With children and professional sports they often latch on to athlete, admire how that athlete plays, and follow in their footsteps to climb to greatness.

Mikayla Banks has emulated the style of US Olympian Alex Morgan to garner a professional level of success.

Banks and Morgan can now say they’ve both been a part of US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, which is a selective group of young boy’s and girl’s to improve their game on an advanced level.

“I watched the story of Alex Morgan and that’s how she started off,” Banks said. “She started off playing really good in high school and she tried out for the ODP team and she made it.”

Now, with Banks having notched a similar accomplishment of an admirable player, she hopes this achievement will lead her into the same path as Morgan. Next, Banks has to excel in collegiate soccer in hopes of one day being selected to the women’s national soccer team.

Achieving an identical milestones in her career, Banks feels like her dreams of professional soccer might one day become a reality.

“It gives me a push. She did it now you’re doing it,” Banks said. “It makes me feel like I’m going to get there.”

Banks endured a two-day tryout period. During tryouts, two sessions were held each day to evaluate basic skills such a speed. Banks was elated when receiving the news of her selection.

Banks’ father Michael said she scored more than any other perspective with five goals.

During the first session, Banks’ mother expressed to her that she was playing as though she might be intimidated being around talent of the same caliber.

She was able to overcome her anxiety but was faced with another unwanted hurdle.

As a more relaxed player, Banks enjoys showing off her abilities.

But during tryouts, Banks was put in different positions than her natural role as a forward.

Being out of position took a tole on her performance and after talking to coaches, she resumed her natural position on the field.

After switching to the forward position on the field, Banks began to impress coaches with her skill level and became more comfortable in her second session of tryouts.

“I was tired after. I was hurting because it was show much to do,” Banks said. “The coaches did way more drills than what we do here. I was thinking ‘I got to make this team because I need coaching like this because it’s going to make me better.”

Banks enjoyed the coaching styles during tryouts because it made her push herself to become great.

“We never did the same thing twice so that means they knew what they were doing,” Banks said.

In July is when Banks’ age group of the ODP will come together for camp. This is just one of the many programs Banks is associated with to propel her soccer career.

Banks will be involved with a few other college identification camps to get her name recognized for potential scholarship heading into her senior year. She was invited to a camp in July at the University of Central Florida.

She also has begun to garner attention from schools such as Nova Southeaster University in Florida.

Despite keeping a year-long athletic schedule with volleyball and track and field on her plate, Banks never grows tired of soccer.

“I’m going to stay excited regardless because I’m playing soccer,” Banks said.