Wilson Kibler

We scored an interview with Coach Shelley

6 Questions with Gamecocks Women’s Soccer Coach Shelley Smith
Gamecock Women's Soccer.jpeg
Head coach Shelley Smith (center), with associate head coach Jamie Smith, and assistant coach Marnie Merritt. | Photo via South Carolina Women’s Soccer
Are we the only ones with soccer still on our minds after the thrilling World Cup Final on Sunday? We didn’t think so. We recently caught up with Gamecock Women’s head soccer coach Shelley Smith to chat about some of her favorite Cola things and the success of this year’s team.

In late November, the Gamecocks wrapped up yet another big year, marking their 18th winning season under Coach Shelley and the program’s 10th consecutive with 12+ wins. The team won their third SEC Tournament Title and made it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament.

In addition to leading the Gamecocks Women’s Soccer program, Shelley also hosts several camps and clinics at her South Carolina Soccer School. Registration is open for the camps happening in January and February and is open to high school age females looking to get Division I exposure. Check out the other summer camps offered to girls ages 6-13.

Fun fact — City Editor Sam attended Shelley’s camps when she was a kid.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and a few things you want people to know about you.

I’m Shelley Smith, Head Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of South Carolina. I am from Vermont originally, so naturally, I am an avid skier, and I also love real maple syrup and craft beer! My favorite job is being a mom to my two boys. I have a wonderful husband who is also our amazing Women’s Soccer Associate Head Coach. I love to travel and visit new places, especially national parks. I played any sport possible growing up and have enjoyed becoming more of a tennis player since moving to SC. I am now enjoying pickleball too!

Convince a friend to move to Columbia in 15 words or less. Go.

Has everything a big city has to offer, but with fewer crowds and traffic, is close to beaches and mountains, and has four seasons with warm weather.
4 MORE QUESTIONS WITH SHELLEY
Columbia Fireflies

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 20
  • Columbia Open Studios is Now Open | Tuesday, Dec. 20-Sunday, Jan. 8 | 12-12 a.m. | 701 Center for Contemporary Art, 701 Whaley St., Columbia | $75-$125 | This will be the thirteenth installment of 701 CCA’s Columbia Open Studios, during which the public is invited to spend two days visiting artists’ studios throughout the City of Columbia and Richland and Lexington Counties.
  • Winter Break Art Camp | Tuesday, Dec. 20-Thursday, Dec. 22 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Columbia Art Center, 1227 Taylor St., Columbia | $80 | Children ages 5 to 12 will be creating fun winter-related projects using clay and mixed media.
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 4D | Tuesday, Dec. 20-Sunday, Jan. 1 | Showtimes vary | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $11.95-$13.95 | The classic animation shines in an all-new, interactive 4-D Experience® (think: chilling air blasts, snow + more) at the South Carolina State Museum for the holidays.*
Wednesday, Dec. 21
Thursday, Dec. 22
Friday, Dec. 23
  • Christmas EVE EVE Shellabration | Friday, Dec. 23 | 12-11 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Shellabrate the season with a little buttah and a whole lotta lobster + live music during this special Christmas EVE EVE Cookout featuring lobster rolls (it’s the holidays after all...).
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Hampton Street Vineyards

Weather
  • 44º | Light rain | 69% chance of rain
Closed
  • Swamp Cabbage Brewing Company, one of the first craft breweries in the Soda City, closed its doors after eight years. So far, over 400 people have reacted and over 70 have commented on this Facebook post sharing fond memories of the brewery. 🍺
Sports
  • Bryan Bros. Golf announced via their popular Youtube channel that the two have purchased the former Indian River Golf Club in West Columbia along with an unnamed partner. Follow along as PGA Tour golfer Wesley Bryan (and his brother George) rehab the course and share vlogs along the way. ⛳
Biz
  • The City of Columbia Community Development Department opened calls seeking contractors for the SHINE (Single Family Housing Improvement for Neighborhood Enhancement) rehabilitation program. The projects range from home construction to weatherization repairs. Interested contractors can sign up for a workshop. 🏠
Number
  • $81 million. That’s how much The Ritedose Corp., a locally owned and operated pharmaceutical manufacturer, will invest to expand its operations in Richland County. The investment will create 94 new jobs at the facility that formulates, packages, and seals liquid pharmaceuticals.
Community
  • Doing some last-minute shopping around the Soda City just got a little bit easier. The City of Columbia is offering free parking in gated parking facilities and on-street meters from Thurs., Dec. 22-26, and Friday, Dec. 30 at 5:00 p.m. until Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Shop
  • We love any reason to shop ‘til we drop, so get ready to up your winter wardrobe and sleigh all the upcoming parties with a visit to local boutiques that sell holiday attire, like Slate on Devine and Tall Oaks Boutique. 🛍️
  • Gifting local this season? Spoil your favorite Soda Citizen with The Big Box from Lowes Foods — think: cheese straws, praline pecans, boiled peanuts, and more.* 🎁
Listen
Featured Deal
  • Looking for unique stocking stuffers? Consider CBD products. Indigo Ridge Hemp is offering 25% off your cart total when you purchase two or more items with code HOHOHO now through Saturday, Dec. 31. Snag the deal.*
Featured Space
  • Trinity Partners’ listing 4West at 315 Meeting St. offers ±15,000 sqft of commercial space (think: for an office, retail shop, or restaurant), along with high-end, multi-family apartment homes. Looking to lease? See available space. 🏢 *
Learn
  • You know how to order coffee at Azalea Coffee Bar. But can you order coffee in Italian? Babbel can help COLAtoday readers learn how to order coffee (and other beverages) in Italian, so they’ll be ready for their next trip to Italy. Want to try it out? For a limited time, snag 55% off your subscription. ☕ *
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6AM City In-house

Culture

Upcoming winter holidays
A paper calendar for December
Prepare for a packed December. | Photo by Olivia Gaines via Pexels
You’ve probably heard a lot of “happy holidays” this season — with good reason. Plenty of cultures celebrate the start of astronomical winter, the end of the year, or just the coming of cold weather by gathering with loved ones and giving thanks.

Look forward to:
  • Yule (Dec. 21), an ancient Germanic solstice festival. Celebrants mark the shortest day of the year and balance between light and dark.
  • Hanukkah (ongoing), the Jewish Festival of Lights which began the evening of Sunday, Dec. 18 and ends on Monday, Dec. 26.
  • Christmas (Dec. 25), a cultural and religious festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ – which, if you’ve put off gift shopping until now, there’s still time.
  • Kwanzaa (Dec. 26), a week of African American and pan-African celebration culminating in Karamu on Saturday, Dec. 31.
  • Lunar Bodhi Day (Dec. 30), celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment through acts of kindness. “Secular” Bodhi Day was celebrated on Dec. 8.
You don’t need to celebrate them all — but let’s all celebrate together.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: Last weekend, I stopped by the femme x COLUMBIA holiday market and picked up a few greeting cards and local stickers from local artist Cait Maloney’s booth. The Cola lettering sticker is a great way to show off pride in place.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out the winter weather forecast for Columbia, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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