Benji Kimble never pushed Edgar Zepeda about it. But anytime the first-year Freedom High School boys soccer coach had a chance, he\u2019d ask Zepeda the same question that everyone involved with the Eagles\u2019 soccer program wanted an answer to: Was Zepeda going to play this season? <\/p>\n
If Zepeda chose not to play this spring for Freedom and focus only on competing with D.C. United Academy like he did a year ago as a junior, Kimble would have been disappointed, but supportive of Zepeda\u2019s decision. <\/p>\n
Time, though, was becoming an issue as the starting date for spring sports season crept closer and quite honestly, Freedom needed Zepeda perhaps more than he needed them. <\/p>\n
Although one kid on the soccer field may not make an entire difference between a win or a loss, Zepeda came darn close. When Zepeda anchored his team\u2019s defense from his sweeper position as a sophomore, the Eagles had their best season in school history, going 7-7-2. <\/p>\n
Without him last year, Freedom went winless. Granted, the Eagles lost some other key players from that 2010 team, but it was clear Zepeda\u2019s loss made a huge impact, enough that the coaching staff believed Zepeda\u2019s presence could have easily resulted in at least six wins in 2011. He was that important. <\/p>\n
So the question remained: Was Zepeda going to play or not? <\/p>\n
After a few weeks of checking in with Zepeda, Kimble finally got his answer. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe said, \u2018I\u2019m playing for you,\u2019 \u201d Kimble said. <\/p>\n
Still to ensure everyone was on the same page, Kimble wanted to make sure Zepeda was in this for the long haul and that Freedom soccer would be the priority, even though he\u2019d still have his academy commitments when the spring high school sports season begins Tuesday with tryouts. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we start making exceptions at Freedom, we\u2019re running into problems,\u201d Kimble said. <\/p>\n
Zepeda assured Kimble Freedom was No. 1. He\u2019d talked to his academy coaches about it and even his coaches at George Mason University, the college he signed with for men\u2019s soccer earlier this month. <\/p>\n
No one had an issue with it. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy sophomore year when I did play, I had an impact,\u201d Zepeda said. \u201cThis year, it\u2019s going to be fun. I hope we can make progress.\u201d <\/p>\n
Besides his desire to enjoy his final year of high school, Zepeda\u2019s decision to play for Freedom was aided in large part by the fact he had made his college decision already. One of the major factors for Zepeda playing for D.C. United Academy was to get more exposure, especially from colleges. <\/p>\n
He was spotted at a tournament one day by someone from the academy and was brought in for a tryout. He earned a spot, but realized that between his studies (he was taking three AP classes at the time) and his academy commitments, there would be no time for high school soccer. <\/p>\n
His coach then, Chris Valenti, understood Zepeda\u2019s decision. But he\u2019s glad to see him back on the field this season for the Eagles. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am very happy to see Edgar had decided to help us lead the team this season during his senior year,\u201d said Valenti, who stepped down as head coach to work with an after-school credit recovery program, but will still serve as the head junior varsity coach. \u201cI guess we will have to wait and see how the season goes, but I guarantee that a lot of the teams this year will have a hard time getting past him on defense.\u201d <\/p>\n
Beyond his soccer abilities, Zepeda is held up by Freedom coaches to other students and players as an example of how to conduct yourself. Zepeda is only the second Division I signee in the school\u2019s history with the other one being basketball player Cam Long, who starred at George Mason. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something you can aspire to,\u201d Kimble said. \u201cHe\u2019s never led so much with his mouth, but he always does the right thing. That\u2019s a great thing to hang your hat on. If you are not sure what to do, look at Edgar and think WWED, \u2018What would Edgar do?\u2019 \u201d Kimble said. <\/p>\n
While he missed last year\u2019s high school soccer season, Zepeda, who carries a 3.5 grade point average, did his best to keep tabs on the team. He\u2019d come to a few games when he could and would always check in with the coaches when he saw them at school to offer words of encouragement. <\/p>\n
But he has no regrets about missing last season. Beyond the college interest, Zepeda got the opportunity to play in Brazil and Holland. The one-year cost to participate in the D.C. United Academy program is $1,100, but to Zepeda the trade off was worth it. <\/p>\n
\u201cTechnically, he\u2019s so much better,\u201d said Nolan Sheldon, Zepeda\u2019s D.C. United Academy U-18 coach. <\/p>\n
Last Wednesday inside the Freedom gym after school, Kimble held an informational meeting with those boys and girls interested in playing soccer for the Eagles. Zepeda was in the first row of bleachers, listening to his coach speak. <\/p>\n
Later that evening, he\u2019d have an academy game up in Arlington. But the good thing was there was time to do both. And Zepeda is glad for that, especially since this is his final year of high school. <\/p>\n
\u201cI kind of want to have fun,\u201d Zepeda said. \u201cI\u2019ve made all my decisions. I\u2019m kind of on the backburner.\u201d <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sports editor David Fawcett can be reached at 703-530-3911 <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The rest is here: Benji Kimble never pushed Edgar Zepeda about it. But anytime the first-year Freedom High School boys soccer coach had a chance, he\u2019d ask Zepeda the same question that everyone involved with the Eagles\u2019 soccer program wanted an answer to: Was Zepeda going to play this season? If Zepeda chose not to play this spring for Freedom and focus only on competing with D.C. Continue reading
\nFreedom's soccer program receives big lift with Edgar Zepeda's return<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"