QND’s Thomas embracing opportunity to improve her game, work toward spot on ODP national roster

QUINCY — With the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team playing high-caliber opponents seemingly every night during a three-week January stretch, Sierra Thomas knew what she’d be missing as she stepped away.

“It’s so hard to not be there,” the sophomore guard said.

Yet, her reason for taking a midseason hiatus came from an opportunity too good to pass up.

Simply put, a national stage beckoned.

Thomas, a starting center back on the QND girls soccer team who received honorable mention all-sectional plaudits last spring as a freshman, was invited to participate in the Olympic Development Program InterRegional Event in Orlando, Fla.

For the past week, she has been playing and training with a group of the top players nationwide. Thomas is representing the Midwest Region, which is comprised of ODP programs from Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa and other states.

There are four regions, each with a roster of 18 players. At the end of the interregional event, U.S. Youth Soccer will select the ODP 2009 national team.

“This is a huge opportunity for me,” Thomas said. “You don’t get to see too many high-level coaches when you play at a smaller high school or with a smaller club. This showcases all of us players and gives us the opportunity to play with girls from all over the Midwest.

“It’s an opportunity to work with great coaches, live soccer for a week and really get better.”

And potentially open doors to bigger opportunities.

“My goal is to learn as much as I can,” Thomas said. “There are a lot of great coaches who will be able to help me learn how to handle the game mentally and physically. I’m going to learn how to treat my body, how to recover, how to stretch, how to eat and stay healthy.

“My goal is to learn a lot and keep working at it.”

Her effort is relentless.

“I’ve played soccer since I was three and I’ve loved it ever since,” she said.

That shouldn’t be surprise since her last name is Thomas. Her father, Mark, is one of the greatest soccer players this city has ever produced, while her aunt, uncles and cousins have all had an impact on the success of the QND boys and girls soccer programs.

Soccer truly is a family tradition.

“It’s been neat to follow in my dad’s footsteps, and now it’s my turn to show what I can do,” Thomas said.

That’s why she is embracing this opportunity wholeheartedly.

“It’s a reflection of how much I’ve worked for this,” Thomas said. “This is the chance to show the work I do on my own to get better.”

It just happens to fall at a time when the QND girls basketball team is rolling. The Raiders were ranked No. 1 in Class 3A last week — tied with Wahsington for the top spot — and carry a 19-2 record into this Thursday’s game against Illini West. A number of tough opponents, including three foes currently garnering state rankings, still await.

So Thomas will have the opportunity to work back into the Raiders’ rotation when she returns and have an impact coming off the bench as she has all season.

“Playing basketball has taught me how to be a really good team player and support my whole team and all the girls around me,” Thomas said.

It’s a task she’ll take on during the soccer season as well.

“The more I learn, the more I figure out how I want to play as a center back,” Thomas said. “That’s a big job for me. I want to be the best at it and be there for my team.”

That’s the kind of attitude and focus the ODP coaches will appreciate.

“This is a really good opportunity for my future,” Thomas said. “I’m fortunate I get to do it.”