believes the hardest path often leads to the most rewarding destinations, and she shares that all her hard work has paid off.
She’s the third player to report her commitment to Army in 2023.
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