Heidi Sikora Looks Back at Playing Days and Shares About Transitioning to Coaching Soccer

Heidi Sikora (maiden name Butterbaugh) is a native of Altoona, Pennsylvania and is a 2021 graduate of Clarks Summit University. The Blair County native never expected to play soccer, let alone continue playing in college.

(Photos courtesy of Clarks Summit University Defenders)

Even though she never played before, she decided to join her friends on the Blair County Christian Bobcats team. The first few years of her varsity career were challenging, but late in her career, the program started to turn around. They got their first win in four years in her junior season and went on to finish second in their division in her senior season.

In addition to soccer, she was also on the basketball and track teams in high school, while continuing her lifelong sport, dance. From the age of four all the way until nearly her high school days concluded, her main focus was on being the best dancer she could be. However, high school sports started to grow as a priority for her, and she graduated high school with 12 total letters.

After her high school days, she headed to Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, a borough in Lackawanna County, to begin her days at Clarks Summit University. Her main reasons for choosing the Baptist Bible institution was because she wanted to attend an accredited, Christian school that could help her to become certified and equipped to teach in either a private or public school setting.

She found out about Clarks Summit because of her high school soccer coach, something that sparked the interest of community members. Not long later, she had a meeting with the coaching staff and was welcomed to join the program. While it was not your typical recruiting process, this may not even be the wildest part of her becoming a college soccer player.

In her freshman season, she subbed in as a goalkeeper as the program faced injury. Originally, it was only anticipated to be a one game, but she continued on through the entire season in the role. 

The opportunity was one she did not expect, but now helps her as a coach at both the elementary and middle school level. In fact, she helped to kickstart both programs this past fall and looks forward to what’s to come as these teams continue for the foreseeable future. Though the teams were new and many of the players were joining a sport for the first time, she helped the middle school program to a playoff spot and a near upset of the eventual league champions. 

Her teaching career has now taken her to Work of Life Christian Academy in Las Vegas where she serves as a middle and high school science teacher. The beautiful weather all year long is perfect for all the outdoor activities her and her husband, Andrew, enjoy doing together.

When looking back at her own playing career, her top memories include going to the playoffs for the first time in high school soccer and scoring her first collegiate goal at Clarks Summit. She is incredibly thankful for the chance she had to play for Mrs. Dull in her high school soccer days as well as to dance for Mrs. Raina for many years growing up. Most of all, her parents are who she is most thankful for in life. As a busy student athlete, she is so thankful her parents always made the time to attend her games and allowed her to be so active growing up.

Heidi Sikora’s role in athletics may look different today, but it’s different in the best way possible. She can be the role model that young people need and the coach that inspires them to possibly become a college athlete someday themselves. Her life has taken many unexpected twists and turns, but her faith always remained strong as she met the challenges and changes head on. Now, it’s her turn to pass on these lessons to her students and players for years to come.