Former Wilsonville soccer standout set to compete in Thorns Academy exhibition game

Kenley Whittaker will have one final dance before officially departing the state of Oregon women's soccer scene.

The former Wilsonville All-American and incoming Cal freshman is suiting up for the Portland Thorns Academy as they host Wrexham AFC Women in an exhibition match on Friday, July 26, at Providence Park as part of the British club's west coast tour of the United States.

“I am so, so excited. I have a big fan club coming to watch me play,” Whittaker said. “I’m really hoping I just put everything out there. I hope to score a goal – that’s every forward’s dream, but I think I can make it happen and I’ll do everything I can.”

Despite the match featuring the academy team instead of professional's, the Thorns are committed to simulating as close to an experience as the real thing for their players. The team, which include mostly collegiate athletes, will use the Thorns' locker room, undergo a mini training camp and do a walkout to the field.

And, of course, a raucous home crowd is all but expected to welcome the visitors from Wales. Although an occasion of this magnitude is a first for Whittaker, she has already cut her teeth with the academy. After spending her club career with the Oregon Surf — who Whittaker attributes for her development — she received an invite from the academy to join them at the Elite Clubs National League girls national playoffs in June.

With the Surf failing to qualify, Whittaker accepted, helping lead the academy to the final four and its best finish in ECNL history, leading the team in goals scored.

And due to her recent involvement at Cal in a stint dubbed "captain's camp" Whittaker said she's more fit than her previous outings last month, a result of the grueling training regimen. She was on her way to the airport heading to Cal when she received a text from the academy's head coach Tracy Nelson.

"I took a moment to respond to that, because I didn’t know if I could take this time off or if I’d be required to stay at captain’s camp," Whittaker said. "Only until I had been on campus for like two days did I respond to this text from the head coach saying, ‘Of course I want to do this. I’ve only now figured out it’s OK to miss a practice or two if it’s a big event such as this one.’”

“I didn’t want to pass this up for anything," Whittaker continued. "But if (I was) required to be on Cal campus I would’ve stayed.”

Whittaker's commitment to Cal and her craft is apparent. She flew in from California just a day before the exhibition match. Besides participating in the captain's uniquely designed training sessions, Whittaker's been on campus handling logistics and bonding with her new unit, following the tradition of freshmen rooming with upperclassmen in the first couple of weeks of camp.

“It has been really fun. I love my new teammates. I love the speed of play," Whittaker said. "I love being kind of on my own – the college life.”

She will begin officially practicing with Cal's coaching staff once the preseason starts next week. Whittaker dominated the high school scene for years, notably helping lead the Wildcats to three consecutive 5A state titles, but she's not quite certain how she will fit into the Golden Bears rotation this fall. A heavy senior team, Cal's depth chart has Whittaker attempting to maintain realistic expectations.

It's not even a guarantee that she will see the field this year. For some, this could be the beginning of the end — a recruit who shined all throughout high school is humbled and left with a damaged ego, refusing to accept things have changed and spiraling further from reality.

Fortunately, Whittaker isn't wired that way. An athlete of her caliber of course wants to battle and compete for playing time. She isn't just happy to be there, but she acknowledges her opportunities will arrive through effort and showcasing her value to her new coaches.

However, there's likely one thing Whittaker enjoys more than scoring goals, something that allows her to put the needs of the team above her own — winning. She's already proven she is capable of taking a backseat and focusing on her development during her time with the Wildcats, all while helping foster a fierce and competitive practice environment.

“It kind of takes me back to when I was actually a freshman on the high school team and I had these great players above me,” Whittaker said. “I was obviously looking up to them and trying to be them, and I’m feeling sort of the same thing right now.”

Whittaker and the Thorns Academy will kick-off at 7 p.m.