Sisters athlete Audrey Tehan shoots for Olympic soccer

Sisters High School sophomore Audrey Tehan defending a post. photo provided Trying out for the soccer team and not making it did not discourage Audrey Tehan. Fracturing her foot has not discouraged this Sisters High School sophomore and neither has juggling her studies with traveling to soccer tournaments.

Audrey Tehan is committed to doing her best to compete on the Olympic Development Program (ODP) team.

And her best is pretty good. Tehan is the only girl from Central Oregon to play in the state's ODP. The program is sponsored by the United States Soccer Federation to develop teams to compete in international events, including the Olympics. ODP's mission is to develop the "most talented and passionate youth players" through state and regional competitions.

"I think it's every little girl's dream who plays soccer to play in the Olympics," said Tehan.

But right now she's focused on her near-term goals. Tehan wants to make next year's team and she wants to play in college.

This December, Tehan will try out again in hopes of continuing on the ODP team. The try-outs are an intensive two days in Portland. Tehan said the last tryout began with 50 girls but only 30 showed up for the second day. That number was narrowed down to a roster of 25, of which a final cut of 18 is made for each tournament.

The first time Tehan tried out, she didn't make it. She was "upset" but was ready to try again the next year.

"I wanted to show them that I could do it," she said.

So Tehan worked harder in the off-season, and worked on the basics of soccer skills and knowledge.

"I watched a lot of tapes with my dad," said Tehan.

That extra effort paid off with her making last year's team. That required lots of travel around Oregon. As part of the State Select team she's played in games in Las Vegas and Idaho.

"I like to work hard and be successful -- I like that feeling," said Tehan. "I'm a really competitive person and I love when you go one-on-one with a player."

Tehan began playing soccer when she was five years old. She also loves track, snowboarding and skiing. Her family knows that playing in the Olympics requires a single-minded commitment.

"If you aspire to the Olympics, that's all you should be playing all year," said Audrey's mother Peggy Tehan.

Peggy said the ODP coaches have stressed the dedication it takes to continue moving up to higher levels of play. Audrey has already shown dedication in her willingness to give up weekends with friends to travel to tournaments and in working with weights to stay fit when her foot fracture sidelined her from soccer. Peggy said sometimes it has been "tough" but that "the commitment comes from her."