FLINT - Having a nickname isn’t for everyone, especially when your nickname comes with the type of pressure one like “Saucy Sammi” brings. Davison junior center midfielder Sammi Beller has always been built differently, and it’s been that way since she burst onto the varsity scene as a freshman in 2023. “Physically, she was ready (for varsity soccer),” Rob Nuckolls said. “Athletically, she’s superior to most. She just has that drive. She’s not a player you have to push. She just shows up and has that work ethic. You can’t teach it.” President of the Detroit City FC Youth Genesee Soccer Club, Nuckolls knows talent when he sees it, and he’s had a front row seat to Beller’s skillset on his club team over the past few years. Over 9,000 votes saw Beller’s talent as well when it pushed her to the top spot of our Flint-area junior spring sports poll, which recognizes the top athletes in the 2026 class. Beller received 9,041 votes, beating out Otisville LakeVille Memorial softball’s Anabell Newbery (7,541 votes). Lake Fenton’s Madelyn Teffner (2,884 votes) and Montrose’s Miley Harrington (2,162 votes) were the only other athletes to earn over 1,000 votes. Tallying six goals and six assists so far in 2025, Beller has helped lead Davison to an 8-3-1 start as it looks to build off of a 14-win season where it reached the district championship. “We all have a lot of hope for making it far,” Beller said. “We know we just have to lock in, work hard, and keep fighting for every win.” Beller did her part for the Cardinals in 2024, scoring 20 goals and earning first-team all-Saginaw Valley League honors. Beller started her sophomore campaign with both of Davison’s goals in a 2-1 win over Lake Orion, and she took flight from there. Now a returning all-league player and with a 20-goal season in her back pocket, Beller said last season was a massive confidence boost. “That definitely put some spark and made me really excited for everything,” Beller said. Confidence in her play has never been a question, but where it really has been noticed with Beller is in her leadership ability. A quiet player – as described by Nuckolls – has now blossomed into taking on a leadership role. “She’s really come out of her shell and has gotten to be more vocal as a player,” Nuckolls said. “The talent, athleticism, and drive have always been there since I’ve known her, but now she’s become more vocal and growing that way. She’s a leader on this team, and players look for her to make plays. I feel like she’s kind of embraced that.” Beller is well on her way to another all-league honors this season and will look to keep Davison in the hunt for the Saginaw Valley League. Davison is set to graduate 10 seniors after this season as Beller will be one of the primary players leaned on in 2026. Leading by example has never been a problem for her, and now she has the vocal part of it down as well, making her the perfect veteran. “Her importance to the team is hard to describe,” Nuckolls said. “She can do so many things. She’s such a versatile player and such a great teammate on top of that.”