Rachel Lenart has been a huge piece for the Seymour Lady Owls soccer program over her high school career.

She was selected twice to the Hoosier Hills Conference first team and chosen for Academic All-State two times.

She has been chosen as the 2023 Tribune girls soccer player of the year after another quality season for the Owls.

She showed her selflessness this season when she decided to switch positions to better the team.

Lenart spoke about the change.

“Initially, I was sad about moving from the forward position. It was the only position I played leading up to switching the formation,” Lenart said. “However, after playing a few games, I felt it was a good decision in order for our team to strengthen. It allowed me to have more control over the game and help distribute the ball instead of just being at the end of it.”

Lenart also was a captain for two seasons for Seymour. She spoke about learning the role as a junior.

“Last year being the only junior as a captain was definitely intimidating,” she said. “I was able to learn from the senior captains and use it to be a better, more involved captain for this year’s season.”

She shared her favorite parts of being a captain.

“Being a captain for two years ultimately helped me gain confidence that I belong on that field and the team,” Lenart said. “My favorite part of being a captain was helping the more quiet, reserved players break out of their shells and letting them know that they also deserve to be on the team when they try their hardest.”

Lenart helped the Owls to a 5-11-2 record and a winning 3-2-1 mark in the Hoosier Hills Conference. She was second on the team in goals (five) and tied for the most assists (three). She scored in four of the Owls’ wins.

She spoke about her senior season.

“This season was a big adjustment with how many varsity players we lost from last year,” she said. “We would often have to walk through drills slower because of the newer players within the varsity team. Over the season, the newer players began to gain confidence in themselves and in the team we built, and we were able to get wins off of that confidence.”

Owls head coach Greg Musser spoke about Lenart’s season and what she means to the Seymour soccer program.

“She was the engine that drove our team, playing the whole field for us and did all the dirty work that we needed in the middle,” Musser said.

Other members of the all-county team:

Elizabeth Trueblood, (Sr.), Seymour: Recorded 92 saves (second most in HHC), recorded most minutes in HHC (1,101), five shutouts

Kaydence Miller, (Sr.), Trinity Lutheran: Five goals, four assists, named team MVP

Ali Dominguez-Javier, (Jr.), Seymour: HHC second team as a defender

Rochiely Zarate-Gibson, (Jr.), Seymour: HHC first team, Academic All-State, two goals, one assist

Layla Jones, (Jr.), Trinity Lutheran

Katy Roark, (So.), Seymour: Eight goals (fifth most in HHC), led the Owls in goals and points (16)

Ella Brock, (Fr.), Seymour: Two goals, three assists, started and played each game as a freshman

Zoe Croquart, (Fr.), Trinity Lutheran: Played a lot of varsity minutes as a freshman