High school soccer in South Dakota continues its growth in popularity. Officials in the sport say each year the talent pool gets deeper, and the games become more competitive.
The team from Hot Springs, is following this trend, but with a little twist.
Hot Springs high school isn’t able to have a girl’s soccer team, due to the policy with enrollment numbers. But this doesn’t stop three junior girls from playing the game they love.
Two of the girls, Diamond Miller and Aspen Stover, have played soccer together since they were young. Miller uses her large family as an advantage.
"It’s not intimidating at all. I grew up with six brothers, so it’s pretty normal," says Miller. "I’m use to having to compete for everything with boys. I’m use to getting beat around by boys, so I think it’s just like at home."
For Stover, playing with boys doesn’t bother her, because it’s the way it has always been.
"I’ve learned to play with boys. U12 I may have had an all girls, but other than that I’ve always played co-ed," says Stover. "So I’ve always grown up playing with them, so that’s all I know."
The third girl, Shelby Roda, is still getting her feet wet with the sport. She joined the boy’s soccer team after an injury prohibited her from playing volleyball. Hot Springs Soccer Coach Wendell Gehman says Roda’s effort has gained his respect.
"The fact that she’s a go-getter, willing to get out there and learn," explains Gehman. "She doesn’t’ have a lot of experience, but she doesn’t back off or say this isn’t for me. When we put her out there, she gives it all she’s got and that’s what we ask from our players."
Even though the Hot Springs team didn’t make it to the state soccer championships this season – it didn’t stop these three girls from playing the sport they love.
To see complete results from the state soccer championships held this weekend, and to view award photos from the event, visit sdpb.org/soccer