The winter sports season is officially underway. Sports like soccer, basketball and wrestling are all starting, and with them, FHS has many new and returning athletes who are eager to kick off this season.

For some, this is their second sports season of the year, like it is for Evelyn Valencia. As a senior at FHS, Valencia just finished her final cross country season in the fall, being the only girl to qualify for the Central Coast Selection and placing thirty-seventh in the competition. CCS is a regional competition in which athletes who qualify after their regular season compete. Performing well allows athletes to attend state-level competitions and eventually even national-level ones

“I’ve only done cross country this year, and it’s been such a good experience,” Valencia said.

Valencia also plays soccer at FHS but as the winter season started, overlapping briefly with Valencia’s CCS cross country schedule, it got harder for her to balance both her sports at the high level she plays.

“In the beginning, I would do double practices, and that was pretty hard,” Valencia said. “And I had so much work that I needed to finish. But now that cross country is over, I’m just focusing on soccer, so I have more free time and more time to focus on school.”

Valencia’s passion for soccer started back in sixth grade, and she has been playing on school teams ever since. As one of the senior leaders on the varsity team, she brings not only skill but experience to the field. Her primary role as left-back is to ensure that the team’s defense remains solid, but she also contributes offensively when the opportunity arises.

With this being her last season playing soccer in high school, Valencia has goals for her and her team: keeping defense intact and clean and most importantly, having fun and making the most out of every moment with her teammates, coaches and friends. Valencia’s love and passion for soccer, her defensive skills and her focus for both soccer and cross country have made her an exemplary athlete at FHS.

“This year is my last season, so I’m just having a good time with my seniors and friends,” Valencia said. “I’m looking forward to senior night, [and] I’m just looking forward to having a good last season.”