My name is Zach Isaacs and I have coached La Junta Parks and Recreation soccer for 18 years. I’ve coached hundreds of players during that time and had the opportunity to meet hundreds of parents. Each year, there is a resurgence of palpable excitement from those players and from those parents about the possibility of soccer continuing beyond the parks and recreation barrier. Many players that I have coached only play soccer – they do not participate in baseball, football, basketball, or track. I have seen incredible athletes that no longer join sports through high school because their passion was soccer.

                Over the years, this excitement in soccer potentially continuing into high school years has always, at least to this point, failed the players. This is especially difficult when we have such a strong soccer program at Otero College – our own local players thus cannot get a scholarship to play at a local college. Because of this, I believe that we are depriving ourselves of watching great athletes grow in our area finding the next great player from the Arkansas Valley.

                For these reasons, I would like to share my full and unwavering support for the addition of a Valley team for those athletes that I believe would participate in such a team. Since I am only one coach, I have asked some of the players and students which represent members of our community to sign in support of this as well.