Without knowing a single word of English, 13 year old Michel Gonzalez emigrated from his hometown of Havana, Cuba to Belmont, California; five years later he was the league offensive MVP for Carlmont’s PAL Champion soccer team. Although Gonzalez struggled at first with having to restart his life in such a different world than when he lived in Cuba, soon he began to fit in.
“A few days after I moved into my house in Belmont, some of the kids that lived nearby started talking to me. I didn’t know what they were saying but when the pointed to their soccer ball I started to understand. So I went to play with them and they were my first real friends.”
Soon school started, and only equipped with the words he picked up with his friends, Gonzalez had to learn English while attempting to keep up academically with the rest of the kids.
“I only spoke Spanish so it was really hard to talk to the other kids or the teacher,” explained Gonzalez, “but after hearing the other kids talk and speaking with them myself, I started to learn pretty fast”
Although Gonzalez started his school career smoothly, by sophomore year of high school, after playing a full season for the men’s junior varsity soccer team, the sport that brought him so much happiness ended up being his demise.
“I started slipping up in school,” continued Gonzalez, “I would come home after a practice and I wouldn’t want to have to do hours of homework so my grades began to drop.”
With Gonzalez and other key players missing due to ineligibility for the entire 2012 season, the Scots struggled in both league and a CCS.
Although they managed to squeeze their way into CCS by half of a point, the boys suffered a first round exit at the hands of Santa Teresa.
“We struggled to score goals last year,” explained varsity mens soccer head coach Jodi Beloff, “If he could have scored last year like he is scoring this year, he could have really made a difference.”
After two years of wavering above and below the eligibility line, Gonzalez decided it was time he changed those speculations into reality.
Putting his past behind him, Gonzalez brought his grades up enough to be eligible for the 2013 season.
“It was all for soccer,” explained Gonzalez of his motives behind bringing his grades up. “All the hard work I put it was so that I could play this year.”
This hard work and determination did more than pay off as Gonzalez played an instrumental part in the Scots’s PAL and CCS berth. “As a senior and one of the leading goal scorers on the team, Gonzalez was definitely a leader by example and an impact player” explained Beloff. “He was a key part of the heart and soul of this team.” Michel lead the Scots with 12 goals.
As Gonzalez says goodbye to Carlmont soccer, he hopes to play at a higher level wherever that may be.
“Soccer is my life and its all that I have ever known since I came here in 2007,” said Gonzalez, “I want to play still, but I’m not sure where yet. I am just going to keep my options open.”
