In June, when Anzar High senior Eduardo Campos walks onto the podium to receive his diploma, it will mean more to him than simply completing four years of high school.
For Campos, a senior midfielder on the boys’ soccer team, receiving a diploma will be a symbol of inspiration for the next generation in his family — his two younger brothers, Aldo, 15, and Rodrigo, 10. Campos will be the first person in his family to graduate from high school, a milestone moment indeed.
“My parents (Geronimo and Maria) tell me I have to be an example to my younger brothers, to guide them in a good way,” said Campos, who a month ago earned the Migrant Program Student of the Year award. “Graduation will be an emotional day. It’s a big responsibility, but I want my brothers to know with hard work you can achieve your dreams.”
Even though the Hawks are struggling — they went 1-5 and were outscored 32-5 in the non-league portion of their schedule — Campos has been a bright spot in an otherwise tough season.
Campos has scored all five of his team’s goals, displaying a deft touch, solid passing skills and a willingness to fight for the ball in the process.
“As a contributing member of the team, it’s my responsibility to motivate my teammates or sometimes give them advice,” said Campos, who has a 3.4 GPA and has a goal to attend UC Davis. “I try to talk to my teammates on the field all the time, because it’s important to maintain communication at all times.”
Hawks coach Mario Zaragoza has been nothing short of impressed with Campos’ attitude on and off the field.
“He’s a player a lot of kids can learn from,” Zaragoza said. “He’s not only an awesome athlete, he’s an amazing student. He’s pretty much the engine of our team.”
Although the Hawks went 7-8-1 a year ago, they graduated two players who accounted for 80 percent of their goals, and a couple of projected starters haven’t played yet due to grades.
In addition, there are a lot of players on the team who are simply inexperienced, having just picked up the game a year or two ago. The good news is Zaragoza expects a couple of the ineligible players to regain eligibility before the start of the team’s Mission Trail Coastal League opener on Jan. 7.
Zaragoza said he hopes the experience the team gained by playing tough competition in non-league will carry over into a successful league season. The Hawks are in a league with Marina, Pacific Collegiate, Kirby and Trinity Christian, so a league championship isn’t out of the question.
Zaragoza is counting on Campos and a couple of his other seniors to play hard even when things aren’t going well. After all, it’s a privilege to be able to play a sport — period.
“The guys have to know not everyone gets a chance to play,” Zaragoza said. “They’re not only representing themselves, but their school as well.”
Campos was born in Watsonville, but moved to Jalisco, Mexico, when he was 11 months old. His family moved back to Watsonville before the start of his eighth-grade year.
At first, Campos had a difficult time adjusting to life in America, as learning a new language proved frustrating at times. However, Campos worked hard to overcome the language barrier and excel in school, which convinced his parents that there was an upside to playing sports.
“When I started playing soccer at age 5 in Mexico, my parents didn’t want me to play because I had work to do at home or on the fields,” Campos said. “Sometimes I would cry because I couldn’t play, but now in the U.S they support me and try to come watch all of my games. They know what soccer means to me and how much inspiration it’s given me in life to work hard.”
