Another year, another list of awards.
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Kempsey born Chloe Rootes continues to kick goals in America, after she was rewarded for another stellar football season abroad.
The Tennessee Wesleyan University representative was announced as the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) offensive player of the year and apart of the AAC all tournament team and AAC first team.
For Chloe, this marks the second year in a row she's been awarded offensive player of the year and selected in the all first team, beating out a pool of over 300 players.
Over her four years in the competition she has won AAC offensive player of the week 5 times, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics offensive player of the week and AAC all-academic team three times.
She has scored a total of 36 goals and 29 assists.
Her career has been defined by yes moments.
At the age of 14, Chloe said her first yes, and was on a one-way flight to Germany where she was off to play the game she loves so much for two years.
Although that didn't turn out the way in which she had hoped, it became a stepping stone to the second yes opportunity.
In the space of four days she went from Germany to Australia to New Zealand.
A scholarship was presented to not only play football but to attend the largest co-ed boarding school in NZ.
The next four years saw Chloe achieve many awards and recognition both on and off the field, playing at a national level for New Zealand.
Then in her final senior year came her third big yes moment - a full scholarship playing football and attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, studying a bachelors in Exercise Science and Physical Science education.
She made the honours list six out of the eight semesters, finishing her final senior year being awarded the Dwain Farmer award for most outstanding female athlete of the year for university, and an academic plaque for her dedication and work in the education department.
As tradition, a student from the graduating year is nominated and selected to deliver the speech on behalf of the graduating students - that honour went to Chloe.
Those yes moments all those years back lead her to another yes as she delivered one hell of a speech - not bad for a young kid from a country town.
"My final challenge for all of you is to go out, and say thank you to the people who mean the most to you, even for the smallest of things," one of the inspirational excerpts from her outstanding speech.
"Thank people for making you smile, for waking you up in the morning so you didn't miss class, for sharing their snack with you, or for just being themselves.
"Thank the people who used to be strangers and are now family."
Chloe's parents John & Renea couldn't be more proud of the achievements their daughter has obtained, even though it has come with many sacrifices they both have supported her dream and journey of playing the sport she loves.
"I cannot wait to see where her next big yes moment will lead her," Renea said.
Chloe gave an insight into a COVID riddled America and how that affected her football.
"Lots of COVID tests, multiple quarantine weeks, but for the most part it was as normal as could be," she said.
"We just had to wear masks everywhere we went and even at training."
She also had advice for youngsters looking to achieve their dreams.
"Say yes to every opportunity that comes your way and don't be scared to go looking for those opportunities," she explained.
"Ask people to help you out, what's the worst they could say?"
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