Norman’s Elle Lockhart

Junior midfielder Elle Lockhart has become a steady presence for Norman High School’s girls soccer team, a three-year varsity starter whose versatility and work ethic anchor the Tigers in the middle of the field. Her impact shows up in the way she covers ground, reads the game and quietly leads teammates on and off the pitch.

Lockhart plays all over the midfield, embracing the demanding role that requires constant movement and concentration. “I play all in the midfield and I would say the hardest part about it is the amount of running,” Lockhart said. She said her biggest strength is her awareness and understanding of the flow of the match. “My strength is to be able to know what’s going on and what to do and what I need to work on is having more confidence,” she said.

Norman High coach Kenady Sheldon said Lockhart’s reliability and selflessness have made her invaluable to the program. “As a junior and three-year varsity starter, Elle has proven herself to be one of the most reliable and versatile players on the field, willing to step into any position the team needs,” Sheldon said. “Her selflessness and team-first mentality set her apart—she is always the first to help a teammate, offer encouragement, or lead by example. Her leadership is felt both on and off the field, where her work ethic, positivity, and dedication elevate everyone around her. She is the kind of player every coach dreams of having.”

For Lockhart, the best part of soccer is the bond she shares with the players around her. “What I love most about my teammates is how well we all get along and how we all are friends,” she said. She pointed to her best friend, teammate Avery Raney, as the one who keeps the team talking and laughing. “The teammate that is most vocal and makes everyone laugh is my best friend, Avery Raney,” Lockhart said.

Lockhart’s favorite memory from last season came in the postseason, when Norman High knocked off Edmond Memorial in the playoffs. Away from school soccer, she also competes for OEFC in Edmond, adding extra training and competition to her schedule. In the classroom, she enjoys psychology and named Ms. Thacker as her favorite teacher.

She said her mother is her biggest inspiration because of the example she sets at home. “My mom inspires me the most because she’s always puts us over herself and works very hard,” Lockhart said. When she does have free time, Lockhart said she likes to spend it with friends or catching up on sleep. Through years of soccer and competition, she said one lesson stands out above the rest: “Athletics has taught me that you have to work for what you get in life.”