After being a fifth-overall National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft pick in 2013 and being honored as Top 11 in Norwegian Toppserien league at the 2015 NISO Awards after playing soccer with Norweigan team Avaldsnes Idrettslag, Casey Short (Class of 2008) came back to her hometown to be inducted into Naperville Central’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

While at Central, Short had the decision of playing soccer or track each year, because she was committed to both but they occur during the same season. During her freshman year, Short ran indoor track during the winter and played soccer in the spring. Both sophomore and junior year, Short ran track, but eventually returned to soccer for her senior year.

“I’m really thankful because both coaches were so supportive with me juggling both sports,” Short said of the experience.

In her track career, Short won the 400-meter dash at State during her sophomore year and won the State title for the 400- and 800-meter dash her junior year.

During her junior year, Short took on a challenging event line-up at State.

“I was convinced to run the 400[-meter dash] and the 800[-meter dash] and I was quite nervous about it,” Short said. “But Coach [Mike] Stine was very supportive, and I’m thankful that he pushed me to run both. There wasn’t much time in between, it felt like a few seconds to be honest, but winning [both of] those [races] were the best moments of my career, the most memorable [moments].”

After switching back to soccer, Short was All-American during her senior year and eventually went on to play at Florida State University and professionally.

As a memorable part of her athletic career, Short cited her trip to State during her junior year at the Athletic Inductee question and answer assembly attended by current varsity athletes from all sports.

“With track, I would definitely say going to State [was a highlight],” Short said. “Just the bus ride down with my teammates, staying overnight, the competition, everything.”

As her senior year came to a close, Short decided to pursue soccer, her “love” and “passion.”

“I’m really happy I [chose soccer senior year] because that was definitely one of my highlights when I was [at Central],” Short said. “Just being in that role as a senior as one of the leaders was definitely a highlight.”

Soccer has now become a part of Short’s life. After being signed with the Boston Breakers right after college, Short suffered from a knee injury and was forced to miss the entire season. The next year, she signed with the Chicago Red Stars, but suffered another injury. Next, Short spent 2015 playing soccer in Norway and in 2016 she will return to America to play with the Red Stars again.

Short signed in November 2015 and her report date is March 11. Before preseason begins, Short has been training at Acceleration, a highly intensive athletic training program located off of Quincy Avenue, only a few short minutes away from the high school in which her passion for soccer was realized.

“It’s honestly just incredible because I’ve come full circle back to sign with Chicago,” Short said. “Playing minutes where I grew up with my friends and family watching, it’s a dream come true for me not going to lie.”

As Short begins her season with the Red Stars, she will face teammates and competition from many National teams worldwide, including many from the U.S. Women’s World Cup team who became World Champions in July 2015.

“Just to play on the same team and against some of the best players in the world is amazing,” Short said. “I’m really excited to learn from everybody and to have national team member on the team to push me every day during practice, I’m really looking forward to that.”

Success stories like Short’s are an inspiration for current students at Central, especially those who witnessed the question and answer ceremony, like Krya Conroy, a senior who runs varsity track and plays varsity soccer.

“[Hearing the inductees speak] is really inspiring because as DVC and competition around State are developing, it’s cool to see so many people who have succeeded at such great levels,” Conroy said. “It’s really a great experience for us young athletes to see that dreams really do come true and if you put the hard work in, it’s really possible to get there.”

This impact is shared by the inductees, too.

“It’s honestly such an honor [to be inducted],” Short said. “You look at all the talent that has come through Central and everyone that was up on stage with me and just to be recognized alongside them is humbling.”