The crowd held its breath as Jesus Enriquez found himself in the right place at the right time. Enid was trailing Santa Fe South 1-0 when a cross flew into the box. With precision and composure, he finished the play, sending the ball into the net to tie the game.
“It was amazing. I felt really good,” Enriquez said.
A sophomore at Enid High School, Enriquez has been playing soccer since he was four years old, and from that moment, soccer became his passion.
His freshman season was a major learning experience, but he quickly adapted and earned playing time.
The transition was not always easy, as nerves often showed up when stepping onto the field.
“I would get nervous a lot,” he said. “But my brother helped me through it. He would tell me to just go in there and play my game.”
Now preparing for his second season, Enriquez is focused on improving every aspect of his game. He has been paying close attention to his diet, training in the gym, and studying his position to become a smarter player.
“I have been watching my calories, eating better, and getting in the gym more,” he said.
Hard work is nothing new to Enriquez. His biggest role model is his mother, who has always provided for him and his brother, despite challenges.
“My mom has worked really hard for me and my brother,” he said. “She has always taken care of us.”
When he is not training, Enriquez spends his time helping his mother with her job as a janitor, showing the same dedication off the field as he does on it.
As he looks ahead to the season, his goal is clear.
“We are trying to make it past playoffs,” he said. “I think we have a good chance.”
