By Blake Chadwick
“The pie is big enough for everyone if we all just do our job,” senior center defensive midfielder Juan Escobedo said.
This is the motto for Salina South soccer team this year. A team that is led by Escobedo, and a team that will be hungry to make it back to state again.
“Although we’ve earned our consecutive trips to the State Championship Tournament, we have to get past the semifinal round, which has been our hurdle the past two years, and why I would say we’re definitely feeling the pressure to meet or exceed those expectations,” Escobedo said.
On top of the state champion aspirations and chasing his brother’s career who was a part of the 2015 state championship team, the senior also has a few other goals.
“My personal goals are to contribute on and off the field while statistically providing ideally double digits in goals and/or assists,” Escobedo said. “I would also say building off of last year and earning first team All-League and earning first team All-State.”
After being part of one of the best defenses in the state last season—on a team that allowed just one goal in 16 of its first 18 matches—Escobedo is focused on continuing to develop his game before pursuing the next level.
“To elevate myself this season, I need to involve myself more on the offensive side of the ball by controlling the tempo of the game and connecting the back line to the attack,” Escobedo said. “I am looking forward to demonstrating my potential to college soccer coaches and programs who are interested in a confident role player who is both willing and capable of playing at any level.”
