The Topeka High School girls’ soccer team has learned lessons this season that they will carry into their future.
Soccer coaches, Antonio Gonzales, Derek Snook, and David Tiffany, have impacted many of the players. Senior Natalie Barnes and sophomore Maricruz Merriweather have learned lessons from the coach and the team.
“Soccer has taught me never to give up, no matter how hard games get, you always have to push on,” Barnes said.
Learning to never give up will help Barnes in soccer and in adult life, allowing her to push past previous boundaries. The rest of the girls’ soccer season will be a test of whether they conquer this season or work harder for the next. They have learned valuable lessons and made bonds; this era of soccer has been spent with family.
“I love the team’s energy; they make everyone feel welcome and like family,” Marriweather said. “I learned that you have to build relationships to make it in this world.”
When you talk to the soccer team, you can feel the welcoming aura. The girls find the team like a second family, and consider themselves closer than just teammates. Making connections and building relationships has been taught through the soccer team.
“Getting onto the varsity team feels great; it was one of my goals for high school. It’s also fun to play with/ against older players who are better than me,” Fizell said.
The team has helped with making a welcoming environment for new and old players. With a bunch of players who have been new has been helpful with the welcoming environment. Leianna Gonzales has learned that if you make mistakes, you should keep going and learn from them.
“I completely missed the ball and fell right on my butt in front of everyone, including the
camera,” Leianna Gonzales said. “I train with my teammates until we are all sweaty so we can improve.”
You can still support the girls at their final games. They have four games left, with their current record at 5-7. The girls will be playing on May 1, 4, 11, and 15.
“Showing up without a doubt makes a difference,” Antonio Gonzales said. “There is another side of players, which is their emotional state, and the support they receive from their teammates and from the stands plays a decisive role there.”
The team is close, but they cannot play without you watching. Come support them, and watch them grow. The girls love the sport and playing as a team. Freshman Kennedy Lehman has grown up around soccer, making it into varsity as a first-year player.
“It’s been such an exciting experience for me so far,” Lehman said. “Being around leadership has really helped me so far. I grew up playing many different sports, and soccer is the one that just stuck.”