faces
By Bram Fulk
Beachy Keen O
n a cool, gusty autumn morning, with the skyline of downtown Columbus in the distance, a worldclass athlete trains. Her bare feet plunge in and out of the chilly sand of an outdoor volleyball court as her leg muscles first warm then burn with high knee lifts, sprints, maneuverability drills and dribbling exercises. All alone and far from the environment in which she typically excels, Pickerington High School Central graduate and captain of the U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team Megan Wharton relies on
her own drive and determination to put herself through the paces. As the only member of the team not based in California, she runs her own solo training sessions. “It’s tough knowing that it’s just me out here,” says Wharton. Over the years, she is thankful to have found herself with an extensive support group of friends in central Ohio who have played beach soccer and are glad to get together and help her get some fitness on the sand.
Photos by Bram Fulk
Pickerington Central grad leads U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team
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