Wadsworth soccer player Athena Craig commits to Kent State

Athena Craig is only 15 years old and just starting her junior year at Wadsworth, but she's already locked up a women's college soccer scholarship. In the fall of 2027, Craig will continue her career at Division I Kent State University, where she will receive close to a full ride when academics and financial aid are added to her athletic scholarship. "There were so many things," she said Tuesday when asked why she chose the Golden Flashes. "For sure, one thing is it is close to home. Originally I wanted to go far (away), but once (older sister) Cece went to college (at Ashland), I wanted to be close. I really love my family. "Also, the environment of the team and coaches and the whole university, everything about it is so great." Craig already had drawn interest from Youngstown State, Bowling Green, Belmont (Tenn.) and Ashland as well, but she liked Kent State so much when she made an official visit this summer that she didn't want to wait to see what future offers might come her way. "I wanted to commit early so I could have pride for that school," she said. "It takes off the stress of having to go through the recruiting process. Thankfully Kent was on me and wanted me to come to their school. I liked everything about it. If they were going to give me a good offer, I was going to commit because I loved the school." The younger sister of 2025 Gazette Senior Female Athlete of the Year Cece Craig, now a college freshman playing soccer at Ashland, Craig is an attacking midfielder for the Grizzlies (1-4-1 overall, 0-2 in the Suburban League National Conference). With four goals and two assists, she has been involved in six of the seven goals the team has scored this season. As a sophomore, she earned honorable mention All-Gazette honors after posting 11 goals and seven assists. Her 29 points were one behind Cece and Korrine Braunlich for the team lead. At Kent State, which is 2-2-3 as it prepares to open Mid-American Conference play Sunday at Bowling Green, she will play for 25th-year coach Rob Marinaro, who has been on staff since the program's inception in 1997 and owns a 257-219-84 career record, including 8-7-3, 4-4-2 last season. The owner of a 3.83 grade-point average, Craig plans to major in criminal science with the hope of one day becoming a detective. Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on X.