Coaches will use the phrase "gym rat" to those athletes that simply can't get enough of competition because they simply love to compete. That term, while not endearing on some levels, can also apply to those that are constantly taking time to work out or simply train in order to compete at their highest level on a daily basis. Furthermore, if you are walking through the Salem College workout facility, located near Varsity Gym, you will find your own "gym rat" in the form of soccer standout Callie Adams.
Most afternoons, when Salem soccer isn't taking the field for practice, you can find Adams making her rounds on the gym equipment donning her bright smile the whole time to passersby. Adams is constantly taking time to condition herself to be at the top of her game for the Spirits' soccer program. What you might not know, unless you ask her about it, is about a horrific ankle injury that she suffered and battles through in order to play a game that she loves in her heart.
Adams has taken the field on 25 occasions, making 20 starts along the way, for the Salem soccer team. She is responsible for three goals and one assists (seven points), nine shots, five shots on goal and one game-winning goal in her two seasons at Salem. In the classroom, Adams has also made her presence felt, earning at least a 3.3 GPA, which resulted in a spot on the USA South All-Academic Team in 2019-20. She was one of 14 Salem soccer players to accomplish that feat.
The Amarillo, Texas, native joined the Salem program after being named as a First Team All-Region performer in 2016 and 2017 at Randall High School. In her first season with the Spirits she netted one goal on two shots and started 12 of 17 matches. Her first collegiate goal came in a 3-2 setback to Mt. St. Joseph on September 3. Adams play on the field helped Salem to earn 13 victories, including six in USA South play, as the Spirits defense limited opponents to 1.02 goals per match.
Adams followed that up by starting all 18 matches as a sophomore, closing with one assist, which came against N.C. Wesleyan on October 6. Heading into her junior season it was obvious that Adams would be an opening day starter for the Salem defense, but her ankle injury limited Adams to just seven matches, the first of which came at N.C. Wesleyan on October 12.
Her return to the field was complete when she drove home one of eight goals for the Spirits in a decisive 8-2 triumph over Mary Baldwin on October 26. Adams followed that by scoring the first goal of the game, off a rebound by teammate Alyssa Denkovich, in the quarterfinals of the USA South Conference Tournament against Piedmont. She capitalized on that performance by making her second start of the game in the semifinal clash with Maryville.
She continues to make her way back into the starting lineup and recover further from the injury and is working hard daily to do so. Adams spoke about her career on-and-off the field at Salem and made the following responses:
Name: Callie Adams
Sport(s): Soccer
Who inspired you to play this sport and why?
I was actually the only person in my family to play soccer. My parents signed me up at the first age possible and it just took off from there.
Describe some of the things that you have done, while being away from campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, that have made an impact on your life. It would probably have to be finding a schedule and becoming self-motivated. I've learned that just because things change and get hard, you have to keep adapt and keep moving.
Favorite Food: Any type of Thai food
Favorite Class at Salem: Business Management with Dr. Flowers. While it was one of my hardest classes, it taught me so much about all the moving parts of a business and Dr. Flowers really pushed us to dig into the materials and have fun with it.
What is the one thing that you have learned most by competing in athletics that you apply in everyday life? To enjoy every second of the grind because you never know when the next chapter of life is going to come.
Best Salem moment in sports: My favorite moment had to be when I came off of an almost two-month injury to earn my first start back and score the first goal in our quarterfinal game.
Plans after I finish college: I plan on going back to Texas to be closer to my family and using my degree to do find a job I am passionate about.
Superstitions that are in my pregame ritual: While I am not a crazy superstitious person, the only thing I do every pregame is have a jam session with the team.
How did you pick your jersey number: My original number was already taken by a senior and I had to pick from 23 and 21. The coach told me that number 21 was always worn by a defender, so I went with it.
Favorite person to follow on social media: @salemwomenssoccer of course
If you could travel anywhere where would you go: Switzerland, it is my Dad's favorite place and I hope to go there with him one day.
What made you decide to attend Salem: I wanted to go out of state and once I visited North Carolina, I loved it. It was a change of scenery and I never knew if I wanted to go to a smaller school until I talked to some of the players about how nice it was and how the professors really cared about each student.