By: Madeline Alvarez
Winter sports are beginning to start their seasons here at El Diamante. The 2023-2024 varsity girls soccer team is looking to have an exciting season this year with new coaching, new girls, and new traditions. Head coach, Wes Johnson, along with many of the girls on the team are ready for what’s ahead of them.
Preseason games have begun and the girls are training hard to achieve a lot this upcoming season. The first preseason game was November 16. There are going to be many preseason games to follow along with some tournaments and the first official league game is on January 9.
A lot of the girls are looking forward to making this season a great one, especially the seniors. Senior and four-year varsity player Allison Alvarez says, “I am really looking forward to this season and hopefully making it to the playoffs, especially because it is my senior year.” Along with Allison, many of the other senior girls are motivated to make it far this upcoming season.
Coach Wes Johnson has some expectations for this upcoming season. He says he would like “to improve on the things that Mrs. Kurz started when she took over the program”. He also wants the girls to aim for a 20-win season and winning playoff games. Along with this he still wants the players to have fun and have a good experience as well.
Johnson is also excited because it is his first time ever coaching high school girls. Johnson states “I look forward to helping these girls reach their goals, win some games, and most importantly beat Redwood.”
There are going to be some new and exciting traditions that will be taking place starting this upcoming season. Just like Battle For the Saddle and Battle for the Paddle there is going to be a new tradition for girls soccer called “Battle for the Rattle”. Just like the football and waterpolo traditions this game will be played against Golden West. Coach Wes Johnson says “The main thing to expect from this new tradition is to create more excitement around the girls soccer program.”
Coaches and players are all excited for the upcoming season to achieve new goals and experience new traditions. Come out and watch girls soccer and see what the season brings for them.
I loved your story!!! I thought it was so cool that you included both a senior and a coach’s perspective. I think you had a lot of great quotes and it was really well-written!!!
-Aaliyah, Gigantea sports writer