For the first time in Segerstrom High School’s history, the girls’ soccer team has made it to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) tournament. Led by teacher and coach Mr. Castanha and head coach Mr. Aguirre, the team has gone through great lengths this year to refine its skills.
This moment comes during the school’s 20th anniversary, showing how, as our school grows, our excellence grows as well. But, with reaching these new heights, it’s inevitable to inspire a variety of feelings in the players.
Allison Cuica, a senior, explains that she’s been playing soccer for six years, and has been on Segerstrom’s girls’ soccer varsity for the past three years. “I stay motivated with soccer through reminding myself that it is just a game, and at the end of the day, it’s just a sport,” Allison elaborates. This attitude is shared among the players, keeping them from beating themselves down and allowing them to succeed.
The positivity of the team is clearly an advantage. Brianna Montes, a junior, says that “Having a team where everyone can get along and have a good time keeps me motivated. The team is feeling positive.” What every sports team needs is care from its teammates, and it’s evident that’s what these athletes give each other to keep putting in the effort.
Overall, the team is understandably nervous. “I feel a little stressed and nervous, but those are obvious feelings…” admitted Allison, with Dahlia Sanchez, a junior, said, “Everyone’s pretty excited, a bit nervous.” But, no matter the possibility of loss, “the pride of being in [the] team with these amazing girls outweighs the stress,” Allison followed up with. In the end, the girl’s soccer team is determined to win and proud of the work they’ve already done.
The athlete’s determination is one of the newest hallmarks of Segerstrom, since as a school we value the time our sports put in to be excellent, and it’s now paid off. CIF is what allows teams to go to state and nationals, so even the opportunity to go is an immeasurable achievement. All of Segerstrom wishes the best of luck for these girls with the opportunity they earned. The tournament this weekend will determine how far they go. We can all hope that the girls’ soccer team will maintain their strength and keep fighting their way into CIF for years to come.
