Student athletes from over 45 local and regional teams spotlighted
Sporting Club Jacksonville (Sporting JAX) hosted its fourth annual Sporting JAX High School Soccer Media Day presented by VyStar Credit Union and Honda of the Avenues on Thursday at the Winston Family YMCA in Riverside.
Coaches and players from more than 45 boys’ and girls’ high school soccer programs across North Florida were in attendance at Thursday’s event. They took headshots, group photos and hype photos and spoke with members of the media as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Each year, the event helps shine a spotlight on the area’s high school soccer scene, and this year’s edition was no different.
“For these kids, it’s great,” said Mike Pickett, head coach of the Bolles School’s girls’ high school soccer team. “It’s a great opportunity to elevate themselves, to feel good about themselves, to be recognized; it’s huge.”
The event also serves as an opportunity for the student athletes to meet or even reconnect with their counterparts that play for other teams.
“I feel like it’s more important because then you get to see, like when you think of soccer teams, you think, ‘Oh there’s only one team for this school and there’s not a lot of schools around us,’ but once you see everybody in one big room, [you realize] this is a much larger community than what I thought it was,” said Charlotte Andrade, a senior center back at Sandalwood High School. “It’s nice to have connections with other people on the team and that are from other teams and hear their experiences as well.”
Players and coaches also received lunch provided by Hood Family Concessions. Sporting JAX thanks everyone who was involved in Thursday’s event and wishes each team the best of luck in their upcoming seasons.
Fans can find upcoming match details and ticket information at sportingjax.com, and can stay connected with the latest news, matchday updates, and behind-the-scenes stories, including coverage of High School Soccer Media Day, by following Sporting JAX across all social platforms.
