They\u2019ve been abandoned, fallen short on the scoreboard in every manner possible, even made fun of by peers at their own school.<\/p>\n
Yet, each weekday afternoon during the fall after the final bell sounds at Kent-Meridian High, you\u2019ll find them out on the French Field turf or behind the school practicing. Getting better. Persevering. Waiting for their next opportunity.<\/p>\n
For the girls that comprise the Royals soccer program, victories have been nearly impossible to come by this decade. In fact, K-M hasn\u2019t won a game on the girls soccer pitch since Oct. 24, 2002 \u2013 exactly seven years ago today this Saturday \u2013 when it knocked off Enumclaw, 1-0.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Royals have played 109 games, losing 108 and tying one entering Thursday\u2019s contest against Jefferson. Times have changed, whether in Kent, in the country, or in the world.<\/p>\n
And though it might not appear so on the surface or in the win column, times even have changed for the Royals. That\u2019s because possibly more now than ever, \u2014 certainly more than in previous seasons during the past seven years \u2014 the Royals steadfastly believe their day is coming. The light at the end of the tunnel is drawing closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery game we\u2019re progressing. The goals against us have been going down,\u201d said freshman Emily Gordon. \u201cI can feel it: We\u2019re going to win. We\u2019re fighting back against everyone. We\u2019re just as strong as them. It\u2019s all about heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suffice to say the Royals are ready for that big win, which no doubt will lead to tears being shed and hugs being passed out like candy on Halloween. When that moment will come, nobody knows. It might not even be this season, especially with South Puget Sound League North Division powerhouses Tahoma and Kentwood still lurking in two of Kent-Meridian\u2019s final three games.<\/p>\n
But it will come.<\/p>\n
And the Royals haven\u2019t stopped believing in its impending arrival.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to keep aiming at our goals,\u201d freshman Jessie O\u2019Hara said. \u201cEventually, we will reach them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reaching their goals, believing and not giving up essentially has become the rallying cry for the K-M girls the last two seasons. And they\u2019ve kept believing despite what they sometimes hear around campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really hard. People at school sometimes make fun of our team and we have to brush it off and ignore it or say, \u2018Hey, you know, at least we\u2019re out here trying,\u2019\u201d junior Felicia Frost said. \u201cA lot of people would have given up by now, but we keep coming out and trying.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
SETTING THE TONE<\/b><\/p>\n
Never giving up is a philosophy that has been ingrained in the girls by second-year coach Rene\u2019 Kuebker, who was thrust into the role at the beginning of last season when the previous coach simply failed to show up on the first day of tryouts.<\/p>\n
Instead of becoming a one-year Band-Aid to a program in dire need of continuity and support, Kuebker stepped forward and has created a vision for the Royals. The foundation of that vision sits on the shoulders of Kent-Meridian\u2019s freshman class, which makes up 11 of the team\u2019s 17 varsity players.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have seen a lot of changes around here,\u201d said Kuebker, a Wisconsin native. \u201cBig time. Big time. We\u2019ve almost cut our goals (against) in half and we\u2019ve scored twice (this season). Most of these girls are freshmen. If we get them in the weight room, get them running track, get them a little bigger and stronger and give them time to grow, we\u2019re going to surprise a lot of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that other teams are already starting to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scoring three goals through the season\u2019s first 12 games might seem insignificant, until considering the Royals were outscored 136-0 in 2008. The 2003 and 2005 teams also were kept off the scoreboard. So three goals is, indeed, a move in the right direction.<\/p>\n
Many factors have led to Kent-Meridian\u2019s struggles through the years. One of the most notable is the constant coaching carousel. Since 2002, the Royals have had five different head coaches, none of whom remained longer than two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been a lot of coaches through the years,\u201d said freshman Stephanie O\u2019Hara, who is Jessie\u2019s twin sister. \u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of change in the program and the girls getting older graduate. There hasn\u2019t been a secure team. It\u2019s never set.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kuebker, however, insists she\u2019ll be back next season and in years to follow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be because I\u2019m competitive,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is a challenge for me. I want to see something happen here. I\u2019ve been presented with a pretty sizable challenge and I want to help make it happen. I want to see it through for the school and for the girls.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
MANY CHALLENGES<\/b><\/p>\n
Demographics also have played a large part in K-M\u2019s long-time struggles. The ethnically diverse school is located in the middle of more than a dozen apartment complexes and consistently includes a population that is more transient than in other Kent District schools.<\/p>\n
In addition, most of the Kent-Meridian players simply don\u2019t have the soccer background of their SPSL North counterparts, such as Kentwood, Kentlake and Tahoma. Those programs essentially are built with kids who play at the club level.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such a steep learning curve,\u201d Kuebker lamented. \u201cA lot of these other schools start the season pretty well put together. We start with a puzzle that we have to put together and then we have to develop the skill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Getting the players proper equipment, an issue most schools don\u2019t have to face, also has been a challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year I purchased numerous pairs of socks and shin guards to equip (some of) my players,\u201d Kuebker noted.<\/p>\n
Then, of course, there\u2019s the daunting schedule.<\/p>\n
In prep sports, many programs use nonleague games as a means of preparing for league opponents, to work out the kinks and, ultimately, pick up a win or two. Kent-Meridian has played just 11 nonleague games since 2002, and just three since 2007.<\/p>\n
That essentially has pitted the Royals against a deep SPSL North schedule all season, every season. And in the North, there are no \u201cgimmes.\u201d In fact, since 2002, the North\u2019s current alignment has earned 14 state berths \u2013 Kentwood (4), Tahoma (3), Auburn Riverside (3, two of which were in the SPSL 3A), Jefferson (2), Federal Way (1) and Kentridge (1).<\/p>\n
Despite what clearly has become an uphill battle, Kent-Meridian has made some gains through the years, especially the last two. Matter of fact, when Kuebker took over the team in 2008, she inherited just 15 total players and wasn\u2019t able to field a junior varsity program.<\/p>\n
This fall, the Royals are putting close to 40 girls on the field, including varsity and junior varsity teams. In addition, they have allowed fewer goals this season (73) than in any year since 2004.<\/p>\n
For the time being, it\u2019s all about small victories.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are getting better,\u201d Kuebker said. \u201cWe look at things as simple as, \u2018Tonight, we\u2019re going to shut down the cross.\u2019 or \u2018Tonight, we\u2019re going to tighten up the defense.\u2019 If we do those things, we\u2019re successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holding on to those small victories have helped the Royals keep going.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is really, really tough sometimes,\u201d freshman Ashlann Wood said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard because people at school are like, \u2018Oh, you guys are going to lose,\u2019 so people don\u2019t really come to our games. But people have heard that we\u2019re getting better. Every game, it seems we allow less goals and we\u2019re connecting more of our passes. We know we\u2019re improving and that\u2019s how we make it through.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, eventually, that win will come. Everyone in a K-M uniform firmly believes it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to get there,\u201d Gordon said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to score that goal and we\u2019re going to win. It\u2019s going to happen. And when it does, it\u2019s going to be really emotional.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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