Pratt does it all for Irish

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Shade Pratt has played important roles for Rosemount High School sports teams over the past few years, but this fall she might have even topped herself.

To show how much Pratt has meant to the Irish one only needs to look at what she accomplished while competing for two teams this fall.

It’s also just one example of why Pratt was honored as the school’s Athena Award winner.

Pratt has lettered five times for the Rosemount girls soccer team in the fall. But after the Irish were ousted in the section semifinals this year, Pratt went on to help the girls cross country team qualify for the state meet.

The senior was the top Irish finisher in the section championships and was the second Rosemount runner across the line at the Class 2A state meet.

Add in three — and possibly four — trips to the state track and field meet and Irish girls soccer coach Kevin Adams isn’t surprised she was the Athena Award winner.

“From an athletic standpoint, she had very impressive credentials,” Adams said. “More than soccer, she is someone who has excelled in multiple sports, ran track and been a very successful. For the soccer program, she’s been phenomenal. Academic-wise she’s a 4.0 and has done marvelous here. It was no surprise to me. Her resume is as impressive as any athlete there that day.”

Pratt’s final credentials create quite an extensive list, but she was shocked when found out she had won the award.

“I was very excited for that,” Pratt said. “It was a really good group of girls. I was happy to be nominated.”

Pratt is still adding to her athletic accomplishments.

She has qualified for the state track and field meet three times, and is trying for one more this spring.

As a freshman she placed fourth at the state meet in the 400-meter dash and was on the fifth-place 4x400 relay team. She was ninth in the 400 as a sophomore and finished fourth in the 400 last season as junior. She was also on the fifth-place 4x800 relay for the Irish. Pratt has been on school-record relay teams in the 4x400 and 4x800.

She’s looking to add return trips to the state meet this season in each of her events.

“She does have more natural talent than most athletes do in this state, and with that natural talent she works hard,” Rosemount girls track and field coach Sara Hatleli said. “She trains pretty hard for soccer and it’s been a luxury to have her on the track team. She has done a lot for us.”

Pratt’s track accomplishments haven’t come easy. She’s dealt with injuries most seasons, including one earlier this spring.

“Most athletes pull a hamstring or sprain an ankle, the things she’s dealt with and they’d be done for the season,” Hatleli said. “I don’t think she’s satisfied with that. She doesn’t want to be done. She strives to be in the state meet and does what she needs to do to get back.”

However, soccer is the reason Pratt has a college scholarship waiting for her at Maryland.

Pratt signed a letter of intent to play for the Terrapins, who finished the season ranked No. 10 in the country. She plans to major in biomedical engineering.

“It’s kind of a reality check,” Pratt said. “I’ve been trying to sign up for classes. I’ve been getting all the stuff. I need to get into the weight room. I’m definitely excited.”

If her soccer career is any indication, she will do what’s necessary to make the next step to collegiate soccer.

Pratt was a three-time all-conference selection for the Irish. She was twice an all-state selection.

This fall she scored a team-high 15 goals.

“I think what has made Shade so successful is her drive and passion,” Adams said. “She does the things that other athletes don’t want to do. She always goes above and beyond and is always pushing herself. She wants to be an outstanding soccer player and pushes herself. Shade has an inner motivation to be successful. Great ones do the things that average players don’t do. That’s what she does. She invests in herself.”

And she’s been a good investment for the Irish, no matter which sport she’s excelling in.

Tags: sports, irish, prep, rosemount