Queen Creek High School senior Taylor Prigge signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer at the University of Utah.
Prigge played multiple sports when she was young, including gymnastics, volleyball, flag football, dance and recreational soccer. She started playing competitive soccer when she was 9 years old and asked to play club soccer.
“We weren’t sure which sport was going to stick, if any would,” said her mom, Deborah Prigge. “But she started playing soccer and just loved it.”
She began playing with San Tan Legacy, which is now Real Salt Lake-AZ. Her coach put her in as goalkeeper and she did well, so she started goalkeeping specific training in addition to practice.
When she was entering ninth grade, Prigge tried out for the then-new US Soccer Development Academy Team, Utah Royals AZ. She earned the starting goalkeeper position.
Today, Prigge is the goalkeeper for the Queen Creek High School team and she will play her spring season with the Utah Royals AZ. She said that her club’s connection to Utah and her decision to commit to the University of Utah are a coincidence.
Deborah Prigge said that under the direction of Utah Royals AZ Academy Director Tiffany Roberts and goalkeeper training with goalkeeper coach Joe Waggoner, her daughter’s time playing for the Utah Royals AZ team has been instrumental in her development and ultimately her opportunity with the University of Utah.
“I have a really amazing goalkeeper coach,” said Prigge. “Joe Waggoner has played a huge role in me committing so I’m thankful for that.”
Queen Creek High School had a signing ceremony for Prigge and another student athlete who signed to play softball at the University of New Mexico.
“Our school put on a big ceremony and everyone got to come, and it was a really nice way to celebrate both of us,” Prigge said. “They made it a big deal, made us feel special for the day.”
The other teams in Prigge’s league are mostly in Southern California, so her team travels frequently for games. She said Queen Creek High School helped her balance academics and soccer.
“It is definitely a challenge. I’ve had really good teachers who worked with me and helped me with deadlines and tutoring if I need it,” Prigge said, adding that the experience prepared her for college where there will be a lot of traveling.
“She has received tremendous support from Queen Creek High School even though she has only played for them for two seasons,” added Deborah Prigge.
Kete Meskill, head coach of the girls varsity soccer team, said Prigge is one of the best players to attend Queen Creek High School.
“When you think of the perfect player, teammate, person and student to represent your school, Taylor Prigge is at the top of your list every time,” said Kete Meskill, girls head varsity soccer coach. “She is the greatest teammate to everyone and anyone within the program, she is a confident leader and always willing to be there for anyone in need. She deserves all the recognition she gets, as she is humble in her pursuit of achieving her goals and aspirations to become a top-level student athlete in the next stage of her soccer career. She will leave this program and school as one the greatest to come through here and will always be remembered for her impact at Queen Creek.”
Prigge is not sure yet what she is going to study at the University of Utah but she is leaning towards dentistry, which would require either a biology or chemistry major. Whatever she studies, Prigge wants to maintain a GPA of at least 3.5. Then she will see where soccer takes her after college.
