Held to a higher standard

By Justin Braden

Snellville, GA –

She’s more than the reigning and defending Gwinnett County Kicker of the Year. Caitlyn Soroka, the tri-sport senior out of Brookwood (GA) broke into athletics with soccer before she became a standout punter and kicker in football. 

As if football had not been a daunting enough challenge already, Soroka added Track and Field to her plate at the beginning of her junior year also, but it’s clear that football has become her passion.

“I just kind of went up to (my parents) and I was like - I want to play football my freshman year. And my dad looks at me and he goes - yeah, football - soccer, right? You want to play soccer in high school? And I look at him and I'm like – no, football.”

Four years after that conversation with her family, Soroka has stacked up some serious accolades on the football field – All Region 6A-Region 7 (2024) and Gwinnet County Kicker of the Year (2023 and 2024).

Roll that first award back again and let it sink in - 2024 First Team All-Region. An award that came in Georgia’s highest football class – 6A. In 2024, Georgia had the second most college-level talent among states, ranking second behind only Texas on most recruiting services. She has kicked and punted over some of the most elite athletes in the country. 

“Playing soccer definitely helped. I kicked my first ever field goal when I was with my dad at the College Football Hall of Fame when I was 10 years old. We’ve always kind of grown up watching football and I think it was when Sarah Fuller kicked at Vanderbilt, some of my friends were telling me that, you know, you play soccer, you should try and kick too. I decided why not?”

Caitlyn has kicked at places that most high school athletes will only ever see on television. Brookwood traveled to Las Vegas to take on national powerhouse Bishop-Gorman in 2022, and they played a neutral site game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2024. 

“(Bishop-Gorman) started off where the game was pretty close, and I actually got the first field goal which brought the game to a four-point deficit for us. We’re a solid team. The score definitely wasn't something we wanted, but I think we all enjoyed being able to go out there and play against them.”

This has not been a journey without adversity. Beyond the obvious difference in competition of being a girl against all the other boys, what is unique about her journey, is that her adversity and the tenacity in which she has overcome it created more than a passion – Caitlyn had to reshape her lifestyle to achieve her goals. 

“The biggest thing is probably just the fact that biologically I am not as strong as everyone else, so being able to build up that muscle took more time and more progression and more effort to be able to add the distance behind my kicks. (Don’t) let adversity slow you down, and even if something might not be possible at first, it doesn't mean it's impossible. It just means you have to work at it to be able to get to it.”

After taking over the starting kicker job her junior year and having success, the Brookwood coaching staff challenged her to adapt her kicking style again and try punting. Now, Soroka flexes her special teams versatility in her highlights – hanging punts, converting onside kicks, driving a 42-yard field goal through the uprights, and winning the game on an extra point on one of Brookwood’s biggest stages.

“I just had no interest in (punting) just simply because I wasn't good at it and it was just something I had to learn and keep working at over time in order to acquire that skill and be able to plant. But just at first. Like kicking the ball, not having it go where I want, or do what I want it to do. That was kind of. Demeaning and being able to overcome that and see that I am able to punt now I think has shown that you really can grow.”

Now Soroka has set her sights on her next goal – playing at the next level. After showing that she can excel in Georgia, one of high school football’s most grueling proving grounds, Caitlyn is working to make her next opportunity in college football, and she’s already received offers from Andrews College and Minnesota West. 

“Just because someone may not seem like they should be given a chance or seem like they can't compete with everyone else that they shouldn't look them down or anything. And to give everyone a chance, because you never know what someone is capable of.”

When her story all comes together, it makes sense - it’s not that Caitlyn wanted to play football with the boys. She just wanted to be held to a higher standard than all the other girls. The most special part of what Soroka has accomplished goes beyond what she has done during her career – it is what she has done for all athletes. She has raised the bar for everyone to work harder to get what they want.   

Follow Justin Braden on X @jkbradenco for more prep sports coverage and an opportunity to comment on this article and others. 

Cover Photography courtesy of Chad Price - CXP Media. Follow Chad Price on social media on X @cxp30 and Instagram @cxpmedia.

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