Sportzwire AOTW: Kinley Purdy of Lake Lehman
By: Carrie Miner Yaple | SportzWire | September 21, 2026 | Photo courtesy Carrie Miner Yaple
For Lake Lehman junior Kinley Purdy, sports have always been about more than statistics, championships and individual accomplishments.
They’re about playing with friends, competing with teammates and, most importantly, having fun.
That attitude has helped make Purdy one of the area’s most accomplished multi-sport athletes and this week, she is the Sportzwire Athlete of the Week, sponsored by HYDRABATHS Swing Salt.
Purdy competes in soccer, basketball, cross country and track, a demanding schedule that she has embraced since she was young. She began playing soccer and basketball around the age of six before adding cross country and track in seventh grade.
While she has found success in each sport, soccer has become her favorite.
“I had such a successful freshman season and that's probably the biggest reason why,” Purdy said. “I feel myself having more fun playing soccer than the other sports.”
And that freshman season was certainly one to remember.
A Record-Breaking Soccer Career
As a freshman, Purdy scored 42 goals in 22 games, including the game-winning goal in the District championship against Scranton Prep. Her performance throughout the season also earned her consideration as an All-State candidate.
She followed that up with an even bigger sophomore campaign.
Purdy scored 48 goals in just 19 games, at one point earning a No. 6 ranking in the state. Her outstanding season resulted in her being selected as an All-State player, becoming one of only three sophomores in the state to receive the honor.
Now a junior, Purdy continues to add to an already impressive résumé while helping lead a Lake Lehman team with championship aspirations.
Her goals for the season aren't centered on individual statistics.
“I want to help me and my team win Districts and Conference,” she said.
A Milestone Moment
One of the most memorable moments of Purdy's career came in a game against Dallas when she entered the contest just three goals shy of the 100-goal milestone.
Knowing what was at stake brought some understandable nerves.
“I was really nervous at first because I was still three away, especially in the first half when I didn't score any goals,” Purdy said.
But once she found the back of the net for the first time in the second half, everything changed.
“Once I scored my first goal in the second half, my nerves went away.”
The milestone was another accomplishment in a career that has already included championships, All-State recognition and remarkable scoring numbers.
Yet Purdy doesn't point to herself when talking about what helps her succeed.
She points to her teammates.
The Power of a Team
Purdy said her entire team provides encouragement and confidence, creating an environment where everyone pushes one another to be better.
“My whole team encourages me and they're all so confident in me,” she said.
One teammate, Ava Blaise, offered Purdy some particularly important advice.
“Ava Blaise told me, ‘Just play my game,’ and it really helped me,” Purdy said.
That simple message reflects Purdy's approach to competition: trust herself, trust her teammates and enjoy the opportunity to play.
Her coach, Kelly, has seen that approach firsthand.
“Kinley is a leader on and off the field,” Kelly said. “She is always having fun while working hard. She sets a standard on the soccer field and it helps everyone else play at a higher level with her.”
Kelly also pointed to Purdy's competitiveness and willingness to do whatever is necessary for the team.
“Kinley shows up every game wanting to win and perform her best,” Kelly said. “Anything she can do to help the team she is willing to do.”
That leadership extends beyond soccer.
Four Sports, One Common Thread
Purdy's busy athletic schedule could easily make sports feel like a job. Instead, she continues to view them as an opportunity to spend time with friends.
That is particularly evident during cross country season, where many of her teammates also play soccer.
“Most of the girls also play soccer, so it helps bring us all close together on and off the field,” Purdy said.
The friendships she has developed through athletics are one of the biggest reasons she continues to enjoy competing in multiple sports.
Whether she's on the soccer field, basketball court, cross country course or track, the experience is about competing alongside people she cares about.
Her coach sees that side of Purdy as well.
“Off the field Kinley has a lot of fun with her teammates,” Kelly said. “From Dunkin runs after practice or ice cream after a big win.”
That balance of working hard while enjoying the experience has become a defining characteristic of Purdy's athletic career.
Success Beyond the Field
Purdy's accomplishments aren't limited to athletics.
She has been a member of the National Honor Society since seventh grade, demonstrating the same commitment to academics that she brings to her sports.
As she looks toward life after Lake Lehman, Purdy has already started exploring her college options. She has spoken with several schools but has not yet committed to a college.
Her career interests point toward the medical field, giving her another goal to pursue beyond athletics.
For now, however, there is still plenty left to accomplish at Lake Lehman.
With another soccer season underway, Purdy remains focused on helping her teammates reach their goals while continuing to enjoy the sport she loves most.
The goals and accolades have certainly followed.
But for Kinley Purdy, the foundation remains remarkably simple: compete, work hard, trust her teammates and have fun.
And if her first two seasons are any indication, there are likely many more memorable moments still ahead.
Congratulations Kinley Purdy on your achievement and being this weeks Sportzwire AOTW powered by HYDRABATHS Swing Salt, where performance meets recovery!
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