Grecia Castillo is a senior psychology and Spanish major at Andrews University.
How has this current season been going so far?
Absolutely amazing. The team started out with a solid 8 people and possibly no chance of having a season but then all of a sudden we had a team of 22 girls. We had a few losses and a couple of wins, but overall the women’s soccer team and program has been growing more and more and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.
What is your role as captain?
My role as captain has been to encourage and inspire others to do their best, be an example for the team, and ultimately represent the school and God. It comes with a lot of responsibility, but I appreciate that the coaching staff and team have believed in me to lead the girls. Sadly, the season is over, but it has been great to play with each and every one of these girls. It was an amazing last season and I have high hopes for this team in the future. I know they will only get better and I can only thank the staff, who truly care, and these really talented girls who have chosen to be a part of this sport.
How does your team recover from adversity and/or setbacks? In what ways do you continue to support and lead the team?
When faced with adversity, one thing we had to always keep in mind was to play and act like Jesus would. That meant to keep our heads up no matter the score, to keep cheering each other on, and to always give 100% because that’s what we owe to each other. As a captain, I had to make sure that my teammates knew I have full confidence in each and every one of them. As well as reminding them to keep their heads up, I also encourage them to keep playing wholeheartedly and to push for each other through the setbacks.
What are some special memories or stories from this season?
The “away” games, since they are just about some of the best bonding experiences. There’s something special about going through the losses and victories together that no one else could understand. I’ve gotten to grow closer with the team since we get to spend time together off the field as well. Another exciting moment is when girls who have never played soccer before score a goal–it’s truly exhilarating, to say the least.
What is different this season from past seasons (good and bad)?
This year has been the best soccer season I’ve been a part of. I can’t think of any negatives from this season. One good thing is, for the first time, we have had a full team and substitutes during games and a group of girls who are so passionate about this sport. We have also had more support from the staff and coaching who really care about this soccer program and want to see it grow even further.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.