The Oracle’s Monthly Q&A with a South Alum Who Participates in College Athletics

Jannelle Flaws is currently playing soccer for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is ranked the leading scorer in the Big Ten. In the 19 games Flaws   played this past season, she scored 20 goals.

Q: When did you first become interested in playing soccer?

A: “I first became interested in soccer when I was young because of my older sister and cousins, and then I started playing AYSO when I was 4 years old.”

Q: How is the season going so far for you?

A: “This season has definitely had its highs and lows.  I’ve had some pretty good games and some bad games, but I think [that] part of a [this] career is that you are going to have games like that.  It is how you learn from your failures that you are going to grow as a player,and I’ve been learning and growing a lot from my mistakes this year, which is why I am succeeding.”

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to the athletes at South right now, what would it be?

A: “I think advice I could give would be make sure you are always prepared and never give up on a dream.  You never know when you are going to be given a chance, and if you are not prepared for it you won’t be able to take advantage of it.  Also, don’t give up on your dream. There are going to be moments of ups and downs throughout your career, but it’s about fighting through those down moments that are going to make those up moments even that much more worth it.”

Q: How did South sports prepare you for your college career?

A: “[South] sports prepared me for college by always challenging me to do more.  You are constantly competing with one another, in a good way, and it keeps you working to improve and never settling for something that is less than your best.”

Q: How does it feel to be the leading scorer in Big Ten women’s soccer right now?

A: “It feels pretty good because, since the day I committed in high school, leading the Big Ten in scoring is something that I’ve wanted to do, and now I’m finally healthy and fit enough to be able to go for it.”

Q: What has been your favorite memory of the season thus far?

A: “My favorite memory so far this season is getting my 19th goal.  It isn’t necessarily getting the 19th goal and getting the school record but getting to do it on senior day with my best friends.  I’ve spent so much time with them over the past four years, and getting to compete with them in our final regular season home game and getting to share that moment with them is something I won’t forget.”