On the Bruin's Field

Bruins on the Field

By Victor Torres and Alondra Ruiz  

   Soccer is not only the largest sport in the world by popularity but is also quickly growing in popularity across the US. According to Sports Business Journal, a survey conducted among younger people in our nation found that 54% identified as soccer fans means that more than half of Americans follow the sport. Greenfield is no exception to this trend. The past few years have been remarkable for the Bruins soccer team, with our boys’ team once again lifting a regional trophy last year. Now, many new faces are present on the field, alongside some familiar ones too, including the coaches who make all this possible.

The GHS Junior Varsity Soccer Team in 2024. Photograph by Santiago Torres.

Our Coaches and Team 

Behind the tremendous efforts we see from our players, are the coaches who put together these amazing teams. The Bruin’s Eye interviewed one of the coaches, Ayala, about his experience in coaching and what work went into coaching the girls' Junior Varsity team. When asked by The Bruins Eye about his previous experience coaching, Ayala responded, “I have coached both Junior Varsity and Varsity teams at G.H.S., and also a handful of youth teams.” Ayala is one of four soccer coaches at Greenfield High School, alongside “Art” Sanchez, Jose Sánchez, and “Manny” Barrón. Reporters from The Bruin’s Eye also asked Mr. Ayala how many players had appeared for tryouts, and how many had made it to the final team. He stated, “Sixty players showed up to tryouts and only twenty-eight of them made it to the final team.” Ayala also added, “Tryouts are very competitive.” Yet, there were impressive numbers of players making it to the final team, demonstrating the determination of these players. 

    Our school boasts two soccer teams, for both boys and girls. Those two teams are further separated into two tiers, Varsity and Junior Varsity, with the latter being a stepping stone for aspiring athletes. This fact is highlighted by Coach Ayala, who told The Bruin’s Eye, “Expectations are put upon every player, and this is done to help them get to Varsity faster.” Apart from the training from their coaches, the new players also have their older counterparts to count on. “Older players are crucial, they help guide the newcomers,” Coach Ayala added. Not only are players learning crucial skills to help them in the game but more importantly, “Gaining friendship and comradery,” as stated by Coach Ayala. Although the games might not always go as expected, the players express little discontent with bad results, showcasing the determinative and committed attitudes of these players. 

The Season Thus Far 

  So far, this season has proved to be quite an experience for all players on the Bruins soccer team. We focused on the Girl's Junior Varsity Team, which had some of the highest numbers for tryouts this season. Reporters at The Bruins Eye asked sophomore Leslie Chavez, who is on the Junior Varsity girls’ soccer team, her thoughts on the current season. “To sum it up, it has been hard, but is almost done,” Chavez tells us. This is Chavez’s first season on the soccer team and playing the sport. When asked why she decided to join the team, Chavez told The Bruins Eye, “I wanted to try something new,” and further added, “It’s fun, but also challenging at the same time.” The Bruins Eye asked for elaboration on what aspects of the team were challenging, to which Chavez explained, “Training- it’s hard, but Coach Ayala knows how to be both a friend and great coach,” also adding that, “This season has been tough because of many losses, but it the fun makes it all worthwhile.”  

   This feeling of underwhelming yet rewarding experiences is shared by other rookie players on our school’s soccer team. Our reporters also asked Jennifer Merino, a sophomore playing on the girls’ Junior Varsity team for the first time, what it was like to be on the team. “It’s an exciting feeling to be on the soccer team,” explained Merino. She further elaborated, “I will admit it has been a bad season due to many losses,” and explained that the high number of losses is due in part to “a lack of team effort.” After conducting these interviews, we begin to see a pattern, whilst the teams might underperform, the players do not seem bothered by that in the slightest, instead seeking to gain experience and teamwork abilities through their time on the soccer team. The sentiment of teamwork being much more valued than the wins themselves, at least for the girls' JV team, is also highlighted by their coach, Ayala. 

What Lies Ahead

    Both of our school’s soccer teams have seen many players come and go, and that was no different this year. This year saw a high amount of people at tryouts, for both girls' and boys' teams, from both tiers. The high number of people at tryouts demonstrated that this was more than just for the love of the sport, it was for many to try something new or to meet new people.