New Coaches for the MIA Girls Soccer Team

Mary Montgomery, Staff Writer

December 8, 2023

Coach Jax Wantlin (left), Savannah Heimerl (middle), and Hailey Cartwright (right) on MIA’s soccer field.

With the new MIA soccer season, incoming freshmen are not the only new arrivals to the team. A new coaching staff can be seen leading the girl’s soccer team.

Coach Jax has been playing soccer since she was five years old and has 17 years of soccer experience, completing her soccer career in college with a Division Two title. Additionally, she was the girls’ assistant coach last season, so she is familiar with the school and most of the girls on the team from last year. Alongside Coach Jax are her assistant coaches Savannah Heimerl and Hailey Cartwright.

Coach Jax has found being a younger coach has its unique experiences, stating, “It can be an advantage because I just got done playing college soccer so I know what it takes and the drills necessary for us to be successful. I can play with the girls and know their thoughts to help us have beneficial practices. She expands, “The disadvantage is I don’t have as much knowledge as an older coach would, and sometimes I don’t think I get taken seriously.”

Coach Jax is accompanied by her assistant coaches Savannah Heirmerl and Hailey Cartwright as well, both MIA alums.

Both assistant coaches played on the varsity girl’s soccer team all four years of their high school careers.

Jax has found coaching an all-girls team helpful when implementing drills and other activities at practices. She also found it helpful to have the other two assistant coaches help brainstorm ideas put together drills and instruct the team.

So far, Coach Jax has enjoyed coaching the team, even though it can be demanding at times. Being able to see the girls improve and have fun has added to her enjoyment as a coach for the girls’ soccer season.

The new coach hopes to foster a successful season and drive the team to their full potential, believing the girls can “go all the way.” With the coaches already witnessing progress in comparison to the girls’ first week, they are excited to go out there and show rival teams what the MIA girl’s soccer team is capable of.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” says Coach Jax.

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About the Contributor

Mary Montgomery, Staff Writer

Mary Montgomery is a 16 year old junior who attends Marco Island Academy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the beach with her friends, along with shopping when she can afford it. When she's not out with friends or spending money (which is rare), she works at Sweet Annie's, where she has worked for less than two years. After graduation, she plans on going to college. Her choices of majors include psychology, marine biology or esthetician school, but is currently undecided. Prior to moving to Florida 10 years ago, she lived in Ohio. Her mother works for the city, her father is a police officer, and her uncle works for the school as a history teacher, which means she cant get away with anything.