The Edna Wolves U9 soccer team have become back to back champions, under the Victoria Youth Soccer League. They skimmed the competition and won last year by one point, while this year they won by three points. This past spring season, they went undefeated.
The team is composed of mainly eight and nine year olds, plus two younger siblings with the age of six and seven, who were allowed to play up a level due to their older siblings.
Martin Barajas, head coach of the Wolves during the spring season, said watching the athletes react to the big win was amazing, but even more, it was the parents who really celebrated the victory.
“Parents would come up to me after a win and say, ‘hey, you got something special here, coach,’ and it’s true,” he reflected. “In baseball (Select and Little League), Edna has never beat any Victoria teams, so it really hit home for the parents. And it’s all them, I’m just directing them with technical know-how and pushing their passion and physical ability to play the sport as best they can, and that’s what brings in the wins.”
For example, Barajas mentioned their lead scorer, Caleb Beard, who was averaging three goals per game. He said Beard could probably run for days and was never out of breath.
“It’s not just him, we have several kids who could run for days. I asked Caleb’s father how far he wanted to go to see how great he could be, and the answer was, ‘as far as we have to go.’ He could be exactly what US soccer needs.
“His drive and determination is off the charts, it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”
The Edna Wolves will be moving up an age group to U10 this fall, and Barajas is ready to take some initiative and add more teams for the 202526 season. They’re currently accepting additional players, girls and boys, for the upcoming year beginning in early August.
“If your child is interested in soccer, and was born between the years 2016 and 2018, contact the coaches prior to Friday, August 1 of this year,” Barajas said. “The deadline for registration is August 9, but there is a special way registration must occur in order to ensure proper placement in our Edna Wolves’ teams.”
In addition to Barajas, the other coaches are Luke Bieck, who is normally the fall season head coach, and newcomer Ahmed Abdulrahman, who is father to two athletes, and has professional experience moving up in the soccer leagues of Egypt.
The three are looking to form a U8 team, composed of athletes under the age of eight, a U9 team made up of players under the age of nine, and another U10 team as well.
“If I had to pinpoint something with our U10 team, they were able to work in a bubble practicing here in Edna. They’ve been working together since they were six or seven, so they know their abilities and strengths, and where they have to pick up the slack,” Barajas said. “I think that’s allowed them to compete at their full potential.”
Barajas also has some big ideas for Jackson County, namely trying to get soccer into the local high schools. He’s been on a campaign to see what he can do.
“It’s disappointing they can’t transfer their soccer skills to a high school level… whoever is willing to put it in the school system has something special,” he said. “Putting the time into a sport pays off at the high school level and I want them to experience that.”
Barajas, Bieck and Abdulrahman are ready to start a new year of winning in early August, and they’re looking for new athletes to join the teams. For more information on registration please email Coach Barajas at mtnbarajas@ gmail.com.
