Madeleine (left) and Emily (right) Forschler began their soccer journey at the Oglethorpe County rec department. (Submitted photo)
Several Oglethorpe County High School seniors are preparing to take their athletic careers to the next level.
Emily and Madeleine Forschler will continue playing soccer together at South Georgia State College, while Miles Mason is set to wrestle at Truett McConnell University.
They recently reflected on their favorite memories, what they're most excited for in college and the lessons they’ll carry with them from their time at OCHS.
Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
Emily Forschler, center mid
She’s committed to play soccer at South Georgia State College.
Q: When did you start playing soccer?
A: We (Emily and her twin sister Madeleine) started playing soccer when (we) were 3 years old. And we played at our local rec department.
Q: What is your favorite OCHS soccer memory?
A: Probably my freshman year, when we went to Savannah for a game against St. Vincent's, and then also being able to spend my last two seasons with my sister and dad (Erich Forschler, the girls soccer coach).
Q: When it comes to playing soccer at the collegiate level, what makes you most excited?
A: I'm excited about meeting my teammates and getting to experience soccer at the next level.
Q: What are you going to miss the most about OCHS?
A: Definitely my friends, because I have been friends with (them) because of soccer.
Q: What’s one thing you’ll take from OCHS soccer with you to the next level?
A: I would probably just say, honestly, just the mentality that I've built over the past few years. Probably just like pushing through certain adversity and things like that. Just overcoming stuff.
Madeleine Forschler, center back
She’s committed to play soccer at South Georgia State College.
Q: What is your favorite OCHS soccer memory?
A: I would also say that the Savannah trip was really fun. It's been an honor watching the people around me grow as players, my friends and the teammates I've had. And watching my dad grow as a coach, too. That's been pretty cool.
Q: When it comes to playing soccer at the collegiate level, what makes you most excited?
A: I think for the next level, I'm really excited for the competition, and I'm really excited for it to shape me and help me grow more as a person, because there are just so many more people there. Those experiences are going to be so beneficial.
Q: What are you going to miss the most about OCHS?
A: I'm going to miss my friends a lot. I’ll miss the community here a lot, too, our soccer community. We're all super tight.
Q: What’s one thing you’ll take from OCHS soccer with you to the next level?
A: I would say my ambition and determination.
Miles Mason, 165 pounds
He’s committed to wrestle at Truett McConnell University.
Q: When did you start wrestling?
A: I started in sixth grade. I went out to try basketball, but I was really short, and I didn't make the team. So then my dad was the (wrestling) coach, and he forced me to go to a wrestling tournament with him because I just had to. I went to it, and I was like, “I could beat some of these kids.” So then we got home, and I was like, “Can I start wrestling?” And he said, “Yeah.” So then I started, and ever since then, I've just kept doing it.
Q: What is your favorite OCHS wrestling memory?
A: I would say my sophomore year, we had the sectional dual tournament, and it was one match against Screven County, and we trained all week really hard. We were all ready to go. And then we went down to Screven County, and we actually destroyed them in the state tournament. Then the next week, we ended up placing at the state tournament.
Q: When it comes to wrestling at the collegiate level, what makes you most excited?
A: I would say just continuing to get better and getting into a new environment where there's just a lot more opportunity and a lot more people. The levels are just different. So, I'm just excited for the opportunity to get better.
Q: What are you going to miss the most about OCHS?
A: I'm going to miss my teammates, especially the ones who aren't seniors. Because not that I'm leaving them (those teammates) behind, but (I’m) not going to be on their team anymore. It's kind of sad.
Q: What’s one thing you’ll take from OCHS wrestling with you to the next level?
A: I would just say the mental toughness, because our practices, they're not easy at all, and they really take something inside of you to get through those practices. So, it's probably just a mental toughness coming from having to come to practice every day after a long school day, and just work hard and know that it's working and it's all gonna pay off.