Typically, athletes dedicate their lives to one sport, honing their skills and mastering a specific technique, but for Florida sophomore forward Lena Bailey, the path has been a little different.
Bailey’s diverse athletic resume sets him apart from the typical athlete: As a former student-athlete at Tampa Catholic High School, Bailey excelled in not one, but six different varsity sports.
Her competitive aptitude was probably inevitable given her family’s sports history: Bailey’s father grew up playing football, and her mother, Aesha Bailey, was a multi-sport athlete who played college basketball at Florida Southern University.
“In high school, there were days when my daughter would go to basketball practice at 5:30 in the morning,” Aesha said, “then she would go to school and I’d pick her up. Then she’d go to soccer practice, and then we’d go to club (soccer practice).”
Aesha, who coached at Tampa’s Memorial Middle School for 27 years, provided Bailey with the support she needed to become a successful athlete in multiple sports.
From organizing and preparing Bayley’s many team uniforms to transporting her to and from countless practices, Aisha has been an invaluable presence throughout Bayley’s incredible sports journey.
With her coaching background, Aesha naturally supported Bayley’s desire to try multiple sports, and she said she was glad her athletic career wasn’t limited to just one particular passion.
“I’m very flexible, so I didn’t want Lena to be limited to just soccer,” Aesha says. “That happens a lot in soccer: They say, ‘You can only do soccer,’ and if you do that to her, she’ll never be yours.”
While many high school athletes struggle to balance a busy schedule competing in multiple sports, Bailey thrived in the challenge. Rather than feeling pressured or burdened by her fast-paced schedule, she embraced it.
“I absolutely loved it,” Bailey said, “I did it for fun. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I have to go to volleyball practice,’ or ‘Oh, I have to practice three times today,’ or anything like that. I had fun, I enjoyed doing it. Maybe that was just me. It never really hurt me mentally.”
Bailey played lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, soccer, flag football and track and field, but ultimately decided to play soccer at the University of Florida after high school. She said that each sport she played “has a special place in my heart,” but ultimately soccer was her calling.
But Bailey still uses the lessons he learned from each sport, making him a well-rounded athlete for the Gators with impressive skill sets.
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“There was never a moment in lacrosse where I didn’t say anything, and that paid off,” Bailey said. “I think basketball helped me with my reactivity and speed of play. Volleyball helped me with my timing and communication with my header. Flag football helped me with my footwork and the quickness to get around defenders with a little movement.”
Her talent is evident on the field, as Bailey has proven herself to be a key player in Florida’s offense in 2024, scoring two goals this season and six in her UF career.
“I mean, you can’t leave her out there (defensively),” Florida head coach Samantha Bohon said. “You can’t ignore her… she’s a threat every time she goes out there.”
Bailey’s tireless determination has her long-term goal being to become a professional soccer player, but as the Gators continue to play in the SEC, Bailey keeps her goals simple and focused.
“I just feel like I’m taking it game by game,” Bailey said. “I think it’s just about staying consistent and improving and getting better every day.”
Contact Amanda Roman at aroman@alligator.org. Follow her at X @mandy_romannn.
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Amanda Roman
Amanda Roman is a sophomore sports journalism major and The Alligator’s fall 2024 soccer reporter. She interned as a team journalist for Fort Lauderdale United FC this summer. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, shopping and reading.
