Kira Bilecky, a nine year player for the DC Stoddert Soccer team the “Pride,” was selected as an NSCAA/Adidas third team All-American for 2007. Kira joins an elite group of the 12 best female defenders in the nation. In addition Kira, who holds dual American/Peruvian citizenship, starts as center back for the Peruvian national team.
Kira graduated from Wilson High School in 2004. She played her entire club career with DC Stoddert. Always a stand-out on the field, Kira was sought after by other teams but choose to play solely with her friends in the DCSSL Pride as well as the Stoddert Recreational team the Killer Bees.
In her junior year in high school when the colleges are recruiting players, Kira broke her femur and had to sit out much of the recruiting season. She looked at two schools and chose Purdue University for the academics and the soccer environment. As a recruited walk-on, Kira made the varsity team as a freshman and became a starter after the fourth game.
Following a successful first year at Purdue, Kira participated with the Peruvian national team in a prestigious women’s soccer tournament in Argentina. She likened it to a “South American Olympics,” with national squads from Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador competing for the trophy. Although the Brazilians ultimately won the tournament, the Peruvians amassed 19 goals and conceded only one.
Asked what she would tell young girls aspiring to compete at the highest levels, Kira had some advice. “Don’t ever doubt yourself, work as hard as you can, and make sure you always have hope.” Kira did not try out for ODP or Super Y programs growing up yet she has both international caps and Division 1 soccer experience under her belt. “You need to be able to motivate yourself and you’ll see success and personal achievement. I believed that I could compete with anybody,” stressed Kira, “and I can’t complain about my experience.”
Kira will graduate from Purdue this May with a degree in Industrial Management, a career she intends to pursue unless she again hears the siren call of soccer.
