Everyone knows the importance of being on the varsity team of a sport, since it is the principal team representing the school. It’s generally assumed that only students from the higher grades, 11 and 12, can make it into varsity; however, there are some dedicated students from the lower high school grades who prove they are deserving of a spot on the team.
Priscilla Enriquez, a freshman, earned a spot on the girls’ soccer varsity team this year and has been making a “great impact” on the team so far, said Coach Cortes. She has been playing for nine years and been part of different teams since she was five years old, which has allowed her to develop her sportsmanship and skill in the sport.
“All the teams I’ve played for were always very welcoming, I’m a very social person too, so I would get along with the girls pretty fast, and I always got a lot of support from my parents,” Enriquez said.
Although Enriquez is confident in her skill, she did not expect to be considered for the varsity team. “I thought because of my grade they wouldn’t let me in varsity, but when I had heard that I made it in, I was really excited and the first thing I did was call my mom. I was very proud of myself and wanted to play my best at every game so that my coach wouldn’t regret choosing me for varsity,” Enriquez said.
She expresses how soccer takes away her stress, making it an enjoyable activity. “It’s like my therapy, and just a really fun sport for me,” Enriquez said.
Aside from soccer, which is her main passion, Enriquez also enjoys improving her makeup techniques. It’s a hobby where she found the ability to express herself in an artistic way. “I even do my friends’ makeup whenever they go out too!” Enriquez said. Like soccer, this pastime allows her to de-stress.
Injuries are common in sports, but it takes determination to make a comeback, and Enriquez’s experience proves that. She was in a state cup tournament, about to score as she was knocked down, causing her to break her collarbone. After not playing for a couple of months, the Covid pandemic hit, becoming another impediment for Enriquez to continue playing soccer, however, she still found the way to continue improving herself.
“I would still train at home with my mom, she would buy me equipment, and she would have me do drills in my backyard,” Enriquez said.
Due to all the support and encouragement throughout her soccer journey, Enriquez’s mom is her greatest inspiration for playing the sport. “My mom inspires me to play, she’s always been my inspiration and my biggest supporter and I know that she will always be there for me,” Enriquez said.
