Mercer’s Laykin Irvin Signs With The Panthers
Samuel Warren
Herald Staff
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Soon to be Mercer County High School graduate Laykin Irvin has been a staple of the Lady Titans soccer team attack all four years of her high school career. Even as a freshman, Irvin was one of the most productive members on the team, but each year since she has put up simply astounding numbers. In each of her final three seasons Irvin averaged more than one goal or assist per game.
In that time, she made 54 appearances for the Lady Titans, scoring 73 goals and assisting five. Irvin was an All-District and All-Region selection each of her final three seasons, and was selected to the All 12th Region first team as a senior. Irvin finished her senior season ranked 23rd in the state in goals, with 35. She had back-to-back hat tricks in wins over Bourbon County and Harrison County, which certified the program’s first ever 2A Sectional tournament win. Her seven hat tricks in 2024 is enough to put her second on the all-time list of Lady Titan soccer superstars.
Laykin Irvin passed up the final defender before scoring a goal against East Jessamine last year. (File image).
More recently, Irvin signed her letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Kentucky Wesleyan College. It was an easy decision for Irvin, who likened the small community atmosphere of Wesleyan’s campus to her hometown.
“Walking around campus in Owensboro felt natural; the campus was close together, small and everyone near was welcoming. It automatically felt like home,” said Irvin. Above all, the Panther’s coaching staff ensured Irvin she was exactly the kind of player and person they wanted in their program.
“The coach showed interest in me first, when I went on campus they made that very clear. They expressed how badly they wanted me, and that was an awesome feeling,” said Irvin. “I knew playing at this level was going to be a challenge with it being a division-II school, but I can proudly say. It is where I belong.”
Perhaps Irvin’s most notable accomplishment is keeping a 3.5 GPA or higher throughout high school while dominating competition on the pitch. She plans to earn a degree in Exercise Science while a Panther. A degree that will aid her in her professional life, of which she says even four more years of soccer seems too little. Irvin has dreamt of being a college soccer player since first dribbling a ball, and she has dreams of playing on a much bigger stage.
“I’m excited to say, after college there’s more to come, I’m not finished!”
