On February 24th, parents, students, community members, and administrators came together to fill the football stadium to show their support for the Kennedy Girls’ Soccer Team as they took on Immanuel High School for a chance at the valley title.
The young group of women defeated Immanuel 1-0, earning them their first Valley Title for Division 6. This win, led by the Kennedy Girls’ Soccer team, has added to Delano’s athletic history and set the stage as the first girls’ and boys’ soccer teams in town to advance this far and win a title.
Felipe Robles, head coach of the Kennedy Girls Soccer Team, has been coaching the team for over 3 years. He previously coached the JV boys soccer team, but this is the farthest any of his teams have come.
Robles expressed that this win is more than just that; it’s a testament to their growth and confidence as young women and athletes. He stated how amazing this is for the team, to be the ones to set the stage for other soccer programs in Delano and young women athletes.
“It’s amazing. I told these girls that I believe in them and that they can make it this far, and they worked all season and have put in the work. I’m just happy they made it this far. I really believe in them,” explained Robles.
Robles also addressed the hardest part of coaching young girls and how he uplifts each of his players.
“The hardest part is having them believe in themselves, especially when it comes to sports. So I find different ways to motivate them so that they believe in themselves. I make sure they bond as a team with each other and have them learn to trust each other,” noted Robles.
In this historical run, freshman Paola Lemus, who plays forward and midfielder, is ranked second in the Central Section and 25th in California. Lemus led her team to this groundbreaking accomplishment, which marked an early success in her career.
“It felt great coming into this game, and I felt great. You know my teammates, they mean everything to me, so I hope people can see how well we play with each other,” shared Lemus.
Maria Zamora, goalkeeper for the Kennedy Thunderbirds, has averaged approximately 150 saves this season and is ranked 40th among goalkeepers in the state.
Zamora echoed Lemus’s sentiment, noting how much her teammates mean to her and how proud she is of them for achieving this accomplishment.
“I feel really happy, and for me it’s really special to be a part of a team like this,” she said. “We’re all a part of a sisterhood, we do everything for each other, and we support each other in so many different ways.”
One parent in particular, Efrain Sotelo, shared the confidence growth he has witnessed in his daughter, Karisa Sotelo, since joining the program.
“They have so much belief in themselves and in each other. They pump each other up even when there are mistakes, and they don’t argue. Her being a freshman, making varsity, and seeing the older girls and the way they are, she learned it from them,” revealed Sotelo.
Sotelo added that female sports are essential for rural communities because they build confidence and character.
“If they don’t believe in themselves, it’s going to be hard for them and for everybody else. But if you build their confidence, they can go out there and win. They can lose and learn from it. So confidence is everything,” shared Sotelo.
