Just past the halfway point on the season, Eastern’s women’s soccer junior defender Kya Trejo is getting more time on the field, as she has started the last two games. She shared her superstitions and how she has grown while playing at Eastern. 

Q: How did it feel to not play much as a freshman? 

A: “I mean obviously it doesn’t feel good, nobody wants to not play, and especially when you come from playing a lot. So obviously it sucks, but I think, like even last year I didn’t necessarily play a ton, and this year I haven’t really gotten a ton of minutes, but both times, or all three times I guess, it’s like those players who are playing either alongside me or over me are players I can learn from. And especially freshman year, it was like I was sharing a position with a fifth year, so it’s like, obviously somebody who’s 22, 23, they just have more knowledge and experience than an 18-year-old coming in, so it’s like, yeah, it sucked, but it gave a lot of like, just knowledge that I feel like I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, and I’m definitely a better player now because of it.”

Q: What have you done to get more playing time? 

A: “I think just putting in more work. I think coming in freshman year and then last year in terms of preparation, like I was still kind of unsure of what I wanted to do or how to properly prepare. And then this year coming in, I felt like I just had a better idea of, okay, I need to get this done, I need to get that done, I need to get this done, in order to come in being the best version of myself. Then from there, it’s just like taking everything you can from the coaches, from the people around you to just be better, and I think also like I’ve had my own setbacks just like the past two years, and a big one I think was just having a hard time taking those games where I didn’t necessarily play and then having a positive attitude about that. So, I think just coming in with a positive attitude made a difference because I think the entire team benefits, but also me.”

Q: What specifically did you work on? 

A: “Running, lots of running. Like I was pretty much running or working out, doing something every day, and then just trying to like get as much possible work done without overloading as possible.”

Q: Do you expect to get more playing time soon? 

A: “Obviously I’d hope to. I don’t know. That’d be in the grand scheme of things, that’d be the best outcome, but I don’t know. I just try to take it one game at a time, and I think the thing about minutes is like, especially I feel like in the outside back position, or anywhere in the back line it’s hard to get a lot of minutes if you’re not already a starter. I think Elisa Solis suffered an injury last game, so I don’t know what her recovery time looks like. Obviously, that opens a door for an opportunity, but it’s not guaranteed minutes at the same time. It’s like again, yeah, I really want it, but more than anything it’s also, I want to win, and if that means somebody else gets a lot of minutes and we’re winning, then awesome. And if it means I get a lot of minutes and we’re winning, then that’s awesome too. So, I think the main focus isn’t necessarily minutes, but like what can I do to make those around me either play better or make their job easier.”

Q: What have you learned since being at EIU? 

A: “I think one thing like a theme for me this year, we talked about this in one of my classes, and it was do you seek success or fear failure? So, I feel like that’s been huge because I think especially as a freshman I was coming in and I was afraid to not be good enough, whereas this year it’s like I’m excited to be good enough and I’m excited to get to do all these things. And it’s like I feel like now it’s just like I have my skill set, how can I use it? And I feel like that’s been something I’ve learned is just kind of like confidence as well. But all that just comes from my teammates.”

Q: When did you start playing soccer? 

A: “I was actually a late bloomer. I started in third grade, so I was pretty old. But yeah, my mom hated soccer, and she wouldn’t let me play until third grade when my dad was like, I’m just going to sign her up because I wouldn’t stop talking about it. “

Q: Did you play any other sports? 

A: “I was on the A team both years in seventh and eighth grade for basketball. I played softball in fifth grade. I did track and field in middle school.”

Q: Why did you continue to play soccer through high school? 

A: “I guess I just liked it the most. I think it was also the thing that I was the best at. Out of everything else, I wasn’t very good at basketball. I wasn’t very good at it, well, my mom says I’m good at it, but I’m not sure if that counts. But I wasn’t overly good at basketball. I wasn’t like crazy athletic in softball or any of those other sports. And I also just didn’t really care for them. They weren’t as fun as I thought soccer was. So, I was just like, I just wanted to do this.”

Q: Why did you choose EIU? 

A: “I think coming in, obviously I liked campus. But not just what you can see physically. I think the team was a huge thing because a lot of them like you could tell that it was kind of like a family. They were looking to be a family at least. And that team culture aspect, they were all super nice and welcoming. I think that was important to me because obviously, I think when you’re in the recruiting process and you visit one school and you’re like, you just kind of know when you’re like, these girls don’t really seem like people I want to surround myself with. I was here, I was like, I can see myself fitting in here, which was huge. Obviously, the coaches play a part in that. You know, they’re the ones that you’re going to be playing for. So, I think just talking about like playing style, things like that, like what is it that they look for in the future? That was huge. And I know they talked about like class sizes being smaller. That was important for me because just, I do value academics just as much as I do athletics. Like I want to succeed in that area of my life as well. And I do much better, like when I feel like it’s more of a one-on-one with a teacher.  So those are pretty much the three main things.”

Q: What were some of your goals coming into the season? 

A: “Team-wise, win. I think I was really, really, really sick and tired of losing. And even just tying, like, I don’t know, you obviously just want to win. I think also last year, again, going back to those setbacks, I missed out on the tournament, and I didn’t end up getting to go like that last week of practice. So just like wanting to come in and I wanted to be a part of that, and I want to be a part of the team in whatever way I can. And so just like that was my main goal. Like how can I consistently be a part of the team and how can I, help the team even if I am sitting on the bench or whatever setback I then face. So that was huge. Like I just want to consistently be a part of the team.”

Q: Was one of the goals to get your first goal in college like you did? 

A: “Actually, my main goal this year, in terms of statistics, I wanted to get an assist, which I got last game. So, goal-wise, I had no hope in that. Not because I don’t think I’m capable, but just like I think as a defensive position, my main priority isn’t to score. It’s to set others up to score. So that wasn’t really on my radar. That was just kind of luck. Like it’s one of those things, not luck I shouldn’t say, but it’s just one of those things. We like to say you create your own luck and I think I was just creating my own luck in that moment.”

Q: What are your goals for the rest of the season? 

A: “Yeah, I think continue to win. We also get like these things called Y-Scout reports and they’re like basically these sheets and they give you a rundown of what your personal performance was statistic-wise, so like pass completion, dribbles completed, duels in the air, like really breaks everything down in numbers form. So, I think every game is just like that’s something that I have in the back of my mind is can I beat how I technically performed in the last game.”

Q: Do you have any pregame rituals? 

A: “I’m actually extremely, I hate to use the word superstitious, but I really, really like my routine. I think I like to drink my Alani. I drink an Alani every game. I like to drink that at a certain time or before we walk out. I put my hair in a high ponytail and then I have Avery Richardson braid it every game and then I put my pre-wrap on. I tape my wrist every game. Usually write something similar if not like the same exact thing as I did the last game on it.  I always have to be chewing gum. That’s probably the most superstitious thing I do. That’s huge. I feel like my entire game is thrown off if I’m not chewing gum. I don’t put my cleats on until I get out there. Usually I’m a left-right kind of girl, but that can vary if needed.”

Q: What do you write on your wrist tape? 

A: “Usually, I write the same date, which is the date that my grandma died. So, I’ll write that and then I’ll write BTM, which means bigger than me. And then I’ll write a Bible verse. And then the next part usually changes. I think it’s just usually a phrase or an acronym of something. So, I began the year writing positivity. I changed it to practice what you preach, and then I just abbreviated that to PYP. And then I changed it to something else, I think, before that. But then I’ve recently been writing EWPB, which is expect the worst, pray for the best. But those three areas are the three things that I consistently write.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about EIU? 

A: “Probably the people. I think it doesn’t really matter where you go. You could be at the most fun, awesome school ever, but if the people around you aren’t people that you enjoy being around, it’s going to be a terrible experience. So, I think that’s huge for me. It’s also like you’re going to face struggles, you’re going to go through things that are like, this sucks. And it’s like you want the people around you to help you get through that. And I also think the people around me are the people I learn from the most. My coaches, especially athletically. My coaches can tell me, oh, this is what I want you to do, X, Y and Z. This is something you can work on. But I’ve learned the most being here from just watching my teammates.”

Q: Do you have a favorite post-game place to go eat? 

A: “I really like Mi Casa, I think. I’m a big burrito girl. So probably that. Yeah. I don’t really, it’s hard because I don’t really like, in terms of meals, plan. I’m not a big meal person in terms of planning. I’m a terrible cook. So, if I get to eat out, which is usually when my parents come and they’ll pay for it, I’m going to go to Mi Casa and get a burrito every time. So probably that place.”

Q: Who would you give aux to on the team? 

A: “Oh, tough question. Oh, I don’t want to offend anybody. I think, well, Morgan Rinker is the one who has it currently. I feel like she’d get mad at me if I didn’t say her. I’ll pick a top three because it’s hard to pick one. I’ll go Morgan Rinker because she’s consistently on Aux. But last game, Abby Reinl and Colleen Bauer were on aux, and they did a pretty good job. So, I’d probably put them two up there. And that’s my final three.”

Q: Do you think the Earth is round or flat?

A: “Definitely round. If anybody says flat, they have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about. So, 100% round.”

Patrick Schmitz can be reached at 581-2812 or at pfschmitz@eiu.edu.