When one door closed, another opened — and Nicole Carroll ran through it.
When she was young, a door opened for Nicole Carroll to step in and play soccer — the game she grew to love.
She played travel soccer to hone her skills and, after entering high school, became a stalwart midfielder for a Jim Thorpe team that won the Schuylkill League championship two years ago during her senior season.
To stay in shape for soccer, Carroll also ran cross country and track. Her performances on the trails helped her qualify for the state championship meet during both her junior and senior years.
But once she reached college, the door to her favorite sport quickly closed. Carroll committed to play soccer at Clarion University, but her time on the field was short-lived.
“In my very first game there, I broke my nose and got a concussion,” she said. “Once I was cleared to play again — in my very first practice after that — I got another concussion.”
After a long and difficult decision, she gave up the sport she had loved since childhood.
“I still miss playing soccer terribly,” she said, “but I decided to concentrate on cross country and track.”
Carroll found that college life at Clarion wasn’t the right fit either, and she transferred to Lock Haven University for her sophomore year. At her new school, another door opened. She was introduced to a training program that helped her prepare for college-level competition.
“At Jim Thorpe, I hadn’t taken cross country or track too seriously,” she said. “I needed to change my training routine, and they had a great program at Lock Haven that focused on endurance and speed training. I prepared myself to run the 400- and 800-meter races.”
That said, Carroll entered her new athletic path with limited expectations.
“Soccer was always my love,” she said. “I ran cross country and track in high school mainly just to stay in shape.”
But the shape of things to come led to unexpected success. Carroll was named to the Regional All-Academic Team, and her performances on the trail and the track improved rapidly.
At the 2024 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships, she finished in the top 30 percent. During the indoor track season, she placed second in the 800 at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships with a personal-best time of 2:19.31.
Carroll continued to build momentum during the spring season. She won the 800 at the 2025 PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“There were 24 runners in two preliminary races before the finals,” she said. “I had to beat seven others in the last race. I didn’t expect to win, but I thought I had a chance. I had a good feeling — but anyone can win in the finals.”
Not only did Carroll win in a close finish — the runner-up was from Clarion.
For her accomplishments, Carroll was named Lock Haven’s Female Athlete MVP of the Year and earned a spot on the NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Team.
The exercise science major has set new goals heading into her junior and senior years.
“I’d like to medal at the PSAC cross country championships,” she said. “And in track, I’ll try to break the school record in the 800.”
She once opened a door to a promising soccer career, only to have it shut due to injury. Then, she closed the door on one college and opened another at Lock Haven — one that’s led her to success in cross country and track.
Now an athlete already making her mark, Carroll still has two more years to chase greatness.
Nicole Carroll has learned an invaluable lesson in sports and life: When one door closes, another opens. And all she has to do — is run right through it.
Nicole Carroll (front) competes for Lock Haven University at this year’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Track and Field Championships. The Jim Thorpe graduate won the 800 at the event. For her accomplishments, Carroll was named Lock Haven’s Female Athlete MVP of the Year and earned a spot on the NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Team. PHOTO COURTESY LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
During the indoor track season, Nicole Carroll placed second in the 800 at the PSAC Championships with a personal-best time of 2:19.31. PHOTO COURTESY LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
At the 2024 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships, Nicole Carroll finished in the top 30 percent. PHOTO COURTESY LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
