Get to Know a Grad – Peyton Dixon

A standout keeper in the club for many years Peyton Dixon is headed off to Grinnell College after eight years with the club.

Peyton began kicking the ball around at the earliest of ages, starting play at just three years of age back in 2008 and has gone on to become an award-winning player in club and high school soccer, earning EPD selections and GSL First Team and Honorable Mention recognition in her junior and senior years at Gonzaga Prep. She also won a state championship in 2018 with the St George’s Dragons.

Some of the players she has played alongside over the years go back further than club. She’s been teammates with Bre Koscielski and Ella Carnahan for eight years but the bonds go back even further with Olivia Olson (10) and Cami Hattenburg (13).

As with many of her G04/05 teammates the GA Florida Showcase earlier this year ranked chief among some of her favorite soccer moments.

A member of the Shadow Women’s First Team this summer, Peyton is headed off to Iowa later this summer for collegiate soccer with the Pioneers. She chose Grinnell College “because it is a small school where I will be able to receive a high-level education while being a part of a close knit community and I will be able to continue my soccer career.”

For the up and coming players behind her she offered some advice, saying that the youngest starting out should “just try your best every day and enjoy getting to play no matter how hard it can be,” and offering to older players to “keep working hard, put in as much work as you can in and out of practice, and have fun with your teammates as much as you can.”

Most of all, though, Peyton was expressive of her thanks, begging close to home.

“My family for always coming to my games and supporting me and giving me the opportunity to play club soccer, my coaches for putting so much time and effort into making me better and pushing me to keep working no matter what, and my teammates for making it so much fun to play and be a part of a team environment.”

Quick Hits

Favorite road trip traditions:

Going to the Westfield Mall every time we were in Seattle.

What will you miss most about club soccer?

My teammates

Top Learning Moment in Club Soccer:

How to control the ball and build out of the back.

Parent POV – Suzy Dixon

Though Peyton was of few words, her mother Suzy had plenty to say about Peyton’s time in the club and growth as soccer player.

“While it’s been exciting to watch her skills and abilities develop over the years, it’s been even more exciting to watch things like teamwork communication and her overall passion for the game continue to grow.

“She has really grown in her ability to handle challenges, disappointment and adversity, while learning things like teamwork, commitment and sportsmanship.

Among her favorite memories – probably not a surprise from a goalkeeper parent – is a penalty shootout, noting a Northwest Cup championship victory that ended the tiebreaker.

And although she will have several years of college soccer ahead, her mom said that she will miss most “getting to watch her play the game she loves!”

“We just feel extremely thankful to have had such great people around her throughout the years… whether it be teammates, coaches, trainers or even parents. To see these people help her celebrate at the highest of moments or help console her in the lowest of moments, we feel truly fortunate that she has had such wonderful people around her on this journey.

 

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