Four Crusaders Become Bison on the Soccer Field

 

Wendell commanding his troops. Photo by Clay Leonard. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

 Four Crusaders Become Bison on the Soccer Field

By Jin Yup Jung '14

                                                          

This year, four Red Cloud students have joined a soccer team...for the Hot Springs Bison.

While there are main spring sports such as Track and Field and Girls Golf at Red Cloud, there are no other sports teams like soccer or baseball, whereas most larger schools around here have diversity with their spring sports teams.

“Nothing has been around. We tried to make a soccer team, but it didn’t work well.”  Red Cloud science teacher & Hot Springs Soccer Coach Wendell Gehman said. “I think people at Red Cloud High School know nothing about soccer. It’s a lack of understanding. Also, there are not enough people who could play soccer here.”  

Seniors Pedro Martinez and Jin Yup Jung and juniors Leonardo Martinez and Yoshiki Ueda have united with Hot Springs soccer players. Since Red Cloud doesn’t have a soccer team, the four players have to drive to Hot Spring three times a week. “I wish I could play soccer at Red Cloud.” Yoshiki said. “It doesn’t mean that I don’t want to play soccer at Hot Springs, but I just wanted to play soccer at Red Cloud.”

Meanwhile, the Hot Springs soccer team with the Red Cloud additions had a great game and earned its first win this season last Saturday against the Belle Fourche soccer team. “Well, I think we improved and played well against them,” Wendell commented. “We communicated a lot while playing soccer. In soccer, communication is the most important way to lead your team to win.”

Hot Springs (with the four Crusaders) also defeated Spearfish recently.

This reporter/ soccer players believes that Red Cloud needs to develop another sports team in addition to Track and Field and Golf.