JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Sydney Schmidt train isn’t leaving the station just yet, but it’s getting close. The St. Johns Country Day star and All-News4JAX girls soccer player of the year is bound for big things.
Schmidt just doesn’t look at it like that. The 16-year-old sophomore is on the fast-track to soccer stardom, but Schmidt puts things in perspective in a hurry.
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“I feel like definitely just staying humble is like the biggest thing. And knowing that, yes, I may be good now, but there’s so many more levels. I can get better and better every day,” Schmidt said. “And it’s just that, I haven’t reached my full potential. And like, yes, I’ve been getting like a ton of accolades and stuff but it’s like the hard work and dedication I’ve put in to get this. And I know that to keep receiving these, I need to keep working harder.”
Schmidt entered the St. Johns program already a talented and known player on the pitch. But she’s worked herself into a nationally elite prospect so talented that she got a call-up from the US U-16 Women’s National Team for their UEFA tournament in Turkey last month, one of her multiple invites to the squad.
“It’s such a higher level and people are having to think at faster paces, play faster, and it’s just, all in all, like coming out of camp, I feel like I got so much better,” Schmidt said. “Even though it’s like nine days, 10 days, it’s just like a really incredible experience and getting to play with some like the best girls around the country is just so fun.”
At the high school level, Schmidt has been sensational. She was a first-team All-News4JAX selection last year and had a career-best 25 goals and 22 assists — as a freshman. With an even larger target on her back this year, Schmidt had 24 goals and 10 assists.
And it’s not like there’s many gimmies on the schedule. St. Johns Country Day’s Mike Pickett, one of the most successful coaches among the major team sports in the state, annually prepares the Spartans for the postseason road by stacking the schedule with heavyweights. Pickett and Sydney’s father, Brad, who coaches the boys team, have been great sounding boards for her.
“Whether I think I’m pushing myself or not, they’re always telling me to go to another level and like keep working harder and working harder to get better and better every day,” Schmidt said. “And I feel like having two people behind me like that who support me through everything is just been really important.”
One of Schmidt’s best games of the season came in the opener against Ponte Vedra. She scored both St. Johns goals in a 2-all draw. Ponte Vedra allowed just nine goals the rest of the season, won the Class 6A state title and finished ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps. Schmidt said that this year’s Spartans team was the closest one she’s played on, bound by culture, something that Pickett drives home to the team from the start of practice.
The Spartans won a state-record 11 consecutive championships from 2012 to 2022. The last two years, St. Johns has gotten to the state semifinals before losses to Lakeland Christian and Shorecrest Prep. Schmidt said that just shows just how strong girls soccer is across the state.
“I think just having the run that we had, like the last 12 years, or I guess, prior to these last two years, was just so incredible. And I think the players that were on those teams were so amazing, many of them went to play great colleges,” Schmidt said.
“And I think the last two years, I would not call them failures. Because both seasons, my team and I, we’ve worked so hard. We put in countless hours. And just it didn’t end up right for us those days. But I feel like next year and like the years following, I know the girls that are coming into the program, we’re going to get back on top.”
All-News4JAX girls soccer
First team
Position, Player, School, Class
F Natalie Brooks, Ponte Vedra, So.
Led Sharks to Class 6A state championship with 21 goals, 15 assists. Very fast on the pitch with a second gear that allows her to bend around defenders.
F Jenny Dearie, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Led Sharks to the Class 6A state championship with 19 goals, 15 assists for MaxPreps’ nationally ranked No. 1 Ponte Vedra.
F Lily Morse, Ponte Vedra, So.
Breakout season for the Class 6A state champion Sharks. Had 21 goals, 13 assists as Sharks won final 14 games and the fourth state title in program history.
F Sydney Schmidt, St. Johns Country Day, So.
Elite national talent is All-News4JAX player of the year. Two-time first-team selection. Had 24 goals and 10 assists during run to the state semifinals. Has scored 56 goals and added 43 assists in three seasons. Member of the U16 U.S. Women’s National Team.
MF Brooke Bunton, Clay, So.
Another star in the loaded sophomore class, she had 36 goals and 17 assists for the 14-3-1 regional finalist Blue Devils. Member of the U16 U.S. Women’s National Team.
MF Emma Griner, Stanton, Sr.
Second-team All-News4JAX selection last year. Had 23 goals, 21 assists in her final season to lead Blue Devils to 14-6-2 mark and third round of playoffs. Has committed to Rollins.
MF Chloe Iliff, Creekside, Sr.
Second-leading scorer on the Class 7A state champion Knights. Had 11 goals, nine assists for Creekside. Has signed with Lipscomb. Honorable mention All-News4JAX as a junior.
MF Carolyn Johnson, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Had 16 assists, 11 goals for Bears against the state’s most difficult schedule. Signed with Johns Hopkins University. Won two state championships during her career.
D Hadley Conway, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Second-team All-News4JAX selection last year. Scored four goals, including one in the Class 6A state championship game for the nationally ranked No. 1 Sharks.
D Cece Nowicki, St. Johns Country Day, Jr.
Anchored a lockdown Spartans defense that played one of the most difficult schedules in the state. Could score, too. Second on the Spartans with 10 goals, four assists.
D Lily Paisant, Creekside, Jr.
Rugged left back who is in the conversation as the area’s top defender. Could score, too, with her seventh and final goal of the season coming in the state semifinal. Added 10 assists. Committed to Florida Atlantic.
GK Gaby Rourke, Atlantic Coast, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Posted nine shutouts in 18 games. Allowed 16 goals (0.88 GAA). Scored three goals on free kicks. Honorable mention as a sophomore. Unreal athlete, she was a selection at defender last year and scored seven goals. But a natural at keeper, she has signed with University of Kentucky.
Second team
Position, Player, School, Class
F Taliah Brooks, Atlantic Coast, Jr.
Big time scorer for the Stingrays, she had 17 goals and added eight assists as Atlantic Coast reached the state playoffs. Committed to University of Memphis.
F Courtney Brown, Stanton, Sr.
Top goal scorer for the 14-6-2 Blue Devils, Brown found the net 24 times in her final season Added four assists during Stanton’s run to the regional finals.
F/MF Emma McMurry, Fletcher, Jr.
Had 15 goals, six assists for Senators, who finished 11-8-4 and finished as Gateway Conference runner-up to Stanton.
MF Brooke Gosse, Bartram Trail, Jr.
Leading goal scorer for the Bears (12 goals, 6 assists), who went 16-5-1 against the most difficult schedule in the state and one of the most challenging in the country.
MF Ayla Kiziltas, Beachside, Sr.
Led second-year Barracudas to first district championship and a playoff win. Scored 10 goals, seven assists. Signed with University of West Florida.
MF Avery Robinson, Creekside, Sr.
On talent alone, she’s one of the best around. Limited to 12 games due to health, but had four assists, three goals and helped Knights win second Class 7A state championship in three seasons. UCLA signee.
MF Taylor Tamares, Fleming Island, Sr.
Second-team All-News4JAX selection last year. Had seven goals, five assists for Golden Eagles. Signed with UNF.
D Savannah Berrang, St. Johns Country Day, Sr.
Another excellent defender for the perennial power Spartans. Scored three goals, added two assists. Won three state championships in her career.
D McKenzie Carlson, Bartram Trail, Sr.
On one of the state’s best defenses, she was a fierce defender in front of stellar keeper Lily Holden. Added four assists, two goals for the Region 1-7A finalists.
D Charlotte Seay, Episcopal, Sr.
Excellent in the back for the Eagles, who went 14-7-1 and reached the Region 1-3A final. Scored six goals, including the winner to beat Pensacola Catholic in the second round. Signed with The Citadel. Honorable mention All-News4JAX as a junior.
GK Audrey Johnson, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Unreal in net for the Sharks, she posted 15 shutouts en route to leading the Sharks to the Class 6A state championship. Allowed just 11 goals against a wicked schedule.
GK Roxy Mathews, St. Johns Country Day, Sr.
Allowed just 13 goals against a monster of a schedule with a goals against average of 0.681.
Honorable mention
Position, Player, School, Class
MF Camila Adame, St. Johns Country Day, Fr.
D Samantha Akers, Nease, Sr.
F Isabel Alejandro-Blanco, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
F Belle Alford, St. Joseph, Fr.
F Avery Aniskevich, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
MF Allison Aquino, Fletcher, Sr.
MF Sophia Blake, Bartram Trail, Jr.
MF Isabel Bostic, Nease, Jr.
D Peyton Burris, Stanton, Jr.
MF Eden Camacho, Atlantic Coast, Sr.
D Victoria Carstens, Bartram Trail, Jr.
F/MF Karlee Castleman, Christ’s Church, Jr.
MF/F Ivy Chen, Flagler Palm Coast, Fr.
D Lulu Consunji, Ponte Vedra, Fr.
MF Skylar Dancel, Episcopal, Sr.
F Alayna Dial, Menendez, Sr.
F Kirra Dodson, Clay, Jr.
D Payton Dorsett, Creekside, Sr.
MF Bella Duenas, Beachside, So.
F Eiley Fennell, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
MF Ali Fletcher, Bartram Trail, Jr.
GK Ava Galani, Episcopal, Jr.
MF Julianna Graham, West Nassau, So.
D Natalie Hall, Wolfson, Sr.
GK Lily Holden, Bartram Trail, Jr.
MF Audrey Howard, Atlantic Coast, Sr.
F Landry Kelley, Christ’s Church. Sr.
D Skylar Kurtz, Nease, Sr.
F Mia Lieb, Bolles, Bolles, So.
F Alana Maki, Creekside, Sr.
MF Emma Martins, Beachside, Jr.
D Erika Martinez, Clay, Sr.
F/MF Abbey Mehm, University Christian, Jr.
F Jess Morley, Nease, Jr.
D Jenna Moreland, Fleming Island, Jr.
GK Natalie Neal, Flagler Palm Coast, So.
MF Savannah O’Grady, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.
MF Emma Pavlicek, Mandarin, Sr.
MF Isabelle Pinlac, Tocoi Creek, Jr.
MF Sophia Pontieri, Fleming Island, Jr.
MF Charlotte Ritter, Episcopal, Jr.
F Kalli Robinson, Tocoi Creek, Jr.
MF Ryanne Robinson, Orange Park, Jr.
MF Rylynn Robinson, Orange Park, Jr.
F/MF Isabella Rutherford, Mandarin, So.
F Kiersten Shaw, Keystone Heights, Jr.
D Marissa Silva, Beachside, Jr.
GK Hailey Smith, Creekside, So.
F Peyton Thomas, Beachside, So.
F Kendall Trimiar, Providence, Fr.
GK Morgan Weaver, Tocoi Creek, Jr.
MF Sarah Weisberg, Creekside, Fr.
MF Abby Wooten, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
GK Savannah Yerger, Stanton, Jr.