CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman senior soccer player Olivia Caretti graduated on May 22nd, 2026. She played soccer for 11 years, six of those years coming on Cullman’s soccer team, four of those on the varsity squad. In an interview with the Tribune, she shared a couple of her favorite soccer memories, and she had a blast playing alongside some great teammates during her career.
“My favorite ones were the beach trips we took each year to Gulf Shores, and beating Hartselle in overtime my junior year,” Caretti said. “It was an amazing feeling. I have been on teams before where going to practice was just for soccer. However, with this team, practice was to be with my teammates and grow with them as a team rather than individuals. This year, we watched the movie, ‘Mighty Ducks’, which really conveys what being a true team means. Our team is a family that wins together, loses together, and flies together. I will take away what it means to be a true friend and leader on and off the field.”
She was blessed to have played under some great coaches during her time as a Bearcat, and she took away a lot from them. Her role models left a big impact on her life, and she’s played a key part in a couple of her favorite games.
“My role models are my coach Megan Hackbarth and the seniors my freshman year that I have continued to look up to for years, as their leadership left a lasting impact on me,” Caretti said. “I have been very fortunate at Cullman to have coaches who care about us and truly coach us to our potential. What I took away from them is that you should always control what you can control, which is your attitude, effort, and toughness. I also took away that you are always playing for the girl beside you, not yourself. My favorite games were always Hartselle and then Southside this year. Hartselle is always a tough game, but when we beat them, it is one of the best feelings in the world as they are our rivals. Southside was a special game, as it is the first time that Cullman’s girls’ soccer team has ever beat Southside. Last year, we got beat by them in the first round of the playoffs, so to beat them in the first round this year was an amazing redemption.”
Olivia will remember and miss some important things about playing at Cullman, and she shared a couple of her favorite high school memories. She was a part of something special during her time as a Bearcat.
“I will remember how well we did this year and the team that made it happen. I will miss all of my teammates and coaches,” Caretti said. “My favorite high school memories were homecoming week with all of my friends and creating the yearbook this year. What made Cullman a special place to go to was the family-like atmosphere and just the overall school pride that students have while still being academically successful.” She added, “I will remember and miss seeing all of my friends every day and the memories we made together the most,” she said. “I was in the Key Club, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and part of the Southerner staff. It was time consuming and hard, but it taught me work ethic and responsibility through deadlines and service hours necessitaties. I loved being a part of the Key Club dance and being able to put that on with the club.”
Olivia kept her advice short and sweet when it came to giving students that are fixing to start high school advice. God has played a huge role in her life, and she leans on a certain Bible verse to help her get through the day.
“My advice would be to involve yourself in something that interests you, such as a sport or maybe working somewhere. This way, you can be involved and meet new people without it feeling like a burden,” she said. “God is a huge part of my life and has driven me through tough times and good times. My favorite Bible verse is John 3:30. This verse has definitely become a part of what I value the past few months, as I have remembered it each time I took the field and was a leader.”
