Class of 2002

Kendall Fletcher, a 2002 graduate of Apex High School, was an exemplary student and athlete.  She attended Apex High School for only three years as she completed her junior and senior year in one year because she was recruited to play soccer at UNC-Chapel Hill.

While at Apex High School, Kendall played basketball for four years (two JV & two varsity). Kendall loved playing basketball at Apex High School.  Her freshman year the JV team went undefeated.  In her sophomore and Junior/Senior year, she made varsity and brought passion and enthusiasm to the team.  She loved the camaraderie and positive team dynamics enjoyed on these teams. Kendall appreciates all that Coach Holmes and Coach Campbell did to make that experience so enjoyable. 

Kendall is the most highly decorated female soccer player in our program’s history. Playing for legendary Hall-of-Fame coach, Kevin Todd, Kendall was a two-time All-American (2001 & 2002) and she played in the State Championship in 2002. Furthermore, she was also named as a Parade All American in 2002 as well as being selected as the NC Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002. 

At UNC, Kendall was a three-year starter and her team was ACC Champions for three years and National Champions during her sophomore year.  While at Carolina, Kendall received the Most Improved Award, the Gift of Fury Award, the Defender of the Year Award, and the 3-Dimensional Leadership Award.

Kendall was on the U-19 National Soccer Team which won the 1st ever U-19 Women’s World Cup (World Champions) in 2002.  She was also on the U-21 National Soccer Team that won the Nordic Cup Championship in 2004 (Sweden) & 2005 (Norway). She also was the Captain on the U-23 National Soccer Team in 2006 (Finland). In 2009 she played for the US Women’s National Team and received her 1st National Team Cap at the Algarve Cup. Later, she continued to be part of the US Women’s National Team Player Pool in 2008-2009.

Professionally, Kendall went on to be an incredibly successful soccer player in the US, Sweden, and Australia Professional Soccer Leagues. In 2014 and 2015, she was considered one of the Best XI players in the NWSL. She continued this all-star tradition when she went to Australia, because in the A-League, the top league in Australia, she was selected as a part of the “Women’s Team of the Season” in 2020-2021, one of the top 22 players playing in the league in Australia. 

One would think that she was always successful, however, she struggled at many levels before achieving success.  When speaking to groups she shares that she learned the most through her failures and difficult times. Kendall showed great perseverance and determination to be successful.  Kendall has a passion for ministry and mission.  After graduating from UNC-CH, she has since completed her Master of Arts and Religious Studies.  She has always wanted to volunteer to help others, enjoying mission trips. 

According to former UNC Coach, Anson Dorrance, “Kendall Fletcher is a principle centered woman. In a program that values its Core Values and the conduct of everyone on the roster, Kendall Fletcher was a motivational North Star. She was caring, she was spiritual, and she was a role model every year for me collegiately. She was also a fantastic leader that held her teammates accountable in practice and in games. To say I am proud of her is too passive of a statement. I am inspired by her as so many players were that she trained here and played with along the way.”

Kendall is overall an amazing person and world class athlete and she was proud to be an Apex High School athlete and student.