Brookwood High School’s starting kicker, Caitlyn Soroka, became the first female player to win Gwinnett County Specialist of the Year based on her incredible performance this past season.
The junior kicker managed to go perfect on the season. She went 20-for-20 on extra points and 8-of-8 on field goals. She also managed to execute two successful onside kicks that both led to game winning drives for Brookwood. One of the game winning drives included Soroka knocking threw the deciding field goal, leading to a Bronco victory.
Game winning PAT at the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic! Snap from @EvanFalk25 and hold from @Johnnytran117. @Bronco_Ftball @Bronco_Recruits @mtm27 @CoachGiugliano @KohlsKicking @KohlsHighlights @CoachRaw_ pic.twitter.com/7psquqeIyp
— Caitlyn Soroka (@CaitlynSoroka) August 22, 2023
This past season was Soroka’s third year in the Brookwood football program, and its safe to say her impact on the team has been noticed, especially by her head coach.
“Caitlyn is an exceptional young lady of high character, a high flying student, a tireless worker and a multi-talented athlete,” said Brookwood head coach, Philip Jones.
For the first two years of Soroka’s football career, she would get ready for games in the laundry room separate from the team. Coach Jones changed that this season due to how much Soroka means to the Broncos football program, so they built her, her own separate locker.
Along with being a part of the football program the past three years, Soroka is very involved around the Brookwood campus. She is a part of the Beta Club, the French National Honors Society and the Science National Honor Society while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. Soroka is also a member of the track and field and soccer teams at Brookwood as well.
While she is very involved in a variety of other activities, Soroka is very grateful for being able to be a part of the football program at Brookwood.
“Being a part of the Brookwood football program is something I’m proud of. The emphasis our coaches, especially Coach Jones, puts on family and the legacy behind it all truly shows when I realize how close I am with all of my teammates and how close the community is. Having love for one another is something you can’t teach, but the program is overflowing with it,” she added.
The first time Soroka kicked a football was at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia when she was 10 years old. She watched football growing up with her family and enjoyed the game.
When Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller became the first female to score a point in a collegiate football game, Soroka knew that it was possible to be able to compete on the gridiron.
With her friends’ support and her soccer background, Soroka proposed the idea to Coach Jones at her freshman orientation who was more than supportive of the idea.
Three years later, in her first year as the full time starting kicker for Brookwood, Soroka shined, not missing a single kick.
After helping Brookwood defeat Carver-Columbus with a successful onside kick and the game winning field goal, the Atlanta Falcons invited Soroka to be an honorary captain at one of their home games against the Washington Commanders.
“They treated my family and me with so much generosity and kindness which helped make it so enjoyable. I was also able to meet Younghoe Koo who is someone I look up to as a kicker. The pictures taken of me during it may have showed how big I was smiling, but they still couldn’t describe the surreal feeling and pure excitement and honor I felt from being there,” said Soroka.
Along with Koo, Soroka added that she looks up to professional kickers Justin Tucker, and Jason Elam, a former Brookwood High School alumni who had an extensive 15-year NFL career.
Being one of the few females to take the leap onto the football field, Soroka encourages others to take a leap of faith, and chase your dreams whether its between the hash marks or something else completely separate.
“Coming off of my successful season, I hope that other girls are inspired not just to play football but to go against adversity and pursue whatever it is that they enjoy doing. My hope is that more opportunities for girls and women open up in the world of sports and create an even bigger environment to surround us so that we are able to accomplish our goals and dreams,” she stated.
While Soroka has enjoyed the opportunity to be on the field with her teammates representing the Brookwood community, she believes that the sport has helped her develop as a person.
“It’s allowed me to develop as a better person through all of the connections I’ve made these past couple of years and given me so many opportunities that I am forever grateful for,” she said.
Along with the opportunities and the lessons along the way, Soroka believes that playing football has helped her create a bond with her teammates, coaching staff and community that will last a lifetime.
“My favorite thing about my team is the unwavering support from each of my teammates and coaches. The endless love and support from each one of them is something you can’t teach and can’t take away. They are my family away from home and I couldn’t have asked for better people to be surrounded by,” she said.
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