By: Madison Fortney
“I’ve had this penny for 5 years, I can’t play a good game without it.”
If you are an athlete, you know how important your bag is to you. You may often use your bag to carry athletic wear but sometimes it can carry crazy things like old banana peels or even apple cores. During the soccer season, many things find their way into bags. Nichole Gonzalez 22′ says, “Our bags are definitely unique. Many classrooms I take my bag in to complain about the smell, comparing the smell to cat pee. I just laugh and go along because I know the smell is hard work and dedication.”
“At the beginning of the soccer season, my bag was so clean and organized. Now I literally just throw random things in it.”
Freshman goalie, Olivia Saenz takes her soccer bag everywhere referring to it as “her baby.” Inside Saenz’s bag is many crazy and unique things. Saenz says, “At the beginning of the soccer season, my bag was so clean and organized. Now I literally just throw random things in it.” Saenz isn’t wrong about this at all, as she has textbooks and perfume in her SOCCER bag.
Along with textbooks and perfume, Saenz also carries a lot of soccer materials such as her cleats, jerseys, and gloves. At the bottom of her soccer bag, you can find a sea of empty water bottles, dirt, and turf. On the side of Saenz’s bag, she carries four rolls of pre-wrap because one is never enough for a soccer player! She also has a first-aid kit full of bandages and wraps.
Along with soccer materials, Saenz also has objects that define her character. Many of her teammates call her “Olive”. This sparked the idea of the nickname “Olive Garden”. Saenz has a Hydro Flask with a name tag saying “Olive Garden” marked on it. She also carries a lucky penny in her bag. Saenz says, “I’ve had this penny for 5 years, I can’t play a good game without it.”
Many athletes such as Olivia and Nichole have the same problem with messy and smelly bags, but the mess is unique. It shows that your hard at work and busy. During your sports season, your bag is expected to get dirty from time to time, it’s just one of the many parts that make you a true athlete.
Tags: athlete, girls soccer, Redwood, Redwood Soccer, soccer, varsity