Player blog: Katie Uyenishi

"Hello again!

"I’m sorry this is so delayed. Since the post of my last blog, I’ve traveled to Las Vegas, Paris, and Dallas! I have been extremely busy with soccer and schoolwork. In Las Vegas, my club team played in the second weekend of the Red Bull National League. I went to Europe with the ODP Region II team for about two weeks. It was a great cultural and soccer experience.

"This past weekend was the best though. We traveled to Dallas, Texas to play two USYSA National League games. The first game was against So Cal Blues. The second game was going to be against the Dallas Texans. Going into the weekend, we all knew that in order to get an automatic bid into the 2008 USYSA National Championships we had to get one point, which is at least one tie.

"Although that was what needed to be done, we came into the weekend with the mindset of winning two games. We ended up tying both games, coming back from a one goal deficit each time. This qualified us to participate in the upcoming Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas. We are all very excited, but it is of barely any significance if we don’t get it done there, starting on July 22.

"The weekend of Dallas was also one of the key reasons I did not play high school soccer this year. We had committed to a third weekend in the USYSA National League in April, which meant no high school soccer. Also, we had worked so hard to put ourselves in a great spot with a record of 5-0 coming into this weekend and were not about to put that in jeopardy. To me, it is already completely worth it. My team is now one step closer to our goal since we were U-14.

"To touch on the question of the Chicago Magic’s Academy Program, as far as I know, the academy program is for boys only, and the girls side will remain club. I honestly do not know much about that program (because I play for Eclipse Select). From what you’ve said, the idea sounds great. However, I do believe that leadership qualities can be demonstrated in anything you do, whether it is a high school team, a club team, or even a classroom activity in school.

"I also strongly believe in representing and being an active member in your community, but I don’t think playing high school soccer is the only way. I am involved in sophomore Class Board, which is a club out of my school that deals with the planning events, and raising money for special causes. I was also recently accepted to become a Peer Leader, which will serve to help the incoming freshman adapt to the high school environment. Although participating in high school soccer sounds like a perfect way to represent your community, there are still many other ways to do so. Talk to you later! Katie"

- Joe Trost