/Portals/2/logos/cropped-213dbc26-994b-468d-be36-c8fd21d3986f-viper logo wide.png en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 19 May 2013 12:43:04 GMT 15 By Carlos Lindado/Staff Reporter
Andres Espinosa Andres “Junior” Espinosa is a second year varsity basketball player for Varela. He started playing at the age of eight. “When I started playing at the age of eight, I liked the game a lot and just stuck with it,” said Junior. As the years progressed he moved on to play for Hammocks Middle School from sixth to eighth grade. In his freshman year at Varela he played on J.V and moved up to Varsity in only his sophomore year. This year as a junior and second year varsity basketball player, he’s expected to be predominant out on the court. “My dad and coaches have been giving me pointers and advice throughout my basketball career,” he said. Shooting the ball is a strength that Junior has obtained over the years. His accomplishments so far have been making the varsity basketball team in only his second year of high school, and becoming a shooting guard for them. In the 2005-2006 season, his team made it to the district finals. Unfortunately, to their disappointment, the boys fell short to Southridge by one point in the final game. “Another personal accomplishment was defeating Killian because everyone had doubted us but we came out victorious at the end,” he said. Even though basketball is his main dominant sport, another sport that Junior played was Volleyball his sophomore year for the 2005-2006 season. In his first year he played middle position. He played volleyball because he wanted to try something new and to his advantage he had height for blocking and spiking. “Hopefully, I can make it to a good college to play basketball and study in the business management field,” said Junior. Natalia Cardona As the captain of the Varela girl’s soccer team, senior Natalia Cardona has the responsibility to keep the team united and disciplined; no matter what motivated. “As the team’s forward, I have the duty to score and as center mid-field I must keep the players on the field organized and ready for defense and offense,” said Natalia. Since her dad didn’t really approve of soccer and had talked her into playing other sports, soccer didn’t come into her life until the age of eleven. She previously played tennis for two years and basketball for a season; but once her younger brother pushed her into playing soccer, she was inspired to continue. Cardona began playing for the YMCA at the age of eleven proving her dad wrong, and surprisingly getting him into the sport as well. “Since proving him wrong, he goes to all my games as well as gives me all the support I need,” said Natalia. She moved on to play for the Hammocks Lightning soccer club team where they succeeded in winning the soccer state championship. As she transitioned into high school she worked hard and made the girls varsity soccer team her freshman year. By her sophomore year, the girls soccer team became District Champions and she was awarded the most improved player award. “Junior year was a hard year to overcome,” she said. During a match against Miami Springs at the GMACs, she was injured and tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament which prevented her from playing the rest of the year. After seven months of recovery and therapy she was able to overcome her injury and become the captain for the girls varsity soccer team her senior year. When soccer season comes to an end, she hopes to join the tennis team or the badminton team because of her previous knowledge of the two games. Either way she just wants to have fun for the conclusion of her senior year. For the future she plans to attend FIU to continue to play soccer and study for a career in medicine to become a pediatrician due to her love of children. ]]> Sun, 17 Dec 2006 17:45:00 GMT