Snedeker Happy, Hopeful on Her Own

September 16, 2005

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State soccer player Amy Snedeker certainly does not shrink back on the playing field when facing a hard-charging opponent. Her determination, grit and fiery nature are some of the main reasons why the Bulldogs have positioned themselves alongside some of the heavyweights in the Lone Star Conference women’s soccer race.

Snedeker’s competitive personality did not arrive by accident and was not something that just developed. Growing up with her twin sister, Anna, the two learned and shared many characteristic traits growing up in their suburban home in Broken Arrow .

Amy and Anna Snedeker were born just minutes apart on Aug. 19, 1983 to the parents of Gary and Sherry Snedeker in St. Louis , Mo. Though not identical, Amy has brown eyes, Anna blue, the twins shared quite a rivalry growing up in their suburban home outside of Tulsa .

“Everything and anything we did was a contest. You name it…whether it was getting to the front seat of the car, playing Monopoly, Go Fish!, or Uno it was about who was going to win,” Amy said.

Growing up the two sharpened their feistiness on the soccer field playing for some of the elite youth clubs in the Tulsa area. Known first as the “Snedeker Twins”, noticeable differences would eventually emerge. Anna grew and grew reaching the height of 5-10 while her sister, Amy, stopped at 5-3.

“We were on the same teams but never really played the same positions,” Amy said. “Basketball I was the point guard; she was the post. In volleyball, I was the setter; she was the hitter. Same way in soccer, I played more up front while she was in back.”

Amy’s progression as a soccer player continued next to her sister until late in her teenage years. Two ACL knee surgeries forced Amy to the sidelines and resulted in her missing the bulk of her high school senior year. Meanwhile, Anna kept relatively injury free and eventually signed with UCO.

Amy instead chose to attend SWOSU attracted by the school’s smaller size, its quiet atmosphere and its renowned pharmacy school.

“We wanted different things in our college choice.” Amy said. “We wanted to try it alone as individuals since we’d always been the Snedeker Twins.”

Now four years later, as both are playing their final seasons and nearing the completion of coursework towards a collegiate degree. Amy still remains happy of her choice of SWOSU.

“Our team at SWOSU we all get along…all 25 girls. We play, eat, and go out as a team. We pretty much live together in the dorms. We have a lot of fun.” Amy said. “These are relationships and friends that I hope to have last forever. Soccer is only going to be for four years.”

Amy’s post collegiate plans most likely won’t include competitive soccer but remain nonetheless bright and hopeful. She carries a 3.91 GPA in business management and has already pinned her sights on climbing the corporate ladder.

“I hope to work somewhere this summer where I can get a good range of experiences and maybe work my way up from there. Otherwise, I’m keeping my options open…hopefully something good will come.” Amy said.