Oak Mountain star named Gatorade girls soccer Player of the Year
Kati Anne Shepherd helped Oak Mountain to the state finals.
Olivia Bennett 
Oak Mountain standout Kati Anne Shepherd has officially been recognized as the Gatorade Alabama Girls Soccer Player of the Year, as reported by 205focus.com.
A Dominant Campaign
The 5-foot-7 senior midfielder was a force on the pitch this season, racking up 37 goals and 28 assists. Her offensive production was instrumental in guiding the Eagles to a 24-2-1 record and a berth in the Class 7A state championship match. Over the course of the season, Shepherd recorded 10 multi-goal performances, highlighted by a six-goal game and two five-goal efforts. She finishes her impressive prep career with a total of 82 goals and 60 assists and is a two-time first-team All-State honoree.
Thompson coach Dan DeMasters noted her impact, stating, “Shep is just so dominant. At any point of a game, she can take over. She has great separation speed, which helps her face up opponents and take them on 1v1.”
Beyond the Pitch
The Gatorade Player of the Year award is widely regarded as the premier honor in high school athletics, acknowledging athletes for their prowess in sports, academic success, and community involvement. Shepherd has been highly active in the Oak Mountain community, serving as a sports photographer for school athletic contests, assisting the middle school’s bookkeeper and registrar, and serving as a youth ministry mentor.
Shepherd’s drive extends to the classroom as well; she graduated in just three years while maintaining a weighted 4.07 GPA. Looking ahead, she has signed a scholarship to continue her soccer career this fall at Mississippi State University.
