By HUNTER O. LYLE
PORT ALLEGANY, PA – Just a few months ago, Kailey Bartlett was on the field, leading the Port Allegany girl’s soccer team through her fourth and final season. Flip the looking glass the other way and in another few months Bartlett will again be suiting up, although not in the Black and Orange.
Signing her National Letter of Intent last Friday, Bartlett will be swapping the Gators for the Pioneers as she officially committed to playing soccer at Point Park University.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid,” said Bartlett. “I think it proves that if you come out of a small area, you can still make it somewhere if you just keep your faith and keep working.”
Coming to the Lady Gators as a freshmen, Bartlett studied the game, watching a cast of numerous Big 30 All-Stars lead the way, including Evan Stauffer who also took the leap to the collegiate level, playing soccer at Hilbert College. Dedicating herself to the sport year round by joining Twin Tiers Soccer Club in the offseason, Bartlett’s growth and impact was undeniable.
After collecting an Upper Allegheny Valley Soccer League All-Star selection in 2023 as a sophomore, her trophy room quickly began running out of space.
The following year, collecting a career-high 13 goals and 13 assists for the Lady Gators, she was again selected as an UAVSL All-Star, as well as a Big 30 All-Star and as a member of the YDL D9/D10 All-District Second Team. Finally, during her senior year, where she led Port to the District 9 Class A postseason for a second consecutive year with nine goals and 10 assists, Bartlett collected her third straight UAVSL All-Star nod and her second consecutive selection to the Corporate Cup Gold Team roster.
“(Bartlett) was always important on the field. Her set pieces were amazing. I always go back to her junior year when we scored seven goals off corners and which is super impressive,” said Port Allegany head coach Matt Lawton. “Even this year, she wasn’t our leading goal but Kailey sets up everything. She really helped to develop the other girls. She always had leadership and field knowledge.”
When it came time for Bartlett to test the collegiate waters, she had a handful of options in front of her. Fielding offers from Mansfield University, Lake Erie College and Hilbert, as well as a Division I offer from Long Island University, Bartlett ultimately chose to become a Yinzer at Point Park University.
““(The process) was stressful at first. Picking the right school is stressful obviously because you have to take so many things into account, but I went to Point Park and everything felt so right compared to the other schools,” said Bartlett. “The area was so nice. Obviously, with it being in downtown Pittsburgh, it was super cool and there was so much to do. (Head coach Colin Baker) is super nice, he was super affirming and never pushed me to make a decision super fast. It was just the right fit.”
Bartlett is set to begin her first semester at Point Park this fall, where she plans on pursuing a degree in criminal justice alongside furthering her athletic career as a Pioneer.
Leaving Port Allegany and the rolling hills of McKean County for the bustling streets of Pittsburgh, Bartlett said she will always relish the fond memories made back in her rural
neck of the woods.
“It’s been awesome,” said Bartlett. “Small town community people are always super nice and it was awesome to have that opportunity to make that impact on a school sport.
(Taylor Komidar also contributed to the production and publication of this story.)
