By Lucky Felder and Samhita Holla
Sophomore Kaivalya Gajula playsmidfield and striker while wearing number 13 on the field. After scoring the first Varsity goal of the season as a freshman last year, she has continued to skillfully play, constantly bringing her team to victory. Kaivalya shares her thoughts below!
When did you start playing soccer?
“I started playing soccer when I was eight years old.”
How often do you practice?
“I practice every day, before school around 6 A.M., and after school for about 30 minutes. We have team practices every day, and I do weight and mobility training as well.”
What are your goals for this year, as a team and individually?
“Since we’re in the A division, we’re making sure that we finish up the season strong while playing together as a team. For me, I just want to be able to play the best I can alongside my teammates, and continue to work hard every day.”
What made you want to join the soccer team?
“I’ve always been a competitive person, and when I started school at Marshall Lane Elementary, I saw other kids playing soccer. This motivated me to start playing since I wanted to be better than everyone else. I continued playing and fell in love with the sport.”
What position do you play?
“I play midfield and striker.”
What’s your favorite part of being in this team?
“My favorite part of being in this team is being in a different atmosphere. In club, it’s very competitive, but here, I can be more creative, meet more people, and learn how to play with other techniques.”
Who on your team is the best at keeping everyone’s energy up?
“I would say Lili M, or Roman.”
How do you feel right before a game?
“I usually feel really nervous, but the feeling goes away after I warm up.”
What’s the hardest part?
“I would say the hardest part is being consistent. It’s one thing to be able to play well one day, but it’s another thing to be able to play well the entire season.”
Do you have any pre-game rituals or traditions?
“Before games, I try to be alone so I can focus on what I have to do during the match. I also like listening to music.”
What’s something most people don’t realize about being on the team?
“They don’t realize that there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. When people show up to the games, they only see how we play, but they don’t really see how hard we work during practices and outside of school just to be as good as everyone else on the field.”