The End of an Era
by Maria Veras
Senior year. A time that every student waits for. A time that is filled with memories that will last a lifetime. Senior year, a time that is approaching an end for Armando Cabrera and Zachary Hill at Timber Creek High School. With their last season within varsity soccer coming to an end, it was a great opportunity to ask each player about what they intend on doing with their life after soccer. Cabrera’s goal after senior year is “to be a data analyst and attend Harvard university” while Hill states he is simply looking forward to college. Both said that they will not leave soccer behind and that they will remember the special moments of their years playing for Timber Creek.
With fifteen years of playing soccer, and three years on the Varsity team at Timber Creek, there are endless amount of memorable lessons that the sport introduced to Zach Hill. One being the importance of friendship. Hill says that the one thing he will never forget from all of his years of soccer are the people he’s met because of the sport and the impact they have held upon his life. It is absolutely amazing to note how a sport or any activity in general can bring a group of people together and influence the paths they will take for the rest of their lives. Primarily seen through Cabrera’s and Hill’s friendship who met because of soccer and have remained friends ever since.
The boys varsity soccer team recently held their senior night at Timber Creek on January 5th against Gateway, which was dedicated to the students who are approaching their last season in high school. Senior night, an emotional night for both players, was something they feel like they will never forget. Cabrera states that senior night is his favorite memory from this season because “it was a special moment with my family and my girlfriend.”
My conversation with Cabrera thus brought the mention of memories throughout soccer and in this case, their last season. When asked what he will remember the most from this season, Hill laughed and jokingly said he will never forget “getting a red card.” which meant he was ejected from participating for two games. After two games, Hill was about to return just in time for district games.
Both were very excited to advance to district games and make the most of their last season. Surely much of the energy that is felt in the games comes from the cheering audiences supporting their favorite players. Cabrera says that when he looks over at the stands, he always sees girlfriend Anais Placencia, a senior, and younger sister Mirelle Placencia, a sophomore, cheering him on during all games. Hill mentioned that his motivation during games comes from his mom because she has been his motivation to practice and word harder.
District games began on January 24th but unfortunately the team lost 5-2 against Oak Ridge which didn’t leave Hill extra time to continue his pregame ritual of eating McDonald’s. With all jokes aside, Cabrera stated that he has no regrets from this season because “everything teaches you something” and he feels as though he “played his heart out” until their very last game. Although saddened by the loss and end of his high school career, Hill said he will never forget the people he’s meet and his passion for the sport. Overall, although the team lost their final game, both still appreciate the impact and role of soccer throughout their life and will carry it within them for any situation life will bring on in their future.
