- April 23, 2024
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Claire Slamka helped the Lady Pirates win a region championship and two district titles. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Slamka finished with seven goals and 10 assists — as a defensive midfielder — in her senior season. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
If Matanzas senior Claire Slamka had her way after the 2015 season, her soccer career would’ve ended. But, thanks to her mother, Stacey, and club coach, Teddy Mayer, Slamka will be forwarding her career at Coker College in Hartsville, South Carolina.
As if a region final 1-0 loss wasn’t bad enough, Slamka tore every ligament in her knee in the final minutes of said game.
Slamka had received interest from several Division I colleges before her injury, but, after her recovery took a lot longer than expected, colleges became less interested, and Slamka strongly considered quitting.
"After I first returned, I would ask out when the game got aggressive because I was scared I was going to get hurt again."
CLAIRE SLAMKA
“I ran cross country and track the following year,” she said, “but I couldn’t run more than a mile. So, I was like ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”
Even when she returned to the soccer field, Slamka felt it had become more obvious for her to give up the game she had loved since
playing as a 4-year-old. Slamka no longer played with any confidence.
“After I first returned, I would ask out when the game got aggressive,” Slamka confessed, “because I was scared I was going to get hurt again. I would tell the coach that felt pain in my knee. I really didn’t want to go through that pain again and all the therapy and stuff.” Slamka never revealed this to any of her teammates while playing.
While Slamka was on the brink of quitting soccer, her mom and club coached continually pushed her to persevere through her fears, which she did.
After signing her letter of intent, Slamka credited her mom, saying, “I wouldn’t be getting signed, if it wasn’t for her. She literally pushes me every single day.”
Slamka jokingly referred to her mother as a dictator, signifying Stacey’s constant demand from her daughter. But, when Stacey asked Claire if she was a great listener, a great mother and a good friend, Slamka immediately responded with a resounding “yes.”3
