For Emily Lewis, stepping onto the field at Baldwin Wallace University wasn’t just about continuing a childhood passion—it marked the next step in a journey fueled by dedication, support, and love for the game. The Pahrump Valley High School graduate and two-time state champion began her collegiate soccer career in Berea, Ohio, and quickly made a name for herself as the only freshman starter on the team.
Emily has been playing soccer since she was four years old, beginning with the AYSO program at the encouragement of her dad. “As a kid, it’s just for fun,” she said. “But as I got older, I realized I really liked the sport.” That realization led her to competitive club teams like the first Jr. Trojans club team in Pahrump and the more advanced Players SC in Las Vegas. With each level, her commitment grew, and by the time she entered high school, she had already begun mapping out a future in collegiate soccer.
While soccer remained her first love, Emily also took up track in high school. The two sports, with their distinct demands, complemented each other. “Soccer is more sprinting, faster paced,” she explained. “Track helped me with long-distance running and stamina. I actually did track to stay in shape for soccer so I didn’t lose momentum.” Juggling both sports came naturally in high school due to their different seasons, but the shift to a single-sport focus in college brought an entirely new level of intensity.
“College is always go, go, go,” Emily said. “Even in the spring, we’re doing something—lifting, running, practicing.” Preseason began a week before classes with grueling 6 a.m. sessions, physical endurance tests, mid-day practices, and late-day lifts. During the season, her schedule included early Monday practices, strength training, and regular afternoon training blocks. Despite the rigorous demands, she was ready for it. “I was already in good shape from high school,” she said. “It was just about fine-tuning the little things.”
Her hard work paid off quickly. Emily earned a starting position as a freshman, taking the field as a left outside back after initially arriving as a center back. “It was very rewarding,” she said. “That hard work pays off. I would go to the field every day over at the high school, wake up at six in the morning, run with Paris (Coleman), sometimes see Avery (Moore), then we’d go in there and lift. We prepared all summer.”
While her time on the field has been impressive, Emily is equally driven in the classroom. She is pursuing a degree in nursing with aspirations to become a flight nurse, following in her mother’s footsteps. Balancing a nursing program with a collegiate sport is no easy task, but Baldwin Wallace provides support through careful scheduling and academic services. “They actually plan practices around our class schedules,” she said. “And if you need to study or miss a practice for an exam, you just communicate with the coach. As long as you stay on top of it, it works.”
Support also comes from within the team. “There are other nursing majors on the team—one senior, another sophomore, and some freshmen,” Emily noted. “We do study groups together, and we even study on the bus rides to games. Having others in the same major helps a lot.”
That sense of camaraderie and support reminds Emily of what she valued most during her time at Pahrump Valley High School. “We won state two times—my sophomore and senior year,” she said. “That was so rewarding, knowing we made history for the high school. I grew up with girls like Kai, Avery, Paris, Courtney… being able to win something that big with your closest friends is unforgettable.” Track also brought unexpected friendships, allowing her to connect with students she might not have met otherwise. “It just became a close-knit group. I really appreciated that.”
College life, however, has been an adjustment. “You’re more on your own,” she said. “In high school, everything is planned for you. Now, it’s all about accountability and balance.” Her days are packed with classes, studying, and practices, and her social life often takes a backseat. “It’s not like going to lunch with your group of friends anymore. I go on my own time, usually while studying.”
Emily credits much of her motivation and success to her family, especially her father. “He always pushed me to be better,” she said. “If I didn’t do a sprint to the best of my ability, he’d tell me to do it again. He never missed a game or a meet unless he was on a call. And my mom too—she had to miss more because of work, but was always there when she could be. They both showed me that I could always be better than I thought I was.”
Emily offered a heartfelt shoutout to her high school coach, Nagle, who led the track team. “He always checked in on me, uplifted me when I was tired or frustrated. That meant a lot,” she said. “And of course, Paris and Avery. They practiced with me all summer to help me get ready for college. I love them to death.” Emily also credited one of her high school coaches with deepening her love for the game. “One person who was a great coach was Coach Julie Carrington. She was admirable and developed my love for soccer even more,” she said.
Emily’s recruitment process was a journey of exploration and self-advocacy. Using the NCSA platform and with help from a recruiter, Emily looked into schools in Pennsylvania, where much of her extended family lives. But Baldwin Wallace stood out. “I reached out to the coach, sent my highlight reels—most from club games, from my parents’ phones,” she said. “When I toured the campus, I loved the green trees, the facilities, the people. It just felt like home. That’s when I knew it was the right place.”
Emily believes that same feeling—of belonging and connection—is essential for any athlete considering the college path. “You have to feel it,” she said. “Ask the coach how they coach. Know what you’re looking for and make sure it’s more than just wearing the jersey. You have to love it.”
For younger athletes hoping to follow a similar path, Emily offered a simple but powerful message: “Practice. Just keep trying to be better than you were yesterday. Even if it’s the smallest thing—just improve.”
Looking ahead, Emily is focused on completing her degree, but she’s not ready to hang up her cleats just yet. “I’ve thought about joining a women’s league after college,” she said. “It depends on how I can balance it with my job at the hospital, but I really love soccer. I want to keep playing if I can.”
In both soccer and nursing, Emily Lewis is proving that hard work, passion, and a strong support system can take you far—on the field, in the classroom, and in life.
