In a new age of college sports, staying home can be a much more difficult decision than in years past. UWS soccer was able to keep two hometown kids, and they’re happy they did.

Jake Kidd and Niya Wilson are names that have been around Superior for a long time.

Standouts at Superior High School, both players chose to represent UWS soccer.

“High school Niya was a little leery,” said Wilson. “I was like, ‘I don’t really know what I want to do, so I’m just going to stay home.’ It couldn’t have worked out any better. I’m so grateful for not only the soccer aspect of things, but academically and looking forward to my professional career, so many doors have opened for me, and I’ve met so many great people, and I didn’t even have to move a block away from home.”

“It’s nice to have family and friends that are close by to support me come to all my games and I’m just proud to have this experience and have this up to seven years now playing for a Superior soccer,” said Jake Kidd.

Kidd and Wilson staying home has been great for the program but so is their play on the turf. Kidd put up 24 goals in his junior season, while Wilson tallied 16 of her own.

For Kidd, his leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed, even with his teammates.

“This year we’ve asked him to step up and be a leader. He’s not a captain at this moment but he is a leader amongst the team and he’s a guy in big moments where it’s like, you look to a guy like J-Kidd and say we’re always in this game because we always have a guy like that that can score.”

Wilson’s dedication to the program comes in the form of helping the next generation of Yellowjackets.

“She also has been really instrumental and been the big advocate in getting involved with the local youth,” said women’s soccer head coach Allison DeGroot. “Because she has been a voice for that, we’ve gone to youth rec games, we have put on a camp for the very first time. Our youth night was really well attended.”

“The biggest thing was connecting with our youth in the area, because when I was a little kid, I always wanted a soccer player to look up to, and I never had that connection,” said Wilson. “So I worked to make sure that we connected with the youth programs in the area, and I think that me serving as that connection has made so many other community connections with like their parents, things like that, and I hope of anything, that’s the long-lasting legacy that I leave here at UW-Superior.”