Off The Pitch: Ari Holmes
June 22, 2016 | Soccer
Starkville, Miss. – During the summer, HailState.com will interview select Mississippi State soccer players in an effort to learn more about their lives on and off the pitch. California native Ari Holmes is next on our list as we sit down with the rising senior.
For more information on Holmes or any of the Bulldog soccer team, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at "HailStateSOC."
Ari Holmes Q&A
Q: Growing up you played soccer and volleyball, why did soccer win out?
A: "I think I was better at soccer than volleyball growing up. I've been playing the sport longer, since I was five years old. My sister and I are 16 months apart and we've pretty much done everything together since we were born. We both wanted to play soccer and volleyball, so we did. I played a division up just so I could play with her and we had a lot of fun. Eventually, she decided to stick with volleyball and I went with soccer. I'm sure that made my mom happy."
Q: Since your sister goes to Tennessee do the two of you ever get a chance to come watch one another?
A: "Last year she came down and surprised me when we played in Nashville for the Lipscomb game. Since her volleyball season runs longer than my soccer season, my mom and I went up to Knoxville to watch her play during the Thanksgiving break."
Q: What kind of influence has your mom had on your soccer career?
A: "I call my mom about three or four times a day, and she usually answers two or three times if I am lucky. We also like to text a lot. My sister and my mother are my two best friends. She didn't push my sister or I growing up, but she did motivate us. She supported us in everything we did, but she suggested sports as a way to relieve stress and anger. We knew we didn't have to play sports in college, but we wanted her to not have to worry about paying for our college educations. Playing soccer was a way to start giving back to my mom and I love playing the game, so it's not hard for me to do that."
Q: In your first collegiate game at Fresno State, you played against Julie Johnston (U.S. WNT/Chicago Red Stars) how was that experience?
A: "She was still playing for Santa Clara at the time. She played forward for them that year and we played a really good game against them, but lost 2-1. Of course she scored on us though, but it was a really good experience to play against someone of that caliber right out of the gate."
Q: You're majoring in criminal justice at Mississippi State, how did that come about?
A: "My mom was a police officer for a really long time, growing up around her and hearing the things she did was really interesting to me. I feel like I can do most of the stuff, but I am not sure if I could handle the dead bodies. I feel like once you get to the academy, then you're desensitized. I am thinking about going into law enforcement, but my cousin's father-in-law is in the Secret Service. I would love to work in that area."
Q: What was your most memorable moment from last season?
A: "There have definitely been a lot, but beating Kentucky the way we did was monumental. I could list about 30 moments from last year on and off the field, but the Kentucky win was the biggest because it really got our momentum going."
Q: What advice do you have for younger kids who want to play soccer collegiately?
A: "I would say to keep working hard. At the end of the day if you love it then you can't give up. No matter what anyone tells you, just keep training hard and your time will come."
Quick Hitters
Fact no one knows about her: Did theatre growing up
Favorite thing about soccer: Tackling, it's violent but legal
Favorite childhood memory: Going to Disneyland once a week
Favorite food: Refrigerated M&M's
In 10 years she will be: Making a lot of money
Biggest pet peeve: Liars and cheaters
Best player she's ever faced: Julie Johnston (U.S. WNT/Chicago Red Stars)
Special talents: Being from California
Three words teammates would use to describe her: Funny, tall and flawless
