<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=37TRhE_1H4yYiIg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=37TRhE_1H4yYiIg00" width="800" height="976" ></figure>There are few people who can say they played as a star on a team, sacrificed their love of the sport for health, became the “hype man,” trainer, recorder and errand-runner all at once.Even fewer can say that their coach had so much faith placed in their abilities that they were put on the roster solely under the guise that they’d be convinced to play in playoffs.Senior Sophie Shapiro is one of those few – if not the only.Before becoming team manager, Shapiro served as a linebacker and wide receiver during the flag football team’s inaugural season in 2025. As a junior she scored 17 touchdowns, had 1153 receiving yards and 84 rushing yards, according to MaxPreps.In addition to having successes on the Edwardsville team, she was nominated to be a part of the third IHSA All-State team, as well, according to the team’s official Instagram account.Shapiro decided to resign as a player prior to her senior season to preserve her college track prospects.“I decided to be manager this year because I was trying to stay healthy for track season coming up,” Shapiro said. “I just didn’t want to take any major risks on the football that could have jeopardized [my] track season.”She will attend the University of Miami as a track and field commit, according to “Southern Illinois Sports with Chris Dexter” and Shapiro’s personal social media. She officially signed with Miami at the Thursday, Nov. 12 signing in the EHS auditorium.In addition to protecting her spring season, she decided to spend her senior year alongside her sophomore sister.“I wanted to be the manager mostly because my sister was on the team, but also because I wasn’t quite ready to let the sport go completely.”The loss of an impressive player allowed the team to gain a self-proclaimed “hype man” who led their routine right up until kickoff.“I would bring a speaker and give pregame talks to bring some energy to the team,” Shapiro said. “I feel like my biggest role was being the team hype man, though.”Shapiro spent her time off the field helping coaches and supporting players.“On game days, sometimes I would film games. Other times I would warm up punters,” Shapiro said. “I really just went where I was needed.”As the season ended, she was needed off the sidelines and on the field.After having put Shapiro as a player on the team roster because of her outstanding performance the prior season, the flag football coaches spent months successfully convincing her to play during their run at playoffs as an end to her flag football career.“The coaches put me on the roster so I could have the opportunity to play in the playoffs because they had a feeling they could convince me to join back in,” Shapiro said. “It worked, I played the last three games.”</div></body>

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There are few people who can say they played as a star on a team, sacrificed their love of the sport for health, became the “hype man,” trainer, recorder and errand-runner all at once. Even fewer can say that their coach had so much faith placed in their...

Star Player Plays New Role

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There are few people who can say they played as a star on a team, sacrificed their love of the sport for health, became the “hype man,” trainer, recorder a

Star Player Plays New Role

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