TWCA's Virginia Finley
“Growing up, I always wanted to go into the medical field because of my mom,” Finley shared. “She was an OBGYN here in The Woodlands, but she passed away just before my second birthday. As I got older, I knew medicine was something I wanted to pursue.”
That calling deepened during a life-altering period in her sophomore year.
“The year I joined the sports medicine program, my dad got really sick and had to go into hospice,” she said. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital with him. Watching people help each other in that environment truly inspired me to dive deeper into the medical field.”
Tragically, Finley lost her father last year. Now, she lives with her grandmother and aunt, carrying the lessons of her challenges with remarkable strength.
“It’s been tough,” she admitted. “But I try to make light of it and grow from it. Without those experiences, I wouldn’t have the mental fortitude I do now. With everything that’s happened, all I can do is keep moving forward.”
Yet, Finley’s journey into TWCA Sports Medicine wasn’t solely born of hardship.
2024-25 TWCA Sports MedicineBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I got interested in training because some friends encouraged me to join my sophomore year,” she said. “After that, I fell in love with helping athletes—on and off the field—with injury prevention and everything else we do.”
Her dual perspective as a trainer and athlete gives her a unique edge. When she’s not assisting on the sidelines, Finley plays softball for TWCA. But her athletic prowess doesn’t stop there.
She’s also a Kukkiwon-certified black belt in taekwondo.
“It’s kind of my biggest flex,” Finley laughed. “I studied under a five-time Olympic coach and trained alongside Olympians like Victoria Stambaugh and three-time World Champion Bianca Walkden.
“I eventually stopped training when I started here because I wanted to focus on school sports and have more freedom. But it’s one of my biggest accomplishments.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Looking ahead, Finley’s passion for sports medicine and helping others is steering her college ambitions.
“I’m considering Texas Lutheran or Texas State,” she said. “I want to continue in athletic training or maybe explore sports psychology. Through my experience, I’ve seen how athletes can struggle mentally when they’re injured. I want to be part of that recovery process and help them keep doing what they love.”
Despite the challenges she’s faced, Finley’s determination and optimism have made her an inspiration to those around her. Through her diverse experiences and indomitable spirit, Finley is destined to live out her dream of helping others—on and off the field.
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MacArthur's Madisson Duran
“It all began with my parents’ support,” she said. “My whole family played, and they’ve always been there for me as I try to carry on the tradition. I feel like soccer makes me who I am. Anytime I haven’t been playing, it’s almost like I’ve lost a part of myself. Since I’m the middle child, I also try to set a good example for my younger siblings, so they can feel the same way.”
Of course, it took some time for her to develop a knack for the sport.
“When I first started playing, when I was about six or seven, I didn’t know what I was doing,” laughed Duran. “I was just on the field with no idea how to play for my team at the time. But they needed a goalkeeper, and they chose me – the tiniest girl on the field.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“After that, I just ran with it. At this point, though, I can play any position on the field if needed. But I’ve been a goalie since the beginning, so that’s where I normally am.”
Duran isn’t the “tiny girl” she once was. She’s made quite a name for herself between the posts, evidenced by her exceptional performance last year that earned her District 14-6A Goalkeeper of the Year honors – the third consecutive year she received such an award.
But for Duran, it’s not all about the accolades.
“One of the best memories I have with this team is easily from my freshman year when we went to Six Flags,” she said. “We went on all the rides, and we convinced one of my teammates, who was afraid of heights, to sit in the front seat of a roller coaster with us.
“She literally passed out, and we all thought it was so funny. To this day, I’ll remind her of it, and we’ll both laugh. It’s those types of little experiences that mean the most, and they’re the ones you remember the longest.”
As a team, MacArthur has finished atop the district standings each of the last five years, most recently going 14-0 last winter, which extended their district win streak to 34 games.
2024-25 MacArthur High School Girls SoccerBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
However, they’ve faced challenges in making deep playoff runs, often due to a tough opening-round opponent from Conroe ISD – most recently, College Park, where the Lady Generals narrowly fell 2-1.
So, what will it take for them to break that early-exit stigma?
“We need to be stronger, both physically and mentally,” said Duran. “Once we get to the playoffs, our minds and bodies need to be more stable – especially in that first round. That comes with the belief we have in each other and in ourselves. We’re right there in a lot of these games, so we can’t put our heads down at that point.”
With Duran in goal, and a talented squad taking the field this year, another district title is likely in the cards for MacArthur.
But they’ll have even greater aspirations in the weeks to come.
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