Chamblee junior Solai Washington was recently named the 2023 Georgia Girls Soccer Player of the year after an outstanding season in which she led the Lady Bulldogs to the Class 5A girls’ state title.

She becomes the first DeKalb County School District’s girl to win the honor joining boys’ winners Josh Bronstorph (Dunwoody, 2016), Chris Faklaris (Redan, 1991) and Troy Garner (Redan, 1996).

Washington helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to a second consecutive state finals appearance and scored four goals to go with two assists in the 9-0 Class 5A state championship victory over Greenbrier this spring (2023). Washington finished the season with 42 goals and 9 assists on the way to being named the Georgia High School Soccer.com Class 5A Player of the Year as Chamblee finished 21-0-1.

As a sophomore Washington scored 21 goals along with 8 assists in a 21-1-1 season for Chamblee in 2022. Chamblee has gone 42-1-2 in her two seasons on the pitch.

“Solai is so deserving of this award,” said Chamblee girls coach Carley Miles. “She works harder than most people which shows on the pitch. Her fierce presence on the field certainly helps, but her gracious and humble attitude is what is taking her as far as she is going. I cannot wait to watch her on the World Cup stage next month!”

Chamblee’s only non-victory was a 2-2 tie against Class 6A state runner-up Marist on February 10 and Washington’s talent did not go unnoticed by Marist coach Curtis Ensberg, “ She is so dangerous. The goal she scored against us was absolutely incredible – just three perfect touches to make space for the shot and then curled it just inside the far post.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year Award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field. Winning the state award now puts Washington as a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year with 50 other players (49 others states and Washington D.C.).

Washington holds a 4.02 GPA in the classroom and made a verbal commitment to play soccer on scholarship at Duke University beginning in the fall of 2024. She also volunteers locally as part of multiple community service initiatives though her church.

Another reward from winning the Gatorade Award is being able to pay it forward for the next generation. The Play It Forward initiative awards each winner a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners to fuel the future of sport. The grants to date have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

Meanwhile she is heading to Australia in July as part of the Jamaican Women’s National team to participate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Soccer Championships. Jamaica plays in Pool F against France, Brazil and Panama. The first match comes against France in Sydney on July 23.

Washington got her first taste of world class soccer last February after being named to the Jamaican team as she played in two games in Australia in preparation for the FIFA Tournament this summer.

Georgia High School Soccer.com also named Washington and fellow junior teammate at Chamblee Kara Croone (27 goals, 7 assists) to their 2023 Super XI squad. Croone has 102 career goals and 42 assists in three seasons.