Claire Hutton has been juggling and dribbling soccer balls most of her life.
“When I was about 4 years old, my older brother played for the rec town team,” Hutton said. “So I wanted to play and got my first pair of cleats. I still have them. They’re little black and blue tiny cleats.”
Much has changed since those pre-k days. Since seventh grade, she has been thriving on the Bethlehem varsity soccer team. And recently, she’s been shining on a new team -- the United States U-17 National Team.
“It was so amazing,” Hutton said. “I got chills the first goal I had, the first national anthem I heard while wearing the U.S.A. uniform.”
During the 2022 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship, the midfielder scored six goals for the Americans. The U.S. won all seven games to finish first in the tournament and advance to the World Cup.
“Being able to come home and share that medal with the kids I coach at Alleycats is something that inspires me, and that’s part of my why I play soccer,” Hutton said.
She is now getting ready with the goal of traveling to India for the FIFA U17 women’s World Cup this October. Team U.S.A. will have camp at the end of August, and Hutton is hoping to get invited to earn a spot on the squad again.
“Put in the work and you’ll get the results, and I think it’s just something that’s kind of comes,” Hutton said. “Obviously I want to achieve more so there’s more I want to do.”
Over the next few weeks, she is planning to practice with teams near New York City, boy’s soccer clubs, and the New York Shockers. Hutton wants to stay at the top of her game for that next opportunity.
“I’m not there yet, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get there,” Hutton said. “But that’s what wakes me up in the morning and that’s what keeps me going.”