Columbus North’s Avery Baker dribbles the ball against Greenfield-Central Sept. 9, 2023 at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
Avery Baker’s ascension in girls soccer hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The incoming sophomore at Columbus North spent some time in the offseason with the Olympic Development Program, which helps facilitate growth and development and help identify youth soccer talent across the country.
The ODP holds tryouts once a year, and with help from coaches across the state, uses the tryouts to create a player pool in each age group. It gives players the opportunity to play and train with some of the best players across the state and top competition from other states in various ODP events.
This is Baker’s first year playing in the ODP program.
“I met a lot of girls that are now my friends from all over the state,” Baker said. “It’s pretty good competition. It’s definitely a step up. It’s really nice to make those friends at a high level and train with them.”
Baker played in a couple ODP showcase events in Memphis, Tennessee, in February and in Cincinnati last month. She got invited to a regional training camp last week in Rockford, Illinois, and said around 65 girls were at the camp from different states across the region. There are a total of four regions across the country. Indiana is in the Midwest Region.
“One thing I try to encourage all my players to do is to go play against the highest level of competition as you can push yourselves,” North coach David Young said. “Find coaches that will continuously push you. I love different voices. I love the fact that she’s going away playing with different teammates. That’s going to enforce her to communicate more on the field, and then in turn, come back and hopefully use that voice and communicate to her high school teammates.”
Baker is training with her Bull Dog teammates this summer. Last season as a freshman, Baker led the team with 10 goals and six assists in earning The Republic Girls Soccer Player of the Year honors.
“Playing throughout the winter, and playing many different programs and ODP and playing with my friends has really helped me keep developing as a player and get ready for this upcoming season, which I’m really excited about,” Baker said.
