Juanita High senior midfielder Brandon Sim will miss playing with his Rebel teammates on the soccer pitch each day.
The Rebels experienced both an epic win and a season-ending loss on May 7 and May 9 in the 3A KingCo tournament against Mercer Island and Interlake, respectively.
“Both on and off the field, I just had a great time playing with my friends and my classmates. High school soccer is five days a week,” Sim said. “That camaraderie kept me fueled and will give me good memories as I go on.”
It’s a unique bond that teammates share, Sim added, as the Rebels hung around before exiting the Interlake stadium following a 6-0 defeat to finish their season 4-9-3 overall.
Earlier in the week, Juanita triumphed over Mercer Island, 2-1, in overtime in a loser-out contest.
Juanita sophomore Victor Ramos Aguilar scored the golden goal in the last minute of the first period of overtime from a cross into the box by junior Van Monday. Sophomore A-Lor scored Juanita’s first goal near the 10-minute mark off of a cross in the box from Ramos Aguilar.
Rebel senior defender Jordan Olson discussed the Mercer Island match and what it meant to the squad to forge through full time and OT to earn the victory.
“When it finally gets down to the last few minutes, you really start to get motivated because you know that could be the last few minutes that you’re playing as a senior at high levels of competition,” he said. “It was really exciting.”
Motivation and passion for the game are crucial elements to success, said Juanita senior defender Andrew Merz.
“It means a lot, especially playing as a senior, playing four years, three years on varsity,” said Merz, noting that the Rebels struggled the past two seasons, but shone against Mercer Island. “Eventually senior year, we ended up doing well.”
From left, Interlake sophomore Shloak Dutta, Juanita junior Sam Martin and Interlake senior Evan Gueye-oue compete in first-half action on May 9. Andy Nystrom / staff photo
Juanita sophomore Victor Ramos Aguilar, second from left, attempts to halt a pass from Interlake senior Brandon Lazo Gutierrez. Andy Nystrom / staff photo
