Valley Soccer Player of the Year: Fuller’s relentless training is her super power
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- Lone Peak senior midfielder Kate Fuller
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- Lone Peak senior Kate Fuller is central to her team’s success this season
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- Lone Peak’s Kate Fuller pokes the ball away from American Fork during her team’s 3-0 win on Thursday.
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- Lone Peak’s Kate Fuller lets loose on a kick during her team’s win over American Fork
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- Lone Peak’s Kate Fuller races past American Fork’s defense
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- Lone Peak’s Kate Fuller applied constant pressure throughout Friday’s 6A championship match versus Syracuse. 10/24/2025
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- Lone Peak’s Kate Fuller celebrates with teammate Sami Schiffman following her second goal during the Knight’s 4-0 win over Mountain Ridge
Perhaps everything you need to know about Kate Fuller occurred in late August of this year after the Lone Peak girls soccer team took a somewhat surprising shootout loss to Layton.
With the Knights running not the least bit ragged after enduring a tough early-season schedule, on top of making do without several starters due to injury, Lone Peak head coach Shantel Jolley determined her players needed some time off.
“The loss came on a Thursday, and with a long weekend that included Labor Day that coming Monday, I told all the girls that I wanted them to rest,” Jolley recounted. “You’d think that would an easy thing to do for most players, but not for several of my seniors, and especially Kate. So I made her look me in the eyes and promise me she’d rest.”
Fuller dutifully complied, but perhaps cheated a bit.
“I was back training on Monday,” Fuller admitted. “Not being able to train for four straight days is really tough for me to do because I love it so much. It’s been a huge part of my life and it’s my time to put everything aside and just focus on soccer, which I love.”
Ever since Fuller can remember, she’s been training and subsequently excelling on the soccer pitch, to the point where she’s been named as the Daily Herald’s All-Valley Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons while obtaining a scholarship offer to play for BYU.
“I can’t ever remember not playing soccer, and I’ve loved it,” Fuller said. “I feel that I really started to excel at it when my family moved to Utah when I was about 10 years old, and that’s when I think I started to take my training seriously.”
Unlike some athletes who have to force themselves to work out consistently, daily training became a welcome escape for Fuller, and particularly when she began to show a lot of promise and ability during games.
“That’s what pushed me is seeing the improvements in my play,” Fuller said. “It was exciting and it pushed me to train even harder and harder. And like I said, I love it any time I’m out there training, playing or doing anything else with soccer. It’s my way to put school and everything out of my mind and just focus on the game that I love.”
That focus eventually vaulted Fuller into a role on Lone Peak’s state champion varsity team as a mere freshman, a role she’s worked to expand upon every year she’s been in the program. Despite Lone Peak housing several legitimate college prospects, Fuller contributed heavily each season before taking prominent roles in both her junior and senior seasons.
“It wasn’t easy for her playing with some of the great players we’ve had here,” Jolley said. “But she always accepted her role and just worked. That’s what Kate does. She works and works and is so determined to be the best player she can be, and you’ve seen the results. She really is one of a kind and that generational-type player you always hope to have as a coach. There’s not a moment too big for her and no instance where she hasn’t shown up to give her best effort.”
Each season Fuller has improved her game, focusing on certain aspects each offseason while always focusing on the fundamentals of soccer.
“I think her ability to be so consistent at all the little things is what makes her great,” Jolley said. “Sure, she has amazing ability on her free kicks and all that, but it’s her doing all the little things so well and so consistently that has made her consistently great more than anything else.”
All of that hard work and dedication paid off big on a day Fuller won’t soon forget. That date was June 15 this past summer when BYU Coach Jennifer Rockwood came forward with a scholarship offer to play in Provo.
“I love BYU and it’s always been my dream school to play for since I can remember,” Fuller said. “I went to the summer camps as often as I could and I just love everything about the team’s culture and BYU as a school. I can’t wait to get down there and get started.”
Fuller’s plan is to graduate early and enroll at BYU this January where she’ll begin her arduous training in hopes of contributing to the Cougar program as soon as possible. Using history as a guide, don’t be surprised if she etches out a role for herself sooner than expected.
As for her teammates, Fuller is looking forward to going up against her close friends Ivy Jacobson, who signed on to play for Arkansas and Hannah Heimuli, who will be a part of West Virginia’s team.
“I’ve been so blessed to have amazing teammates, coaches and family through all of this,” Fuller said. “Both Hannah and Ivy have been amazing friends and teammates and we’ve all pushed each other to be the best we can be. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without all of them.”
Knights on the pitch
Lone Peak has earned four straight and eight total Daily Herald Valley Player of the Year awards for girls soccer. Fuller has won the past two (2024 and 20025), joining Mikala Wilkes (2005), Lauren Hair (2006), Wesley Hamblin (2012), Addy Symonds (2018), Naia Tanuvasa (2022) and Samantha Sellers (2023)
