'Going for my dreams': How a Washington High School junior's soccer journey took her to England

PEORIA — Soccer has a grip on Washington junior forward Willow Toft, much like she had a grip on a ball when she was a toddler playing "fetch" with her beloved grandpa, the late George Bryan, who nicknamed her Walnut.

"We were not a sports family," said Toft's mother, Shannon. "But with Willow it was different. She always had a ball in her hand, never dolls. She loved anything sports.

"Her grandpa would play with her in the yard, throw a ball and she'd fetch it and bring it back over and over again. She was always pushing to play. Later on, a friend of mine arranged for her to try out for a soccer team. We discovered she could play the game. There was no stopping her."

And that was just the beginning of a soccer journey that took the Panthers junior wing/forward to see the game she loves on March 25-April 2 in England, a mecca of the sport.

A place with the EXACT 11

Toft attended a regional camp staged by EXACT Sports, a national soccer organization that puts together amateur soccer ID camps and showcases, camp workouts, brings in college coaches for instruction, and invites college scouts to view high school players who are trying to build a path to playing at the collegiate level.

Those camps are throughout the Midwest and from Florida to California. Each camp produces player nominations toward EXACT Sports' national Top 100 prospect rankings. Toft earned the No. 30 ranking among EXACT's Top 100 female players in the nation.

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"We had a camp over the summer (2023) and all these elite players were there, and college coaches were there," Toft said. "The coaches trained me, made me better. Gave me some different aspects.

"It definitely boosted my confidence. I realized I'm better than I see myself."

Better enough, in fact, to make the EXACT 11 team that traveled to London, where she toured historic soccer pitches, practiced, earned reps in a couple friendly scrimmages and soaked in the soccer community.

"We started in London, traveled 2-3 days, and then up to Manchester, Liverpool and back to London," Toft said. "The Chelsea Football Club stadium (Stamford Bridge) in London. Liverpool Football Club's Anfield Stadium. There's a lot of history in them.

"We went to a women's game at Chelsea. It was a great experience. They go all out, have the chants going during the game. It's a lot bigger than here, such a massive sport and different experience.

"Overall, I found myself wondering, 'What would it be like to live over there?' The support for women's teams is amazing. Those fields connected for me. It was a feeling of, 'So many great players started on these fields, so I can do it too.' "

Growing up a sports nut

Willow Toft is the youngest of Shannon and Jerry Toft's five children.

Shannon is a digital marketer, Jerry is a truck driver for Prairie Farms. Willow Toft's siblings include Nick, 35, Hunter, 24, Casie, 36, and Jaden, 25.

"I've been the sports child of the family," Willow Toft said, laughing. "I had begged my mom to play soccer, but I didn't start until I was 8."

That was with the Sunnyland Sonics. She went on to more competitive leagues and levels. She's played club soccer for Central Illinois United Girls Academy, Central Illinois ECNL Eclipse, Peoria FC United, Central Illinois United, the Illinois Olympic Development Program, Peoria Soccer Club, John Gaspar Soccer Academy, and the Washington Legends.

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Club season is August to January, where she practices three times per week and plays two games per weekend. During high school season, practices are six days per week with two or three games per week.

She's more of an outside-back in club season, and an outside-forward in high school, although with Washington she has played several positions.

"I just focus on getting better, soccer is a year-round passion for me," Toft said. "And a lifelong passion."

'Going for my dreams'

Toft grew up glued to the U.S. Women's Olympic soccer team, watching them closely.

"Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were big inspirations for me," Toft said. "My overall look on the sport is how different it can be in every country. The game is so diverse, has so many possibilities.

"I want to experience more things like I did in England. And most of all, I want to keep going for my dreams."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.