Brighton midfielder J Kiphut signs soccer scholarship with Dyersburg State

Brighton senior J Kiphut has a unique first name. It’s not an initial. Just J.

She also has a unique skill set as a soccer player and that’s what drew attention from more than one college soccer coach during her senior year, during which she led the Lady Cardinals to their first appearance in the state tournament.

Dyersburg State Community College coach Robert Luttrell reached out to her last fall. Kiphut considered Freed-Hardeman University and Southwest Tennessee Community College, but ultimately she decided to stay close to home. DSCC plays its home games at the school’s new field on the campus in Covington.

Last Thursday, in front of family, friends, teammates and coaches, Kiphut signed with DSCC.

“Because of the people I know, it’s close to home and the whole school environment, that’s why I chose it,” Kiphut said.

Kiphut didn’t score a ton of goals during her career, but she was an extremely important member of the team. Her role was as a distributor from her center midfield spot. She had the ball on her feet constantly during a 1-0 sub-state win over Crockett County that punched Brighton’s ticket to state.

“She’s a very versatile player, a play-maker-type player,” said Brighton coach Kelsi Williams, who has coached Kiphut since middle school. “She distributes the ball really well from the center midfield position. She controls the ball and sets up the other players.”

If you talk to Kiphut for a moment, you’ll realize very quickly she’s very mature for her age. Kiphut is a lifeguard, a soccer referee, a HOSA member and a student council leader.

“She’s definitely a leader,” Williams said. “She’s very involved in the community and a lot of extra-curricular activities. She’s well-rounded, makes good grades and has a good head on her shoulders.”

Kiphut will be leaving Brighton High School in less than two months, but she said her memories will last forever.

“Of course I want to say thanks to Coach Kelsi. We had some ups and downs over the years, but I am really grateful that she coached us hard. I’m definitely going to miss a lot of the teachers. I’m the kind of the person who likes to form bonds with them and I feel like I’m kind of friends with them by the end of the year. I’ll definitely miss all of them and the administration has been great, too.”