Sparta graduate featured on book cover

SPARTA — Mary Claire McCormack, Sparta High School Class of 2008, was recently recognized on her soccer team by a Sports Illustrated photographer and journalist and consequently was featured on the cover of a new book called “Soccerland,” available now in book stores. The book deals with the emotions and real-life situations girls face on and off the field. McCormack has proven herself a gifted athlete. She was named Most Athletic Girl in her Sparta High School yearbook for 2008, earned a position on the girl’s varsity team as a freshman and was unanimously voted Captain of the team during her senior year. While at college, she was asked by her college coach to join him and his club team for participation during the Men’s World Cup in 2010 and Women’s World Cup in 2011. The recent release of “Soccerland,” written by Beth Choat, and has been highly acclaimed as a must-read for young athletes. Choat has covered world, Olympic, European and national championships and has observed first-hand what it is like to be a young, female, world-class athlete.