Senior Spotlight: Catherine Arnold Finds Her Stride On and Off the Field

Catherine Arnold’s first day at Madison West High School didn’t go quite as planned. She arrived with brand-new braces and a broken foot, crutching through the front doors as a nervous freshman.

“I just remember thinking, ‘I can’t, I can’t do this. I’m like a new version of myself already, and I haven’t even started high school,’” she said. Looking back, Arnold has some advice for that younger version of herself: “No one’s thinking about you as much as you are thinking about yourself.”

Four years later, that quiet self-assurance has grown into something solid. This fall, Arnold will attend UW-La Crosse, where she plans to study public health and continue playing the sport she loves: soccer. The tight-knit community of her high school teams made a big difference. From themed team dress-up days and matches on the field, Arnold shared how teamwork and connection are part of what makes West special. 

“I think I decided to pursue soccer in college because it’s a team sport, and I just love it,” Arnold said. "Sometimes, before West, soccer felt like a chore. But now it’s like another thing I can enjoy, and I want to do it again for the next four years.”

Her path to collegiate soccer took planning and persistence. In addition to training, practicing and game days for both the school team and a club team, Arnold networked with college level coaches to demonstrate her talent. It was at a club team showcase that a member of UW-La Crosse’s coaching staff came to see her play. After visiting the campus and learning more about the team, Arnold knew it was the right fit.

A well-rounded student-athlete, Arnold is a dedicated student who’s found joy and challenge in learning languages. A graduate of Leopold Elementary and Cherokee Heights Middle School, she’s been part of the Spanish Dual Language Immersion program since the beginning, even adding French in middle school.

Balancing two languages, athletics and a full academic course load hasn’t been easy, but Arnold has learned what it takes.

“It’s important to connect with your teachers from the beginning,” she said. “Academic burnout comes just as easily as sports burnout. Allotting time to rest between semesters, between months...any time you can get to rest, it’s important."

Along the way, she’s had multiple staff members helping her navigate it all: Her school counselor, “My biggest support has been Ms. Dyer, my counselor. She helped me get the classes I needed and helped me figure out that I actually did want to stay at West,” Arnold said. “And all the language teachers I’ve had have been super impactful. Madame Muchka is awesome.”

As she heads into this next chapter, Arnold feels ready for change—and excited for what’s ahead. “I’m mostly looking forward to something new,” she said. “High school has been great, and having these four years has been great—but I’m ready for the next chapter.”