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Published Monday, February 08, 2010 in Sports

Photo by Bob Fraley

Northgate High seniors, from left, Susan Lotyczewski (Auburn-Montgomery), Holly Brooks (Winthrop), Devon Fry (University of Georgia), Katie Taylor (Georgia College & State University), Jazmin Manning (Georgia Military College), & Erica Lowery (Young Harris) signed National Letters-of-Intent to play soccer at respective college programs. A Lady Vikings team that includes 10 seniors from a 17-3 state quarterfinal lineup last year, will be eyeing a trip even deeper into this year’s GHSA Class AAAA State Tournament.

Fry, Lady Vikings turn attention to senior seasons after signings

By Chris Goltermann

The Newnan Times-Herald

In the span of six months, Devon Fry has gone through both arguably the most disappointing and the rewarding moment of her soccer career.

This spring, the Northgate High defender and nine other Lady Viking seniors hope to end them at the varsity level with a season they'll never forget.

Six of Northgate's 10 senior players signed National Letters-of-Intent last Friday at the high school while also getting prepared to kickoff the 2010 soccer season on Feb. 23. Fry was among the group, signing with Georgia among a list of schools offering scholarships that also included Clemson, Alabama and South Carolina.

Maybe just as impressive was that all four Division I schools maintained heavy interest for Fry, who was selected as Northgate's Most Valuable Player in both 2009 and 2008, after she suffered a torn ACL while playing for her AFC Lightning Club soccer team at the USYSA Regionals.

"I'm really excited about it. The whole process is very long and really hard," said the left-footed Fry, who plays one of Northgate's two center back positions. "Once I got (to Georgia) it just felt like the right place for me. I knew I wanted to spend four years there on that campus."

Colleges took notice elsewhere on the Lady Viking roster as well, with at least seven of their 10 seniors signing scholarships in soccer or another sport. Friday's signings also included Susan Lotychzewski (Auburn-Montgomery), Katie Lowery (Georgia College & State University), Holly Brook (Winthrop), Erica Lowery (Young Harris) and Jazmin Manning (Georgia Military College).

When the group met last week for a team meeting, Fry said one of the first things discussed was making sure the Lady Vikings were still playing when May arrives for the GHSA Class AAAA Final Four. Northgate's girls are coming off a solid 17-3 season that ended at Salem in the state quarterfinals. Ironically, their Feb. 23 opener, with first-year head coach Bryan Hicks is also at Salem.

"We all met and when we started talking our only goal was to be still playing May 14th and 15th," said Fry of the weekend for the GHSA State Finals.

Georgia head coach Patrick Baker wasn't as much concerned about Fry's injury, as he was about adding her abilities to the Bulldogs program. Fry had recently been selected to attend the Olympic Developmental Program (ODP) Region III U-19 event in Austin.

"Devon has the size, speed and strength to compete at the next level," said Baker. "A number of people have forgotten about her because of the injury, but we know she is coming back better, faster and stronger than ever before."

It may be stronger mentally as well. Fry said she was devastated last July after suffering the injury to her right knee during the first half of a game at the USYSA Regionals, one of the most prestigious youth soccer tournaments at the national level.

Fry said she made a "weird cut" while amidst play when she heard a "loud pop." At first, despite being taken to a trainer, she was told she could probably finish the tournament.

"But when another trainer came over to take a look at it, they said it was (a torn ACL)," said Fry, who has played for the Lightning for the past eight years. "I remember I started to cry. I felt like I let the team down. But I was able to cheer them on from the sidelines and they made it to the finals."

Just as hard, following surgery, was the road back to full health. Fry said she spent regular 90-minute rehabilitation sessions on the knee to work back her strength.

"I've been running as much as I can," said Fry. "I've started juggling a lot and it helps with footwork. The first time I kicked a ball, you can tell (the knee) felt a little different. But I know I'll get over that."

Fry's signing continues a trend of girls soccer standouts moving on to ACC and SEC schools, a list that has included former college players Malorie Rutledge (LSU) and Christie McDonald (Duke). Rutledge was recently the No. 1 draft pick of the Philadelphia Independence's first-year team in the Women's Professional Soccer League.

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