Kayla King always wanted to find a way to express her appreciation and thoughts to her loved ones in the most vulnerable way possible. The San Benito High senior got her chance when she signed her letter of intent to play soccer at Jacksonville University on Thursday.
Flanked by her parents, Mary and Albert, along with Balers coach Becky Bonner, King delivered a 25-minute speech thanking no less than 45 people—most of whom were in attendance—for their undying support. The 5-foot-9 forward was emotional before the signing began, knowing the long journey it took to reach this point.
“If it wasn’t for my parents, grandparents, family, coaches and friends, I wouldn’t be the person or player I am today,” said King, who signed her letter of intent at the school’s library. “Each person has helped me in different ways, and I can’t thank them enough.”
King, who suffered a concussion on Jan. 20, is scheduled to return to action in the team’s next game against Monte Vista Christian on Feb. 10. The Balers, who are the hottest team in the Monterey Bay League’s Gabilan Division, find themselves in second place behind Salinas. In her opening remarks, Bonner outlined what makes King such a special player.
“No matter what the situation, Kayla is encouraging and pushing everyone on the team,” Bonner said. “She breathes heart and passion into the team, and we couldn’t have possibly asked for a more special person to come into our program.”
Known for her playmaking skills, King is a versatile talent who can play virtually any position on the field. King transferred in to San Benito from Sobrato after her sophomore year. At Sobrato, King was unstoppable, scoring over 40 goals in her two years at the Morgan Hill school.
When King came home—she was born and raised in Hollister—she said the team accepted her with open arms.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to play with,” she said. “I’m really so thankful to come onto this team and contribute.”
King plays defender for her club team, the powerhouse De Anza Force program. She’s open to playing multiple positions at Jacksonville University, a Division I program in Florida.
