In high school, only about 7% of athletes go on to play NCAA sports at any level. At Skyline, three athletes, Jacob Carbone (‘26), Maeve Kilbride (‘27), and Mina Reichert (‘26), are part of that small group. Each of them discovered their love for the game through friends, family, coaches, and simply playing the sport they enjoy. Now it’s carrying them into the next chapter of their lives.
“[My mom] was a soccer player when she was younger,” said Carbone. “She was trying to get me into soccer and, yeah, I guess it worked.”
Carbone, who will play soccer at Adrian College, said his mom was the one who first got him interested in the sport, but that coaching has also been a major influence in his athletic journey. His coaches shaped his game and gave him the confidence to succeed at the next level. “Coach Pedro, absolute legend right there,” Carbone said. “He really supported me and helped me become better.”
For field hockey player Kilbride, her inspiration came from her sister. “My sister started playing [field hockey] when she was in fourth grade,” Kilbride said. “So when I hit fourth grade, I started too, and I’ve been playing ever since.”
Her sister’s example helped her discover a love for field hockey early on, and as she grew older, her club coach pushed her to take the sport more seriously. “She really convinced me to play club,” Kilbride said. “She’s been a big influence.”
That encouragement caused Kilbride to face new levels of competition and ultimately led her to her commitment to Kent State University.
Reichert’s love for volleyball started when she looked up to older players. “Micaiah [Bottom] and Jess [Lee] were so cool,” Reichert said. “So that meant volleyball was cool.”
She said watching them play in middle school made her want to give the sport a try herself. Reichert’s dad has been her biggest supporter through her volleyball journey. His support and advice helped her stay focused and improve over the years. “He helps me strategize and make goals before games and practices,” Reichert said. “He’s been with me the whole way through my athletic journey.”
All three athletes agreed they love their sports because there’s always something new to work on. “You’re never going to be perfect at anything,” Carbone said. “There are so many things you can work on nonstop to improve, and I just enjoy it.”
Kilbride said her favorite part of field hockey is the competitive and team-focused environment. “Being able to use my speed and score goals and know that I’m doing it with a bunch of girls I really love. That’s what makes it special,” she said.
The friendships she’s made through field hockey are a big part of why she loves the game. “I chose Kent State because I really liked the group of girls when I went on my visit there,” Kilbride said. “I liked the coaches and their values, and the school is really pretty.”
Adrian College stood out to Carbone because of its strong soccer program and the supportive community he found there. “I really like the team environment,” Carbone said. “The coaches are great, the facilities are amazing, it’s everything I need to improve as a player.”
The atmosphere is what drew Reichert to her future school and made it an easy decision.
“It was on the lake, it was pretty, and the program was good and competitive,” she said. “It just felt like the best fit.”
Carbone hopes to be remembered as a player who always gave an impact on the field. “I want to be remembered as someone who always showed up and gave something to the team,” he said.
Kilbride wants her time at Skyline to be defined by her effort and passion for the sport. “Someone who put everything on the field and left it all there,” she said.
Reichert said she hopes her leadership will leave a mark long after she’s gone. “As a hardworking, kind captain,” Reichert said.
Each of these athletes has their own story, but they all share the same love for their sport and the people who helped them along the way. As they head into the next chapter of their athletic careers, they’re taking everything they learned at Skyline with them.
