Wet dew builds on the grass of a Palm Harbor, FL soccer field. Two teams of five-year-old boys are preparing to face off for the first match of their lives. Meanwhile, a little girl’s older sister helps her with her ribbon and cleats on the sideline. They adjust the bunny ear loops on the laces of her cleats perfectly, then change the ribbon into a bow in her hair. As she takes the field, her parents and four older sisters cheer her on.
Mary Raymond grew up in Palm Harbor as the youngest of five girls with a love for soccer and a competitive spirit. When Mary was five, she started playing soccer in the boys’ division . She always enjoyed their reaction when she competed with them and how it pushed her to be a better player.
Twenty years later, she still pushes her teammates and herself to be the best they can be. In her fifth year at Samford, she participated in one of the most successful stints in program history, winning three SoCon tournament championships and four regular season titles. She also still leads the team in scoring this year with ten goals.
“It’s weird as you grow into a leadership role;, people change, and people take on bigger roles as they step up to fill people’s shoes, but we’ve always stayed super close,” said Raymond.
Raymond has always been a winner, winning a state championship at Palm Harbor High School. That mentality came with some cockiness and even a tattoo bet.
Raymond and her friend said if they ever won the state championship, they would get a lip tattoo together in anticipation that the tattoo would fade away in three to four years. It’s been five years since she won state her senior year, and as the lip tattoo hasn’t faded away, neither has her drive for success as Raymond is working towards her fifth SoCon regular season title and fourth tournament title.
Off the field, faith has always been integral to Raymond’s life. Raised in a Catholic home, Raymond’s parents have been crucial parts of her spiritual and athletic journeys.
“They weren’t too hard on me, and they pushed me to be my best but just never pushed too hard,” Raymond said.
Raymond grew up with four older siblings. One of her older sisters, Sarah Raymond, played soccer as a defender at the University of Tampa, recording 70 starts there. She helped inspire her youngest sister to keep on the athletic track.
In 2021, arguably her best season, Raymond won the SoCon Tournament MVP and was recognized as SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week with a 3.98 GPA. Raymond plans to be a physician’s assistant and is currently working towards PA school.
“Samford has the best team ever. Everyone is seriously each other’s best friend. It’s always hard to play the same position as someone and not fight with them, but Samford does a really good job of pushing each other to do their best,” said Raymond.
In her last official season at Samford, Raymond is pushing to do more than just win the SoCon Championship. She’s looking to move her team to be better in all areas of life.
“What inspires me, playing for my teammates beside me and knowing what I do affects how they play, and just pushing each other and doing our best together,” Raymond said.
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