BY ALYSSA KHAN
Just a normal day of kicking soccer balls for athlete Sofía Molina led to her recruitment for the football team by CCHS’s junior varsity coach. Molina started the school year like any normal high school athlete, balancing school and soccer, never expecting to incorporate football into her busy schedule.
Molina was practicing soccer on a field next to the football team when she caught the eye of the junior varsity football coach. The coach approached her and promptly advised her to try out for the football team.
She attended tryouts and was able to make history as the first female to join Cooper City’s football team since its founding.
Molina’s background in soccer aided in the success she has found on the football team. She got into soccer after moving to Cooper City from Boston when she was only three years old. She never thought that doing what she loves would lead her to go down in history.
“Sports are my everything. I don’t know what I would do without it. It’s my stress reliever,” Molina said. “I really don’t know what my life would be without it.”
Sports have been something Molina has been familiar with for a long time, and it has changed her life. Playing sports comes naturally for her, and is now something that feels like home for her.
“Sports are my everything. I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Football player Sofia Molina
When the opportunity to join the CCHS football team came her way, Molina did not back down. She explains that she was really scared and nervous to join the team because she’s a girl and it was her first time playing football. Despite this, Molina tried not to think about it and did what she loves most in sports: kicking.
After joining the football team, the nerves were still there. However, Molina described that the reassurance she received from her teammates comforted her on this new journey.
“The football team does hype me up but they also make sure that I’m not nervous,” Molina said. “They are always there for me and always tell me that they will not let anything happen to me.”
Overall, joining the football team has been nothing but positive for Molina. It has allowed her to make new friends and also boosted her confidence. It encourages her to get better knowing that there are people watching and supporting her.
The Molina family is extremely supportive of Sofía in this new endeavour. Her sister, Sabrina Molina, was initially shocked that her sister would be joining an all-boys football team. Both her sister and the rest of their family knew that despite her busy schedule, Sofía would be able to make a great contribution to the team.
“When they asked her to join, I knew she would make it and she is perfect for it.”
Sofia Molina’s sister, Sabrina Molina
“At first, me and my family expected nothing of it. Sofía would talk about how cool it would be to be the kicker for the football team, but we never really thought much of it,” Sabrina Molina said. “When they asked her to join, I knew she would make it and she is perfect for it. She is very dedicated to everything she does and has a very powerful leg.”
Molina’s passion for sports shows when she’s on the field. She is very dedicated and puts in the extra effort to get to where she wants to be.
“She has a very strong kick that I knew would amaze everyone,” Sabrina Molina said. “She does her best in everything she does and never gives up. I am very happy to be with her through it all. She deserves the best; she’s always been working hard.”
Besides being able to pursue a career in athletics, Molina is making a name for herself in a way that she is choosing to. The only girl on the football team is making her mark on CCHS, having fun while doing it and benefiting the football team and the people around her.
Molina is breaking the status quo by joining the football team and is inspiring others. She is truly proving that anyone can do anything they set their mind to, regardless of their gender.
Photo by Anabella Garcia
