During Black History Month, App State Athletics is highlighting some of the accomplishments and perspectives of student-athletes who strive to make a difference.
Sydney Snowden is a native of Chandler, Ariz., and is a freshman defender on the App State soccer team majoring in nursing.
An All-District and All-Region honoree at Perry High School, Snowden adjusted quickly to the college game, starting on the Mountaineers' back line in the season-opener and amassing 13 starts in her first season in Boone. She helped the App State defense post four shutouts on the season and collected her first collegiate assist to propel App State to a 1-0 road win over Louisiana on Sept. 26. She played all 90 minutes in eight matches in 2024.
Q: Who are your most influential mentors and role models?
Sydney: Some influential people in my life have to be my parents, because they have taught me so much throughout the years – through hardships and tough times – and they gave me useful tools to guide me through all of them. Some role models in sports that I look up to are Kobe Bryant, the Williams sisters and Naomi Girma because they are all inspirations to their sports, and they are amazing people that have inspired my generation.
Q: How did you get into playing your sport?
Sydney: I started playing soccer in middle school. I was playing outside at recess with some friends, and we were just kicking around the soccer ball and since then, I've fallen in love with the game. I stopped dancing and decided to play soccer competitively.
Q: What brought you to App State?
Sydney: I chose App State for the atmosphere, the culture and the community. And the weather – I come from a state that only has one type of weather, so coming here allowed me to experience all of the seasons and just all the wonderful people in Boone.
Q: What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?
Sydney: I want to be known as someone who is intelligent, smart and a good person on and off the field. I want young people to look up to me and say to themselves "I want to do what Sydney did."
Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
Sydney: Black history month is a celebration of all of the historical figures that came before us – from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rosa Parks – who opened the door and gave us the opportunity to do the things that we want to do now and who gave me the opportunity to be sitting here today.
