Honoring the Class of 2020 high school student-athletes: Boswell’s McKenna Leveling
If you would like to be honored, please send an email to bgosset@star-telegram.com.
As the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to set back the UIL high school season, the Class of 2020 is in jeopardy of losing precious senior moments.
With the UIL putting the season on hold until at least May 4, which includes the conclusion of the boys basketball state tournament, the last few soccer regular season games and all of the playoffs and the rest of the softball, baseball, golf, track and tennis seasons, senior night may never come.
Following the lead of SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt, it’s time honor these high school seniors.
Today’s honoree:
McKenna Leveling, Boswell, Girls Soccer
Leveling has grown up around soccer, playing for the past 15 years.
“I grew up around soccer my whole life. I started playing soccer in a league when I was 3. It was my first sport, I tried out and it just stuck,” the Boswell goal-keeper said.
Fun Fact: A day after birth, Leveling was already at her first soccer game, watching sisters Kelsey and Aubrey.
What do you love most about soccer: Soccer to me is so much more than a game. Soccer is my life. When I’m sad, I play soccer. When I’m mad, I play soccer. When I’m happy, I play soccer. No matter what’s going on in my life, I always want to play soccer. It’s my escape from reality. It’s crazy that a a pair of cleats and a soccer ball can be my happiness.
Leveling contributed for the Lady Pioneers right away, starting on the varsity team as a freshman in 2017. She was named team Defensive MVP. A year later, she was voted team captain and has been one for the past three seasons.
As a sophomore, she made the all-tournament team in Venus, was a Star-Telegram player of the week nominee and finished on the all-region second team and district honorable mention.
Last season, Leveling made her way to all-district first team and was an athlete of the week nomination by Eagle-Mountain-Saginaw ISD. She has three of those honors in 2020, winning twice.
As a senior, Leveling has currently posted eight shutouts and leads the Fort Worth area with 245 saves, nearly 100 more than the next registered goal-keeper.
Leveling, who will follow sister Aubrey’s footsteps with a scholarship at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, says she’ll miss the bonds she built with her Boswell teammates.
“And all the memories we made throughout the past four years. I’ll miss and love you all so much.”
What have you learned about the past few weeks: Don’t take things for granted. You never know when it’s the last time you’ll walk on that soccer field again.
Who is your soccer heroes: Julie Ertz and Hope Solo
Ertz is such an amazing and aggressive player that when I play holding or attacking midfielder I try to play with the same aggression and strength she plays with.
Solo is an amazing goal-keeper especially during the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Being a goal-keeper myself, I watched her in awe as she had a 540-minute shutout streak, the second longest in tournament history, and only allowed three goals throughout the tournament. I wanted to play exactly like her in the goal. Her athleticism and ability to make these extraordinary saves pushed me to play like her.
Most memorable moments?
Beating Aledo my sophomore year in penalty kicks and scoring a PK as well.
During the Venus Tournament I scored my first goal, had a shutout for every single game of the tournament, made the All-Tournament team, and we won the whole thing.
My Signing day. Having all my recent and old teammates, friends, recent and old coaches, teachers, and family there was amazing and made me so happy! Can’t wait for the fall so I can be at ECU and officially be a Tiger!
Senior message: Underclassman, give your all anytime you go on the field and love and appreciate the game with all your heart. Give your all whether it’s practice or a game, you never know when the last time you’ll play.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 3:20 PM.
