The Enid Plainsmen are coming off one of their most successful stretches in memory, as they start the 2023 season. They hosted a home playoff game for the first time in 2021, and after losing 6 players on defense, including an all-stater, it was uncertain of how well the team would do in 2022. It was evident they would still excel on offense, but how would they defend? 2nd year head coach Jorge Cabada had a plan – he moved standout freshman David Smith to Outside Back and it immediately paid dividends. They started district play 5-0 and were on track to compete for the district championship before tragedy struck and they lost one of the team leaders, Miguel Chavez, an all-state player, to injury. “Losing Miguel near the end of the season was tough,” Cabada said, “we still fought hard and lost in the first round of the playoffs in overtime. I still think we could have really gone deep in the playoffs if we had not lost Miguel”
And deep in the playoffs is the goal for this year’s team. Although Chavez is off playing soccer in college, they only lost two other starters, leaving an experienced and talented team for this year’s squad. “We have a lot of great players back this year,” Cabada said, “Even though we play in the toughest district (6A-4) in the state against some of the best teams, we expect to be able to compete with all of them.”
Some of the players expected to stand out this year include Senior Center Back Raymond Gonzalez, Junior Winger Oswaldo Herrera, Senior Center Mid Armando Vega and Senior Goalkeeper Oliver Castellanos. Cabada described them like this “Gonzalez is the catalyst to the team. He really gets them going. He’s in phenomenal shape, and his work ethic is unmatched and rubs off on the other players. Herrera is one of the most dynamic players in the state. He can score from anywhere, with either foot and no one in the state can keep up with him. Vega is the Allen Iverson of the team. He may not be the biggest, strongest or fastest, but when the lights turn on, he is a highlight reel.
Cabada also gives a lot of credit to the focus Enid high has put on strength and conditioning with the hiring of strength and conditioning coach Jana Robertson who works directly with the soccer team with soccer-specific workouts. The team has really bought in and he believes they are in as good of shape in January as they were at the end of the season last year, which should play dividends on the pitch.
Lastly, Cabada is really excited to move practice and games to the new Advance Soccer Complex. “Being able to play and practice on a bigger (wider) field is going to open up a lot of opportunities for us,” he said. “Not only will it be one of the best fields in the state, we will also be able to practice indoors in bad weather for the first time. We have a lot of appreciation for all the Allen family and others have done to make that a possibility.”
Most home games will be held at the Advance Soccer Complex at 1526 S. Garland Road. They would love to have you cheering them on this year!
ENID PLAINSMEN/PACER PRIDE OF THE PLAINS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SLATER MECHANICAL!
