Bartram Trail girls soccer team wins Class 7A state championship
ST. JOHNS, Fla. — The Bartram Trail Bears girl’s soccer team, coached by Head Coach, Jen Rodriguez and assisted by Rita Mankin and Pual Slusarz were overwhelmed with excitement at how this season ended. The team won their first State Championship in 2020 and again in 2021 but then was upset in the regional semifinals in 2022 by Creekside. To be able to bounce back this year for the win, with this group of girls, of whom the 5 senior captains have been together since the first win in 2020, was a feeling that was indescribable!
Their main goal this year was to win the State Championship but the team also had goals they wanted to achieve throughout the season. They said they needed to score first in each game, not give up more than 6 goals throughout the season, work hard at practice and hold each other accountable, play for each other, be humble, and communicate, just to name a few. With 5 seniors and 1 junior as captains this year, this team did not hurt for solid leadership. Seniors, Anna Bachman, Grace Ivey, Malia Roberts, EmmaRevels, and Olivia Bori and Jr, Carolyn Johnson lead this team with grace and discipline. All 5 seniors have been a part of the varsity soccer team since they were freshmen so they know what it takes to win. These five were extremely focused and driven and led by example on and off the field.
Over the years this team has developed a few traditions. Before the official warm-up begins, they do what is called the header circle in which they have to get from A-Z heading the ball without the ball falling to the ground. It can get pretty intense but the girls LOVE it! Just before the game, before the girls take the field, the team will hold a rope that represents team unity and doing what it takes for their teammates and stands as a reminder to play for each other. With 5 departing seniors it is a good thing this team is focused on unity and supporting one another. I asked how it will be next season as they will be taking on new players and coach Jen answered with, “the new players will be welcomed with open arms. We pride ourselves on creating an environment that welcomes new players and in turn helps them become the players they are meant to become without feeling judged or afraid to make a mistake.”
If there is one word they could use to describe the team they would say it is “TOGETHER.” They celebrate together, work hard together and endure the highs and lows, TOGETHER. They celebrate each other’s successes because they are 1 team and are all trying to reach their goals together. The feeling of losing last year was their driving force for this season. They remembered how close they were last season and the fact that they felt they did not do enough as a team. They were not going to let that happen again. As a team we were undefeated with a record of 21-0-2. Grace Ivey, is now the Bartram Trail leader in single season assists with 35, with the previous record being 25.
Help me congratulate this team on their 3rd State Championship in 4 years! Good luck to the 5 seniors in their future plans and to the Bartram Bears in their next season! Congratulations ladies, way to represent St Johns County!!!!
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