Guam’s Jones to play for Highline College Thunderbirds in Washington

[May 31, 2024 – Harmon, Guam] Guam National player and John F. Kennedy High School 2024 graduate Annie Jones will be taking her game to the next level when she suits up for the Highline College Thunderbirds in Washington beginning this fall.

“I expect the experience to be challenging and thrilling with the level of intercollegiate play,” Jones said. “Training hard every day while trying to be a better player than who I was the day before is my personal goal and with the team, I hope to contribute with the technical play my coaches have taught me.”

Jones publicly signed her NWAC letter of intent Friday morning for Highline College in front of family and coaches from Guam Football Association, Wings FC, and JFK at the GFA National Training Center Lecture Hall. The Thunderbirds play in the Northwest Athletic Conference, the parent organization for 36 community colleges in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, according to the NWAC Web site.

“I am so excited for Annie as she takes the next step in her career,” said Kristin Thompson, Head Coach of the Masakåda, Guam Women’s National Team, and former girls program director of GFA’s first National Academy. “I am so proud of her and all the hard work she has put in the Guam National Program, for her club, and for her school. Annie is a very hard worker and always looking to improve her skills and overall knowledge of the game.

“As our players grow and develop here in Guam, it is always so exciting to see how the game of football can open doors for them as they pursue their college careers. It takes a lot of focus, drive, and sacrifice to reach this level and I am so proud that Annie is being recognized and rewarded for all her hard work,” Thompson added.

After Guam Football Association introduced its first-ever United Airlines GFA National Academy in late 2012, Jones was selected during tryouts for the U8 Girls Division. She ascended through the different age divisions and matriculated into Guam’s youth national teams, beginning at the U15 age division and eventually to the senior level. Jones has been called up to represent Guam at tournaments and training camps in Japan, Korea Republic, Northern Mariana Islands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and United States, among other countries.

Jones credits all her coaches from Guam’s National Program for accelerating her development in the sport. In addition to youth national coaches she has played for in various tournaments, she credits Thompson, as well as former Guam Women’s National Team Head Coaches Belinda Wilson and Sakiko Ogura for their support as she made the transition from the youth national program to the women’s program.

“Training with the Guam Women’s National Program and playing for Guam internationally has helped me learn to expand my knowledge of football on a bigger scale,” Jones said. “It also prepared me to learn and adjust to each country and each country’s playing style. Training under the program has taught me professionalism in training, preparing, and playing in international matches.”

Domestically, Jones was introduced to youth football when she was three years old, training with Wings FC. She later played in the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth League, many times as the lone female player on her team in the co-ed youth league, through to the former Aloha Maid Minetgot Elite Youth League. She next played for the Quality Distributors FC in the Bud Light Women’s Soccer League and most recently for the NAPA Rovers FC in the Bud Light G-League Women, the top flight women’s domestic league.

In high school, Jones played for one year with the St. John’s School Knights, before heading to Pennsylvania for a year, where she played for C.B. High School West. After returning to Guam, she played her final two years for John F. Kennedy High School. Jones was recognized as an Honorable Mention in the 2024 All-Island selection at the highly competitive position of forward. Jones scored four goals in the semifinals to catapult the Islanders to the final match against the Southern High School Dolphins. The Islanders won 2-1 against the Dolphins for the 2024 championship title.

Jones most recently was called up to the Guam U21 Women’s National Team set to play in a four-nation tournament in the Northern Mariana Islands at the end of June. Guam will play against Mongolia, Northern Mariana Islands, and Philippines in Saipan.

After the tournament, Jones will depart to Washington in July. At Highline College, she plans to major in Psychology.

Jones is the daughter of Don and Rosann Jones.