Waite represented Central Washington during the 2018 and 2019 seasons in the second tier of US college soccer. The report says she appeared in at least 15 matches, scored two goals and played more than 700 minutes.
Those figures only outline her contribution on the field. College soccer often becomes a lasting part of a player’s identity, creating friendships and routines that remain long after competition ends. For Waite, the game formed part of a wider story that included her life in San Diego, her connections in the community and her love of the beach.
Friends described Waite as gentle, attentive and welcoming. The report says she had recently become engaged and remained close to people she had met through church and other parts of her life.
Her online posts also reflected interests beyond football, including travel, music, art and time outdoors. A recent visit to a San Diego music event and a trip to Joshua Tree were among the moments she shared publicly.
The San Diego Police Department was reportedly contacted after a passerby saw a body in the water. Waite was declared dead at the scene, while an official cause had not been established.
For former teammates and those who knew her away from soccer, the focus now is likely to be on remembrance rather than statistics. Her playing record provides a link to her university years, but the tributes from friends point to the impression she made through everyday kindness.
The next developments will centre on the investigation and any formal response from Central Washington. For the football community, Waite’s story is a reminder that behind every college playing career is a person whose influence extends well beyond the pitch.