By Matt Browning

Wichita Northwest’s Merari Flores was constantly on the move throughout the offseason, looking to build off her first team all-league selection last season.

“During the offseason, I played my last season of club soccer due to me being a senior with my club team Kansas Wichita Rush 2006,” Flores said. “We traveled across the states to play against competitive teams including playing in the State Cup and winning Nationals representing Kansas! I also have been working on my skills and athleticism by doing personal trainings and joining camps over the summer.”

The Grizzlies are a tight-knit group and Flores said that is one of the best parts about soccer season.

“This upcoming season is my senior year,” Flores said. “I am most excited to see how I perform and the competition I will face. I am also excited to be back in the pitch with my high school teammates, whose bond has made every season special.”

Last season, Flores scored 13 goals and assisted on 10 others, but she still felt like she had some areas of her game that needed improvement.

“An area I have been working on is improving my speed and athleticism, which my strength and conditioning Coach Daniels has been helping me improve on,” Flores said. “A few individual goals I have for the season are to beat my stats from last year, and as a team the goal is to win regionals and go compete at state.”