From the moment she joined her first travel soccer team at 6-years-old, freshman Olivia Hindson has been outpacing, outsmarting, and outplaying the competition, Juan Pablo Berutti, Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Girls Staff Coach, said. Now ranked third in state for girls’ soccer, Hindson continues to dominate the field at both Eclipse Select Soccer Club while making her mark and on South’s Girls’ Varsity Track and Field team.
In 2020, 10-year-old Hindson began playing for Eclipse in the ECNL, a top-tier national youth soccer league established in 2009. Hindson always was one of the strongest and tallest girls on her team, sparking her realization for her talent, Hindson said.
“I am a competitive person, so if I am good at something, that is what I want to do,” Hindson said. “I really enjoyed other sports, but soccer always stuck out to me.”
Hindson believes her decision to run track has vastly improved both her physical agility and confidence in herself. Hindson runs the 4 x 100 meter relay, 4 x 200 meter relay, 4 x 400 meter relay, and the long jump for South, Daniel Zapler, Girls’ Varsity Track and Field Assistant Coach, said. Hindson gave every race during the indoor track season her all—either winning her relay or placing in the top three at each meet, Zapler said. Hindson’s most impressive quality that makes her a great relay runner is her strong race start, Zapler added.
“In terms of sprints, Hindson is one of the best I have seen of all time,” Zapler said. “It is hard to overcome the inertia of being a standing still object, but Hindson is the best on the team at starting a race. She is powerful, she is fast, and she gets to the top speed well.”
Hindson joined track as a way to enhance her soccer game, but soon realized she had a strong future in the sport after competing at the 2025 USA Track and Field (USATF) National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Savannah, GA. There, Hindson competed in the 4 x 400 meter relay and the 100 meter sprint. Though she did not place in the top eight for the title of “All American,” Hindson is eager to redeem herself at this summer’s Junior Olympics in Norwalk, CA.
“I was just glad to get down there, and hopefully this year I will actually place,” Hindson said. “If I did place, that would be amazing because it would open a lot of doors for me in track.”
Hindson is getting exposure to myriad opportunities at a young age, including college recruitment that officially starts the summer after her sophomore year, she explained. College scouts show Hindson interest year round, approaching her during showcases and inviting her to visit their campus and talk to the coaches. The Eclipse program actively supports Hindson through the recruitment process by guiding her through communication with coaches and ensuring she continues to develop her skill set, Berutti said.
“Our goal is to provide Hindson with the tools and opportunities necessary to succeed at the next level,” Berutti said.
Though Hindson is only in-season for Eclipse during the fall, she feels it is imperative to travel often over the weekends to visit colleges interested in recruiting her, she explained. During flights, Hindson brings her Chromebook in order to keep up with her schoolwork.
“My schedule is hard to manage,” Hindson said. “At times when I have a big thing soon, or I am going out of the country the next week, I have to plan to take a day off school. It can be mentally draining.”
Berutti has seen Hindson grow over the last five years into a tenacious soccer player. Since Hindson joined the team, she has shown a desire to challenge herself, a quality that sets her apart from other players, Berutti said.
“Since I first started coaching Hindson, her development has been impressive,” Berutti said. “She has matured into a player who understands the pace of the game and makes smart decisions under pressure.”
By pushing herself past her perceived limits, Hindson hopes to build an impressive legacy at Eclipse and South, she said. With three years remaining at each program, Hindson is determined to become a name that is remembered.
“I want to be known for always being there for my teammates, and I want to leave South with records by my senior year,” Hindson said. “For Eclipse, when I am in college or when I make my debut as a pro, I want to always be known and remembered there.”
