Soccer club KICKS off at C-G-D High School

            This past September and October, something new could be seen near Clarion-Goldfield-Dows High School on Wednesday afternoons. A couple dozen kids running up and down the football practice field south of the school. Both boys and girls playing together, having a great time. But they are not playing football. Rather, these high schoolers are members of the new Soccer Club that was formed recently at the C-G-D.

            This club is the brainchild of Miriam Meinke, who is currently a Paraeducator at the high school. Meinke, a Clarion-Goldfield High School graduate herself, says that when she was in high school, she wished there was an opportunity to play soccer. Although, she admits she never really played as a kid, she always enjoyed the sport and thought others at her school would too.

            Fast-forward a few years to Meinke as a C-G-D employee. She still had the idea of a soccer club floating around her head. Of course, a club would not be the first time a soccer ball was ever found in Clarion. The City of Clarion rec department does offer indoor soccer, but that is exclusively for younger elementary students. Meinke was sure that high school students would enjoy it. She says, “My Al Exito club kids had played for fun in the past and loved it.” So she persued the idea of making soccer its own club, and found that students were eager to join. Freshman Marlene Hernandez said, “Soccer is my favorite sport. I signed up right away.”

For the full story, see this week's Monitor.