Need a Cinderella story for your next sports movie? Try this on—against all odds, a small group of high school kids from near and far must rely on each other’s grit and love of their sport to make the state playoffs.
The Trojan boys varsity squad, playing much of its season with barely enough players to field a team, have accomplished just that! As it closed out its regular season, the team only had one loss. On Feb. 11, the boys had to play short-handed a player but still managed to beat Sabino 1-0 to win their region, qualifying them to compete in the state tourney.
Usually, Catalina has dozens of Trojans trying to make its varsity or JV teams. Last year they had enough to field a freshman squad, too. But the pandemic put the brakes on many teams, and boys soccer might be the only CHS team able to complete its season.
From workouts on an otherwise empty campus to playing without subs (just 11 and occasionally down to 9 or 10 players) for much of their remarkable season—these tough-as-nails players pulled together, believed and won their region with “All we got, all we need” as their motto.
Head Coach Gabriel Rocha says he has never had a closer team.
“They’re brothers on and off the field,” Rocha emphasizes. “They relish every opportunity to go out there and play the game that they love, to represent our school, represent our communities and our coaches. It’s so great!” The team now has 18 players as it heads into state—GO, TROJANS!