Rene’ Kuebker can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And make no mistake:
It’s a long tunnel — one the Kent-Meridian girls soccer program has been stuck in long before coach Kuebker arrived.
How long?
Kent-Meridian hasn’t won a game on the girls soccer pitch since 2002. The closest the Royals have come to a victory during that span was a 0-0 tie to open the 2007 season.
Last season, however, was the kicker: The Royals were outscored 139-0. The season began on a rough note when the team’s original coach failed to show for practice. By the third day, Kuebker, who grew up with the sport in Wisconsin, was called in to duty.
Now, there’s nowhere she’d rather be.
“I love Kent-Meridian,” said Kuebker. “I love our kids and I love what I do. And there’s no reason we can’t be successful.”
It starts with the mindset. Simply believing in themselves will be key for the group, the coach said.
“It’s all about long term,” said Kuebker, who insists she’s not simply passing through the school, but has a plan in mind to build something and see it through. “We need to visualize what we want to happen. It’s not going to happen overnight at K-M.”
Maybe not. But a change in attitude certainly can, which is precisely what Kuebker was working on this past Tuesday, when the Royals opened the season with an 8-0 loss to South Puget Sound League North Division power Auburn Riverside. K-M doesn’t quite have the firepower to keep up with the Ravens or perennial contenders Tahoma and Kentwood.
But the Royals do have more talent and determination than in years past. The talent — on a roster with no seniors — begins with junior Felecia Frost and sophomore Ashlann Wood, both of whom started at times last fall.
Kent-Meridian also has enjoyed a bigger infusion of young talent than any season since the ’90s, when the Royals were routinely were among the North Division’s top teams. Leading that group are freshmen sisters Jesi and Stephanie O’Hara, along with Emily Gordon. All of them play select soccer.
In all, K-M will start seven freshmen, so youth – and, in a lot of cases, inexperience – will be on their side.
“We’re going to have to learn fast and step up,” Kuebker said. “We have the talent. We just need to push through.”
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