Now, she’s entering her senior season feeling relieved to have her college decision made up, but intending on nothing but the best for herself and the Falcons.
“I definitely feel the relief,” she said. “But by no means do I feel that I have to slow down and not work hard. I’ve still got a lot to do in soccer before I go to college.”
It’s a comment and a decision that wouldn’t surprise Baldridge’s Real SoCal club soccer Coach Marwan Asaad.
“She’s very committed — Tori makes all the right choices,’ Asaad said. “She’s so serious about school, about family, about soccer.
“I’m so happy for her.”
Baldridge’s happiness with Kansas was instantaneous.
“Immediately when I got out of the airport, I fell in love with Kansas,” she said. “On top of the great team, it’s a great school.”
Baldridge drew a great deal of notice in March at the Las Vegas College Showcase. She garnered the attention of Pepperdine, UC Davis, UC Riverside, Northern Illinois and Washington State among others.
“They all wanted her to go to their school,” Asaad said.
But during the aforementioned trip to Kansas during Crescenta Valley’s spring break, Baldridge’s decision became an easy one.
“I loved it,” she said.
Baldridge will play for Coach Mark Francis on a Jayhawks squad that went 7-10-4 overall and 5-2-3 in the Big 12.
Baldridge has been recruited to play center back on the Jayhawks defense, the position she plays in club.
“She’s the most consistent defender on our team,” Asaad said. “I live to coach players like her.”
