Pearl River graduate Kim Treese has signed a letter of intent to attend Berry College, located in Mount Berry, Ga., and play soccer for the Lady Vikings.

Treese, Pearl River’s 2008-09 female athlete of the year, said she’s looking forward to playing college soccer.

“I think that’s always kind of an ultimate goal,” Treese said. “You play to move on to the next level and I’m finally there.” Treese said PRHS soccer coach Jeannie Beaushaw introduced her to the school and then Treese took a visit and fell in love with the campus.

“It’s 27,000 acres on a mountain and 3,000 kids,” Treese said. “It’s like a 12:1 deer to student ratio.”

Treese added the team also played into her decision.

“I think the team always plays into it,” she said. “I went up and took a few other visits (to other colleges) and there wasn’t that team chemistry. It seemed like Berry had strong team chemistry. Everybody got along with everybody. They had people from all over, Maine, California, Georgia, everywhere.”

While at Pearl River, Treese was a three-sport athlete, competing in soccer, softball and volleyball, but most of her athletic accomplishments came on the soccer field.

She was a captain her senior year and co-captain during her junior season. Treese was her team’s Most Valuable Player, lettered and was all-district all four years. She was the district’s MVP her junior and senior season. Treese was all-state sophomore-senior years. Because of her accomplishments, Pearl River retired Treese’s No. 23.

“It was pretty cool,” Treese said. “I wasn’t really sure how to react, but it was neat.”

Pearl River coach Jeannie Beaushaw, who coached Treese in soccer and volleyball, said Treese has been a very valuable member of the team.

“She’s been, as one of her teammates quoted, ‘the heart of the team,’” Beaushaw said.

Beaushaw also talked about what Berry College is getting in Treese.

“I believe they’re getting a dynamite player,” Beaushaw said. “She’s not only a skilled player, but her work ethic is invaluable.”

In softball, Treese played shortstop and centerfield for the Lady Rebels. She was an all-district player and lettered her final three seasons.

In volleyball, Treese lettered all four years, got offensive MVP her junior season and all-district her senior year.

Despite her athletic ability, Treese did not overlook the academic side. She said she will be going on an academic scholarship, something she wanted.

“I wanted it academic based in case something happens to me like physically in the athletic sense,” Treese said.

Treese also did well in the classroom. She recorded a 4.42 grade point average, while scoring a 30 on the ACT, and was the salutatorian. Throughout her high-school career, Treese took 15 honors or gifted courses. This year, Treese was also an academic all-state member.

Outside of the academic and athletic world, Treese didn’t stop. In her senior year, she was the senior-class president, the National Honor Society President and the vice president of the Mu Alpha Theta. She was also a member of the Spanish Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Treese was also in Talented Art and Talented Theatre.

Treese volunteered with Relay for Life, the Pearl River Youth Volleyball League and was a Pearl River Youth Soccer League coach. She has also been a youth soccer referee.

Kim is the daughter of Thomas and Kathy Treese of Pearl River.