McPherson senior Kenna Dale is a defensive midfielder for the Bullpups and has been playing soccer since she was three years old.
“Kenna loves playing soccer,” head coach Chris Adrian said. “I think that’s the first thing that stands out when you watch her play. There’s a smile on her face and she has fun playing. The next thing you will quickly notice while watching Kenna is she enjoys the contact the game of soccer brings. Winning headers and flying into tackles are two of Kenna’s greatest strengths on the field.”
Dale is considered one of the most physical players to play for Coach Adrian as well as one of the most aggressive and physical players in the area.
“My mom is actually the one that has instilled playing physically and aggressively into me my whole life,” Dale said. “She has always wanted to see more fouls and always thinks I can be just a little more aggressive and physical. I play that way because that’s really what the game of soccer is. Physicality and aggressiveness in the end are what win the games, in my opinion.”
The senior has done just that and has made being aggressive her identity, something that has been infectious for the rest of the team and has helped lead to being named to two honorable mention all-league selections the last two years.
Now as a captain, Dale who has already been a leader for the Bullpups has started to take on even more of the leadership role if they want to make it back to the state tournament.
“As a captain, this year, I am going to live by our theme ‘Family’ and encourage my teammates to live that way as well,” Dale said. “I would like to say I am a natural-born leader and people follow what I do.”
