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Karley Perry is heading to Atlanta in January. The LaGrange High senior is set to enroll early at Georgia State for the spring semester as she plans to continue her academic and athletic career as a Panther. 

“I’m going through a bunch of different emotions right now, but I think I’m mostly excited, but also the nervousness kicks in,” Perry said. “I’m kind of in a time crunch with fitness, obviously, and just getting prepared for it. But I think it’ll be fun.”

Perry, a star soccer player for the Grangers is foregoing her senior season on the field to get a jumpstart on her collegiate career with Georgia State.

“My junior year, whenever recruitment started for me, they were the first people to reach out to me. And from there, they just kind of stayed on my radar,” Perry said. “Then, after my official visit, I just knew it was my place to be.”

It did not take long for Perry to make an impact at LaGrange High. The current senior worked her way into the lineup as a freshman and she remained in the starting lineup for the next two seasons. It was a solid freshman season for Perry, but she fully burst onto the scene as a junior in which she led the Grangers with 26 goals and 12 assists as she helped propel the team to an Elite Eight appearance alongside her teammates.

Perry’s junior season was just as impressive as she scored 25 goals and provided 11 assists.

When recruiting opened for Perry during her junior season, she began to command some attention from the next level. Through it all, Perry kept a level head and continued to produce for the Grangers on and off the field.

The impact Perry has had on the LaGrange girls soccer team extends well beyond the numbers. She was a leader, a motivator and an always uplifting presence.

“She was always there for her teammates when they were down and they were struggling. She always lifted them back up. She was a great leader. She was a great person, and she scored a few goals,” said a smirking Jon Callahan, the LaGrange High girls soccer coach. “I mean, she scored probably close to 60 goals for us. It’s incredible what she was able to do on the soccer field with her sisters, and she’s leaving behind an incredible legacy. We have some real, real big shoes to fill.”

To say an early goodbye to her high school teammates, many of those she has been playing with for a decade, was one of the toughest decisions she has had to make in her young life.

“I remember, I think, or my coaches brought it up to me after I went to a camp, and I was like, oh I didn’t even know I could do that, like, you know, and so I didn’t really think very much of it at first,” Perry said. “Then senior night was coming up and I had to kind of decide soon. And so I kind of just  took some time to myself and really thought about everything, if I wanted it or not. I laid out my options, and then going early ended up feeling right. And so I decided that I think it’ll be fine going early and getting a head start at the next level.”

Despite her early departure, the team room was full of her Granger teammates on Thursday, sad to see her go, but happy to see her fulfilling her dreams.

“She is one of the most kind and empathetic people that I’ve ever met,” said senior soccer player Emma Maradik through tears. “No matter what the circumstances, I know I can always call her, and she’ll be there, and she’ll give me advice…I’m excited to be there and cheer for her on the sidelines.”

Perry is in her final weeks in high school and it is finally beginning to sink in. She will be all moved into her dorm in Atlanta in a little over a month’s time.

“I think I have four weeks of high school left, so I’m just going about every day soaking it all in,” an emotional Perry said.