Ridgeview’s Boys’ soccer team is thriving for another successful year. The biggest goal for the team is to get to the Valley championship and leave with a ring.
Sophomore Aiden Macias, has been playing soccer at Ridgeview since he was a freshman. He is a very hard-working player and has a high soccer IQ. According to Macias, “Whether it’s on or off the ball I will always give my hardest work”. Macias is very driven to better his skills off the field and spends a lot of time training. While a big believer in God, he also devotes his time to reading his bible and praying outside of soccer. “I do any little thing that can get me ahead of the people around me”, says Macias. This year Macias believes that the toughest opponent of the season will be Santa Maria High School because they will be playing away at another school and on turf, which they are not used to.
Senior Andrew Nava was persuaded to play soccer by his father at the age of five and has stuck with the sport ever since. As he was growing up, watching the sport and his favorite players score inspired him to continue playing. Nava’s philosophy on soccer is the comprehension of the game. “You can have the best skill, but if you understand the game, then that can take you a long way,” says Nava. This year he believes their toughest opponent to be every school they play. “I think everybody is a tough opponent because when they play us they bring their best”, states Nava.
Boy’s soccer coach Isai Cruz has been coaching at Ridgeview for nine years. According to coach Cruz, “I coached all three levels and helped on varsity for a while and now I took over”.
One of his favorite parts about coaching soccer is seeing the players grow throughout their high school careers. He believes that last year the team had a great season and is on the right path to having another great season. “We had a great group of boys’ and we have a good amount of boys coming back and it’s looking like we are going to have a very competitive squad”, says Coach Cruz. The team’s camaraderie happens to be one of their strong suits as well as their desire to win. Coach Cruz is very fond of their culture and willingness to work hard for what they want. He believes that the team’s toughest opponents this season will be Santa Maria, Clovis, and Reedley High School because the team needs to understand their system of play and work hard together in order to get the job done.
This year Ridgeview’s boys’ soccer team is driven to win the Valley Championship. They plan to prepare for their toughest opponents by making sure they have a solid understanding of their system of play. The team’s competitive spirit, incredible work ethic, and immaculate bond will be key factors to their success.
