BROOKHAVEN — Ole Brook senior defender Presly Smith signed to play women’s soccer at East Mississippi Community College Wednesday afternoon. Smith said it felt great to put ink on paper and continue her soccer career. 

She first played soccer at the age of four and stuck with the sport over the years. Soccer was her only sport in high school. Case Smith, her dad, was her first coach, she said. 

Her whole family loves soccer. Now the game will give her a chance to continue her education in Scooba at East Mississippi. 

“I worked really hard and I emailed a lot of coaches. My old teammate signed with East Mississippi last year and I talked to the coach through her,” Smith said. “She isn’t there anymore but I still wanted to play college soccer at EMCC. There will be a lot of new people, new experiences and new things and I’m looking forward to it.” 

Head Coach Dustin Bairfield said EMCC is getting a great student athlete in Smith. She is the  soccer team captain and leads off and on the field. Smith plays center defense and is great with communicating with her teammates. 

Ole Brook is 16-5 this season in girls soccer in part to Smith’s teamwork. Bairfield said Smith is very committed to the team. He said the signing was an awesome day for Brookhaven and Smith. 

“I couldn’t be more excited for her. She deserves it. She is an all around great kid,” Smith said. “She has started for a couple of seasons. She is one we will miss. It is a chance for someone to step up. Every year, she has been a player who is a coach’s dream. She is very coachable, takes advice and tries to grow. The coach at EMCC will be happy and pleased.” 

Smith said she plans to study nursing in college so she can become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. At Brookhaven High School, Smith took Health Science and toured King’s Daughters Medical Center. She was inspired to become a nurse. 

Scooba is about two hours and 45 minutes from Brookhaven. It will be a new chapter in Smith’s story. 

“It is scary. I’ll leave my friends and family. I’m excited to see what the future holds though,” Smith said. “I know I’ll probably cry when this year ends but it has been a great season with my teammates.”