Michelle Spiker has been playing soccer since the age of 5. Just last week, Spiker signed a soccer scholarship to Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.Spiker is the 18-year-old daughter of Richard and Tracey Spiker of Moody.
Moody High School has had a soccer program the past five years and Spiker has been a member since the very beginning.
“It has been a great experience playing soccer at Moody,” Spiker said. “I was there from the ground floor up so I got to see the team develop and learn how to work as a team. The coaches are great at Moody. There is great leadership and it was just a great experience.”
Spiker said she was excited to finally do something she has worked so hard for. Spiker is center defense on the team.
“Basically, I just clean up the trash,” Spiker said. “When an opponent gets through to midfield, I’m the first line of defense before the goalie.”
The University of Mobile was Spiker’s second choice. Other colleges showing interest included Faulkner, Milikin out of Johnson City, Tenn., Mercer in Georgia and Southeastern out of Dallas.
Spiker has a 3.6 GPA and plans on majoring in biology. After four years at Covenant College, Spiker wants to go on to med-school, hopefully at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Tracey Spiker said she was very proud of her daughter.
“Her dream early on in life was to play college soccer,” she said. “She has worked hard for this and has fought through a couple of injuries (ACL surgery). She has always loved soccer so we are just so excited fir her to get this opportunity.”
Spiker’s dad is also very excited about the future of his daughter.
“We’re thankful she is going to the next level of competition and to fulfill her dreams,” said Richard Spiker. “She is the third one in our family to play soccer at the collegiate level. One cousin is at Birmingham-Southern while another cousin is at Samford.”
Mark Duble, head soccer coach at Covenant College, said he is excited about signing Spiker.
“I think we are most impressed by the way she fits in with the program,” Duble said. “Academically, athletically and spiritually. She is just a perfect match for the school and the girls. We are real excited about her attitude about training and about life itself.”
Moody High School principal Dale Stripling said he is very proud of what Spiker represents.
“Not only is she a great student and athlete, she is a great person with a great attitude,” Stripling said. “We know she will represent Moody well at the next level.”
Ken Headley is Spiker’s club coach from Vestavia. He said this is something she has been working on for a long time.
“Ever since I started coaching her four years ago, this has been her goal and objective,” Headley said. “It’s a dream come true for her and I’ve been very fortunate to be one of many people along the way who have helped her to get here.”
