By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SEYMOUR – Taylor Olson, a 2020 Seymour High School graduate, missed two years of her high school soccer career – one due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling competition this past spring and the other from injury.
“After having a good freshman year where I was named all-conference and the team’s most valuable player, I tore the meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee,” said Olson, who was forced to sit out her sophomore year because of the injury. “I was playing club soccer at a tournament in Madison, went in for a shot and my knee didn’t go with me. I didn’t think it was torn until a few weeks later. Fortunately, I’m back to 100 percent. If possible, I’d like to play club soccer somewhere next year.”
Taylor, the daughter of Jolleen and Glen Olson, played under Todd Messner her freshman year before Steve Seefeldt took over the program her junior year.
“It was a fun experience playing for Coach Seefeldt,” said Olson, who describes herself as enthusiastic, generous and open-minded. “The transition from one coach to the next was hard at first, but it was great learning different things from two separate coaches.”
Olson said her most memorable moment was winning regionals during her freshman season.
“It was a fun experience and something I’ll never forget,” said Olson, who wishes she would have run cross country, too.
Olson said she was known at Seymour for being able to complete a front-flip throw-in.
“I would run toward the sideline, do a flip while still holding onto the ball and throw it in,” she said. “I was like the second girl at Seymour to ever do that. It helped me get more power and length. It was a fun thing to do. I did fall twice while doing it, though – once during a game and once in practice.”
Olson’s original plan was to attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, but for now, she’ll take online classes through Northcentral Technical College and study human resources.
She plans to receive a master’s degree from UWGB in the future.
Her parents both grew up in Seymour, while her mom was active in track and cheer.
“My older sister, Annamarie, my younger brother, Riley, and my younger sister, Alyssa, were/are into soccer,” Olson said. “It’s been a big part of our family.”
Olson said she enjoyed attending Seymour.
“It was a fun environment and the teachers were helpful and want to see you succeed,” she said. “I’ll definitely be remembered for my soccer skills.”
Olson said she can bounce a soccer ball using her knee/foot more than 100 straight times without the ball touching the ground.
“That’s one thing we had to do in club soccer,” she said. “I have lots of practice at it.”
In her spare time, she likes running, playing with her dogs and being outside.
Olson also likes cheesecake, the Green Bay Packers, the restaurant Olive Garden, the month of January and the phone app Snapchat.