The first time Chris Bastidas saw Bridget Smith play soccer, he was an assistant coach at Catasauqua High School, and she was simply a tall, red-headed girl from Bethlehem Catholic who was good at soccer.

Fast forward one year when Bastidas became the head coach at Becahi, and he realized there was nothing simple about Smith at all.

"It was her intensity and toughness, and it made everyone else intense and strong. She's so versatile too," Bastidas said.

Smith had been playing the forward position until Bastidas arrived. Then, he put her in the midfield.

"She controls the game so well. She would steal the ball and start our counterattack right away. That's what I liked about her best," said Bastidas, "and in the midfield, she's the best header in the area."

The move from forward to center mid was the best thing for the girls soccer team, and Smith is all about winning.

Smith said, "There was a core group of seniors, and we wanted to make the most of our last year. We got to districts again and won [in the first round]."

As a leader, Smith was only vocal when she needed to be.

"The other players knew that, and they really listened. She's the nicest person off the field, but also the most modest. Everyone loved her off, but on the field, everyone picked up on her intensity," said Bastidas.

Bastidas was so impressed with Smith on the soccer field, that he would go to watch her on the basketball court.

"She was just so dominant. A lot of sports will be losing Bridget, and losing Bridget is going to be very tough in the midfield. Replacing her will be hard to do, but hopefully, some others will step up," Bastidas said.

Becahi's girls basketball team also had the good fortune of Smith's versatility.

Coach Bill Lanscek said, "Bridget was willing to do all it takes to win, and not for personal gain. That's the tough thing: you could take her for granted, night in and night out, that she would do what she had to do for the team."

Smith was a team captain and a mentor for the younger players. As with soccer, Smith was not outspoken, and instead, led by example by doing her job.

"I liked being captain this year because we had a lot of talent in the freshman class, and it was really important that we got everybody on the same page, address problems early, and develop team chemistry," said Smith.

For Lanscek, having Smith on his team had far-reaching effects.

"Sometimes, the new players see this coach, pushing them and driving them. It's tough. Bridget was the buffer," he said.

For Smith, playing basketball also had far-reaching effects.

"It brought my family together. My mom has five brothers and one sister, and they would come to games, and then playoffs," she said.

Smith also recognizes that playing on any team makes one a better, more well-rounded person.

"Getting to states was new to all of us, but Bridget kept everyone even keel. As a coach, you're lucky if you get one like her," Lanscek said.

This past spring, Smith found herself free to try track and field, since girls' soccer had become a fall sport.

"I really loved it. I didn't know how it would be," said Smith.

Coach Gary Mohylsky recommended Smith compete in the javelin, shot put, high jump, and triple jump. Javelin was her best event.

"After track ended, I didn't know what to do. Playing sports helped me manage my time better, but I still had to stay up late sometimes. The classes I took were really challenging, so I had to," Smith said.

Smith graduated from Becahi as valedictorian of her class, and will major in biology at the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition, Smith is the first two-time Bethlehem Catholic Female Player of the Year for Bethlehem Press.

"I'm really honored and surprised. I never really thought about individual honors," said Smith, spoken like the team player she is.