After winning back to back state championships, defender Kearney Cunningham committed to Christopher Newport University to continue her athletic career. 

While this school is smaller in comparison to others, the environment really drew her in. 

 “I really love the campus and all the coaches and after visiting, I just really saw myself there,” Cunningham said. “The distance from home is also an added bonus because it’s not too far.”

Going into her college season Cunningham is most looking forward to playing at a new level and the intensity it brings.

“I started playing in first grade, and it’s just cool to look back and see how far I’ve come,” Cunningham said. 

Her biggest motivation—wanting to play in college. 

“My coaches have been supporting me every step of the way and have been my biggest cheerleaders along with my teammates,” Cunningham said. “They push me to do my best and I don’t know where I’d be without them.”

Teammate and best friend Mia Erickson says Cunningham brings leadership and is a positive aspect of the team.

“Kearney is one of our four captains, so she leads the team through drills and with her quiet leadership, she also has constructive feedback during our circles,” Erickson said. 

The commitment process looks different for every athlete. For Cunningham, it was a lot of editing video clips and emailing back and forth with different coaches. 

“The hardest part was probably staying consistent with the communication from coaches and just being patient,” she said. 

Teammate of two years, Kyra Ferrara says Cunningham is a leader on and off the field and is the backbone of the defense.

“She is one of our best defense players,” Ferrara said. “She never fails to be encouraging and supportive to everyone.”