Oct. 31, 2003

On the soccer field, Kara McCue is best described as a stingy defender. Off the field, McCue is anything but stingy. McCue gives as much to the community as she does to the Kentucky women’s soccer team.

The leadership skills for this Hamilton, Ohio native did not develop overnight. As a sophomore at Lakota West H.S., McCue was one of four student-athletes selected to visit the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Ranch in Colorado.

“The things I learned in Colorado still apply today,” McCue said.

The time McCue has spent at the KidsFirst SportsCenter in Cincinnati as a swimming teacher has served as an enormous personal reward. When she became aware of two hearing-impaired boys at the SportsCenter, McCue approached their parents and volunteered to tutor the children. McCue enrolled in sign language courses at UK’s Lexington Community College to aid her in the instruction.

“Teaching the children was a really amazing experience for me,” McCue said. “I love kids and I try to throw myself into activities with children whenever I get the chance.”

A member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, McCue was inducted into UK athletics’ prestigious Frank G. Ham Society of Character earlier this year. UK Coach Warren Lipka is quick to point out the value of McCue’s leadership abilities.

“Kara is a model student-athlete,” Lipka said. “She’s a vocal leader on the field and in the locker room.”

As much as she has enjoyed her UK experience, McCue nearly played soccer for a Kentucky rival.

“I was thinking about going to the University of Florida, but I got the chance to visit Kentucky and the rest is history. I loved it here. The coaches and the people here were wonderful, and that made it an easy decision,” McCue said.

McCue has started 62 of 79 matches at Kentucky and has chipped in five goals and eight assists in her four solid years as a Wildcat.