For Illinois State senior Ava Watson, success is measured in more than goals scored or minutes played. A biology major preparing for medical school, Watson has spent her four years as a Redbird challenging herself in the classroom, contributing to research and volunteering in health care while continuing to develop on the soccer field.
Her schedule leaves little room for downtime. After practice, Watson heads to class before making her way to the laboratory to continue her research. Homework fills the hours at home in her apartment, while volunteer shifts at Carle BroMenn Medical Center and preparation for medical school add to her responsibilities.
It's a demanding routine, but one Watson has learned to manage through organization, hard work and making time for herself.
"I feel like the important part of it is time management, always making sure that I save some time for myself to be able to do the things that I enjoy," Watson said. "If you don't spend any time with things you enjoy, I feel like it's easier to burn out and lose motivation."
Head coach Raleigh DeRose believes Watson's ability to balance competing priorities reflects one of her defining qualities.
"She's talented on the field and in the classroom, but it goes back to her work ethic and her desire," DeRose said. "She has a desire to play at a high level, but she also has a desire to be a great student in the classroom and has a desire to be a doctor."
That determination has helped Watson build an impressive résumé in and out of competition while preparing for the next chapter of her life as a surgeon.
A Passion for Medicine
Watson's interest in medicine began long before she arrived at Illinois State. Her father worked in medical sales and often shared stories about the surgeries he attended, sparking her curiosity at a young age.
By elementary school, she already knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. As she progressed through science courses and gained firsthand experience through shadowing and volunteering, that interest continued to grow.
"I went every day and I was excited to go, and it just showed me that's really something I want to do in my future," Watson said of her early shadowing experience.
Now, Watson is preparing to take the next step toward medical school, with a particular interest in surgery.
At Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, she volunteers in guest services, helping patients and visitors navigate the hospital, transporting patients after appointments and assisting with other needs. Earlier in the year, she also volunteered in the post-anesthesia care unit, where she supported nurses and helped provide patients with items they needed while recovering from surgery.
When she returns home to Dublin, Ohio, Watson volunteers as a medical scribe at a free clinic, where she interacts with patients and learns more about the health care process. She also plans to work as a medical assistant to gain additional clinical experience before applying to medical school.
"I enjoy getting to interact with the patients and making relationships with the people that I'm volunteering or working with," Watson said.
Her academic pursuits extend into research as well. Through relationships she has built with her professors, Watson joined a research group studying protein and mitochondrial quality control in neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on Parkinson's disease.
Her work has included reviewing emerging theories in the field and contributing to laboratory research involving plasma DNA and cost-effective methods of recovering DNA for biomedical research.
The experience has allowed Watson to develop her scientific background while contributing to projects that have led to publications and presentations. Her research mentor also nominated her for the Robert G. Bone Scholarship, which she earned in June as one of 14 undergraduate students selected for the university-wide honor.
Named in honor of former Illinois State President Robert G. Bone, the scholarship recognizes undergraduate students for their scholarly achievements, leadership and engagement in the university community and beyond.
Watson credits Illinois State's academic environment with helping her pursue those opportunities alongside Division I athletics.
"I feel like the fit for here, the class sizes and stuff like that, has really helped me build my relationships with my professors, which has been very important for me," Watson said.
Finding Another Gear on the Field
While Watson has built an impressive academic résumé, she has also continued to develop as a player throughout her four seasons with the Redbirds.
A dependable presence on the back line, Watson entered her senior season looking for another way to contribute. A change in formation had shifted her responsibilities from outside back to wingback, giving her more opportunities to join the attack.
After the team began implementing the formation midway through last season, Watson made improving her offensive game a priority. During the offseason, she focused on shooting, dribbling and taking more chances.
The additional work has paid off. Watson has scored a team-leading five goals this season, the most by an Illinois State defender since 2005. She also scored in three consecutive games, becoming the first Redbird to score in three straight games since Riley O'Brien in 2021. Watson has added two assists and two game-winning goals for the Redbirds this season.
DeRose pointed to Watson's goals against Eastern Illinois and UIC as examples of her willingness to take charge in critical moments.
"She chose in a 0-0 game with Eastern and also against UIC in a 1-0 game at the time to put the game on her shoulders and take a shot that she's been practicing for like months at practice," DeRose said. "And I think that's something that shows her character, her tenacity, her desire, and also her heart because she wants to put that best foot forward for the team."
Her growth has given the Redbirds another offensive option, forcing opposing defenses to account for a defender capable of creating scoring opportunities.
"It's somebody else that the other team has to worry about," DeRose said. "You have to worry about our forwards, our midfielders and our defenders. I think it's something that makes us unique and contributes exponentially to our success."
Building Something Together
Watson's individual accomplishments have come alongside the growth of the Illinois State program.
After winning just three games during Watson's freshman season, the Redbirds began making strides in the Missouri Valley Conference. As a sophomore, Watson helped Illinois State reach the conference tournament quarterfinals. Last season, the Redbirds advanced to the conference championship game.
Now, with a 9-2-3 record, Illinois State is enjoying another successful campaign, reflecting the progress the program has made throughout Watson's career and since DeRose took over the helm of the program.
For Watson, being part of that growth has been one of the most rewarding parts of her time at Illinois State.
"I'm just proud of the progress in general that we've made since my freshman year," Watson said. "It's great to see the way we've been able to improve over the years and build something out of a struggling team."
She is equally proud of the culture within the locker room. Watson describes the Redbirds as a team in which players celebrate one another's accomplishments, support their teammates and remain invested in each other's success.
DeRose believes Watson has helped establish that culture through her consistency and willingness to give everything she has to the team.
"I think there's a lot of people on the outside looking at us, our talent or speed, and that definitely doesn't go unnoticed," DeRose said. "But again, I think it's her work rate and how willing and able she is to put her body on the line and her best effort into the game for the team."
That commitment, DeRose said, is evident regardless of the circumstances.
"Win, loss, tie, you always know what you're going to get from her," DeRose said.
As Watson looks toward the final stretch of her senior season, she hopes to help Illinois State continue its progress and compete for both the regular-season and tournament MVC titles.
A Senior Season to Remember
With senior day festivities taking place Oct. 18 before Illinois State's home match against Indiana State, the realization that her college career is nearing its end has begun to set in.
Watson remembers arriving on campus and beginning her journey as a Redbird, making the prospect of walking across the field with her family and teammates beside her feel almost surreal.
"It feels a bit crazy that it's already coming because I feel like I just started and moved in the other day," Watson said. "But it also is gonna feel very rewarding to know that through all the ups and downs we've experienced that I am getting to walk across the field with teammates I love and my family by my side and a team that's having a very successful season. It's just very great to see how far me and everyone in my class have come since our freshman year."
The moment will represent more than the conclusion of her playing career at Illinois State, where she has appeared in over 70 games and logged nearly 6,000 minutes on the pitch. It will also mark the culmination of four years of academic growth, research, service and preparation for a future as a surgeon.
Through the ups and downs of college athletics, Watson has found opportunities to challenge herself, build meaningful relationships and pursue goals that extend well beyond soccer.
Her playing career will eventually give way to the next step in her academic journey, but the lessons she has learned at Illinois State will remain part of the foundation she carries forward.
"Her lasting impact is of course going to be seen in the stat book with minutes and goals, and that's important, but when it comes to the program, it's the heart that she has that's always been felt," DeRose said.
