As the North Catholic Girls Soccer team celebrates its Class of 2026, six remarkable seniors take their final steps onto the field — each leaving behind a legacy of grit, laughter, and unforgettable bus rides.
#22 Simone Sharpless, daughter of Jocelyn and DJ, has spent 16 years with a ball at her feet. Soon she’ll take flight — literally — heading to Western Michigan University to play Division I soccer and pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Her favorite memories aren’t just goals scored, but the joyful chaos of practice interruptions by Bear, the football coach’s dog. “For me, he feels like a gift from Louie, straight from Heaven,” she says. Her advice to her teammates: “Savor every moment — these are the memories you’ll carry with you.”
#18 Nina Bond, daughter of Elena and Matthew, has played for 12 years and will pursue nursing in college. Her favorite moments? The loud, joyful bus rides after wins. Her message is simple and wise: “Have fun — it goes by fast.”
#8 Mikaela Canzian, daughter of Becky and Phil, will continue both soccer and nursing at Penn State Behrend. She’ll never forget last year’s emphatic 4–0 win over undefeated Freeport — and the celebration that followed. She encourages others to focus on personal growth rather than comparison, reminding teammates that high school soccer is “an amazing opportunity — don’t take any of it for granted.”
#15 Bre Rock, daughter of Jessica and Andrew, is still deciding her next step — but one thing is certain: her heart belongs to the game. Her fondest memory is hearing the team sing on the bus after victories. Her message is one of pride and purpose: “When in doubt, remember who you play for — your family, your teammates, and most importantly, yourself.”
#20 Sara Schollaert, daughter of Karen and Jack, plans to continue figure skating in college, but soccer has shaped who she is. Her happiest memories come from music-filled bus rides with her teammates. Her advice: “Even on the hard days, find joy in practices and games — those are the moments you’ll want to remember.”
#3 Reagan Young, daughter of Jaime and Ryan, will attend St. Vincent College to study nursing while continuing her soccer career. She laughs remembering the time she and Simone snuck into the cafeteria for ice-filled cookie bags after both breaking their noses in the same game. Her words to younger players are heartfelt: “One day you’ll walk on Senior Day and wonder how it went so fast. Enjoy every second while you can.”
A Word from Coach DJ Sharpless
“What makes this group special isn’t just their talent — it’s their character. They’ve led with kindness, competed with fire, and cared for each other like family. I’m proud of the players they’ve become, but even more proud of the people they are.”
Together, these six seniors have shown what it means to compete with heart, laugh through chaos, and love every mile of the journey — especially the ones spent singing on a school bus.
Congratulations, North Catholic Class of 2026. Your legacy lives on in every cleat mark, cheer, and memory you leave behind.