Ambrose Bueno, Alejandro Morales, Will Kennedy, Jordan Nelson, Jacob Perch, Ben Garcia, Thomas Bugajski, Jacob McCullough, Connor Saesee, and Edwin Fuentes are your 2023 seniors!
On Monday February 6, 2023 our Redwood Soccer Boys took on Mt. Whitney. Our seniors took on Mt. Whitney for one final time. Winning 2-0 with goals from Adam Seechan ‘25 and Ben Garcia ‘23 with assists from Justin Jimenez ‘25.
Garcia scored the first goal on his senior night, he says “It felt great as it could be a last goal at home.” Garcia has two younger brothers on the Redwood Soccer team, Matthew and Andrew Garcia ‘25, so even though it might have been his last home game he still can come and watch his brothers play.
After the rush of winning on their senior night there are a whole lot of emotions floating in the air. Garcia says “I am feeling nostalgic after reminiscing over the years of Redwood Soccer.”
Connor Saesee ‘23 was looking back on freshman year, “I would tell my freshman self that the years will fly fast and have fun every game” he says.
Senior night is not just for all the seniors, It’s special to everyone, Thomas Bugajski ‘23 says “Senior night is special to me because we get to celebrate all the families that have supported all of us throughout each season.”
Jacob Perch ‘23 is a four year varsity player, he was on Varsity his freshman year with the old Soccer Coach. He says “My earliest memory of Redwood Soccer was my Freshman year after our second game, the Varsity coach pulled me over during practice and asked if I wanted to be on varsity.” Perch wont continue to play in college “This is it for me” he says.
Will Kennedy ‘23, Alejandro Morales ‘23, Jordan Nelson ’23, and Jacob McCullough ‘23 and Ben Garcia ‘23 have been with Coach Chica for 3 years. Coach Chica’s parting words to the seniors “This senior class actually holds a really special place in my heart because once I took over this program, they were sophomores. So to see them grow throughout the program has been something nice to see.” Chica loves his seniors and adds “… they have started a tradition of working hard which will follow for many years to come and I’m proud of that” he says.
With the ups and downs of this season, the Ranger Soccer boys have had a good time playing for Redwood, Bugajski says “I have learned a lot in both my seasons of Redwood soccer and I can’t really put on season over the other they are completely different.”
“Redwood Soccer has impacted me to not be selfish and become a team player. Also, It has made me more of a humble person.” Saesee says.
Garcia has had a great season, earlier this season he scored off of a bicycle kick against Tulare Union. “I believe my biggest achievement was being named one of the captains to help facilitate the team” he says.
Soccer is more than just a game to these boys, “When I am in the goal nothing goes through my head when I am about to stop the ball, it’s all instinct and it comes with lots of training” Bugajski says.
“Sometimes it’s not about winning, it’s the memories that can be made” Says Saesee.
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