Soaring Soccer Captain Nicole Tooker

Nicole Tooker ’26 captains the Hopkins Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team this season alongside Ryann Holden ’26.

Tooker started playing soccer when she was “three or four,” stating, “I started playing soccer as another fun sport to try out.” She continued  that she “immediately fell in love. Tooker played for her recreational team until second grade, and then transitioned to her town team when she entered third grade. In fifth grade, she began playing for her club team, which she continues to play for today. At Hopkins, she played on the Junior School Girls’ Soccer Team before transitioning to Varsity in 9th grade. 

Tooker has many fond memories over the course of her seasons with the team. Halloween is a special memory for her, stating that the entire team “[dresses] up in funny costumes, and Halloween practice is always a fun way to celebrate with my teammates.” She also enjoys the Homecoming celebrations and the leadup to the game. Tooker said that her entire team makes homecoming t-shirts at the team dinner before Homecoming each year. She said, “We each randomly choose a teammate and get to personalize and hand make their shirt.” She noted that for her the tradition “exemplifies the tight knit team community of GHOPSOC and gets us hype for the homecoming game.” 

Soccer has helped Tooker grow as a person and teammate : “Soccer has given me my best friends and a community to rely on. It has always been an outlet for me, and I love playing soccer.” She also mentioned that playing the sport has allowed her to learn how to stay disciplined. Soccer has prepared Tooker to be a leader: “I’ve learned how to step into a leadership role and support my teammates as captain.” 

Her teammates have praised her efforts and improvements on the field. Eva Shewaye ’26 said, “[Tooker] has always been an amazing soccer player, so it's hard for me to measure her growth when she was already so talented from the start.” Julianne Gonzalez ’28 described her captain’s strength on the field: “[Tooker] is a talented soccer player and a very skilled defender. If someone gets past our line, you can bet that she'll track them down.” Ava Morello ’27 noted how Tooker has handled new responsibilities, stating, “She’s excellent at anticipating plays, staying composed under pressure, and stepping up in big moments. On top of that, she’s taken on the responsibility of our corners and free kicks, which shows her versatility and how much trust the team has in her.”

Off the field, Tooker has emerged as a leader both during practices and in tough moments. Imogen Smethurst ’27 emphasized, “As a teammate and team leader, I've seen her grow in her interactions with the team as someone who can give direction, hype everyone up and offer feedback.” Gonzalez noted her captain’s leadership qualities: “[Tooker] goes into every practice and game with a positive attitude, and shares this positivity with her teammates. She is encouraging and supportive, and those are two important qualities to have in a captain.” Shewaye reminisced, “When I first met [Tooker] in J-school soccer, she was quiet, as we all were, but as we moved onto high school soccer, she grew into a much more vocal leader, always encouraging and supporting the team. That shift is what made her a strong team leader and a source of positive energy for us.”

Tooker believes others should think about starting to play soccer and join the Hopkins team due to the ability to easily make friends and gain experience in the sport: “Do it! I have made some of my best friends on GHOPSOC. Soccer has taught me so much about how to be a great teammate and leader, and I can’t recommend it enough.”

Tooker plans to continue to play soccer in college at the club level next year.