Welcome to the summer months at Gavilan College….classes are in session, students are registering in record numbers for fall classes, Community Education classes are in full swing, and the campus is in summer bloom beauty. As I walk the campus, I notice activity in the labs, the library, and the athletic fields as students and the community appreciates our campus environment for personal growth and to meet learning objectives. Watching our Gavilan teams prepare for the competitive season ahead and the international focus on women’s soccer brings me to one of the focal points for my column this month: the amazing job of the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT), which represented the United States in international women's soccer and won the World Cup title with incredible resilience and determination.
Watching Megan Rapinoe and her teammates speak about the power of team sports, the importance of equity on the field and off and the “irresistible force” of participating in an athletics program is something I see here at Gavilan, and saw in our own soccer program last season. Head Coach Ricardo Espinosa called it a “turn around season”, with 18 first time players, 2 first team all conference players and team captain Rodolfo Rivera, who scored 9 goals, 7 assists, all with a 3.9 GPA throughout the season. The team beat Cabrillo which was a major victory for the Rams, among other wins.
There is something about the soccer culture, for sure. I saw it when I visited Argentina last January, where street players routinely chose teams and played long into the night. The River Plate and the Boca clubs in Buenos Aires built huge stadiums where the crowds line up for miles just to get tickets…it was incredible to witness. The loyalty and team pride was uncompromising. I would very much like to see that same infusion of soccer culture at Gavilan this fall. We are located in a prime location for soccer, and should be a destination for students who are interested in exploring their skills on a perfect field at a premier academic institution. For information on how you can join Rodolfo and the Rams this fall, call Coach Espinosa at 408-612-2855 or email
Enjoy the remaining days of July, and I will be back in August to share information about Convocation, our Centennial Gala, and the upcoming Fall semester. Be Well!