Marisol Wilkinson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover McClintock High School for AZPreps365.com

The ball is coming down the field quickly. The defense can’t stop the forwards from enclosing in. As the ball is shot toward the goal, she slides hoping she can make a save. Her cleat gets caught in the grass, and the players on the field can hear the pop of her ankle. Just like that, the rest of her season fades into darkness. 

This is what happened to McClintock senior goalie Jordan Whitaker during the first game of the 2020 season against Maricopa. 

Following the Dec. 3 injury, Whitaker rushed her rehab to get back on the field. In her first game back against Gilbert, her ankle gave out again. She was in a boot for a month to recover.

Now, Whitaker is back again, having made her return to the field this season fully recovered.

“This year is my comeback season,” she said.

Soccer has been an important part of Whitaker's high school experience. Having never played goalie before, she was thrown into the position her freshman year. She said it was a great learning experience, despite being blown out by as much as 18-0 in some of her first games on the varsity team. 

As her career continued, Whitaker grew stronger, bringing her save number to 372 by the end of her junior year despite her injury.

“Jordan is incredibly talented,” said assistant coach Morgan Blackmore. “[She] is almost like a glue that can hold the team together. We are lucky to have her on the team.”

Going into the season, Whitaker was hesitant in returning to the team after her injury, the threat of COVID-19, and the team having to look for a new coach.

“At the time, we didn’t have anyone that could play goal the way that Jordan could,” said teammate Morgan Kubasko. “It was nerve wracking.”

Ultimately, her track coach and assistant soccer coach convinced Whitaker to join the soccer squad for her senior season. 

“I just kept telling her that it was her senior year,” said Blackmore. “I said it’d be nice to have one more year, something good to come that wasn’t just working or COVID. I convinced her to come to preseason, and I think from being around the girls it made her want to stay.”

Whitaker’s father, Jermaine, is another reason she decided to play. As the athletic director at McClintock, he had a significant say in the coaching hire.

“I had a problem finding a coach that truly cared about the goalie position,” said Jordan Whitaker. “So, when he went to hire someone, he made sure it was a coach who cared about every single position on the field. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have come back this season.”

The team’s new coach, Gerald Stuart, has made a great impression on the girls. His predecessor was well liked among the players, but Stuart has brought “a fresh start” that the girls needed, Jordan Whitaker said.

As her senior season concludes, Jordan Whitaker has no regrets of playing. On the field, “she has too many saves to count, like way in the hundreds,” said Blackmore. She has saved 50% of the penalty kicks taken against her and has been scored on only 29 times. 

Moving forward, she will follow in her mom’s footsteps in attending the University of Victoria in Victoria British Columbia, Canada. She aspires to run track and is in the process of sending her film to the soccer coaches. 

Whitaker has two games left in her senior season, the next match against North Canyon on March 2.