October’s athlete of the month stays busy throughout the entire school year. Junior Lily Blackmore is currently in soccer season but soon will come dance team, track and even golf. Through athletics and competition, Lily has learned to push herself in order to meet her goals.
“One life lesson I have learned from being involved in sports is that you are not ever going to be the best but you should always strive to be the best, meaning you are always going to have to be working on being better,” she says.
Lily thrives at soccer, being a starter on the team since her freshman year. She also went to state with her dance team and placed 5th in districts in the pole vault, all this while focusing on her academics and being a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Like almost anyone who plays competitively, Lily has gone through serious adversity. She sprained the MCL in her knee while playing soccer her sophomore year and was told she couldn’t compete for at least six weeks. During her rehab she kept her goals at the forefront. “I went to physical therapy, worked out a ton and came right back into my sports, finishing out dance team by going to state, pole vaulting on the varsity track team and participating in golf districts,” she says.
While Bonners Ferry is far from the nearest ocean, that hasn’t stopped Lily’s curiosity. She plans on surrounding herself with the sea by pursuing a degree from BYU- Hawaii, located on the North Shore of Oahu. There she plans on pursuing a career either helping people as a nurse or studying wildlife. “I am interested in being a marine biologist because I am fascinated by the ocean and its inhabitants,” she says. Lily also plans on continuing to play soccer recreationally.
Being a part of so many teams has been influential in her life, and Lily recalls learning a lot from the senior class when she was coming in as a freshman. It’s something she now does as an upperclassman. It’s an experience she won’t forget. “I thoroughly enjoy sports because of the competition and especially getting to know my teammates.”