By Blake Chadwick
Since Bishop Carroll senior goalkeeper Diego Medina was young, he stood out on the soccer field. Now he continues to do the same, whether that was being named an all-state or all-league player or earning the honor to play in a Kansas vs Oklahoma all-state game. Medina has made sure that he is going to leave his mark.
“Diego, as captain this year, is part of the heart and soul of this team,” head coach Mike Skaggs said. “He leads by example and encourages his teammates daily in an honest and positive way. He is the first to give credit and praise to teammates when we play well, and take the blame when we don’t.”
The senior has been playing soccer since he was four years old and credits a lot of his talent and IQ to the amount of time his family has poured into him.
“I think that my IQ comes from watching and playing soccer from a young age,” Medina said. “My dad really taught me a lot at such a young age and got me involved with the sport. I also really believe that watching soccer helps a lot. Being able to watch the highest level possible can really help you learn a lot.”
Medina is an exceptional communicator in the field. Positioned on the backline, he has a full view of the action and constantly issues commands to organize his team. When his defense falters, he relies on his solid technique and impressive shot-stopping ability to keep his team in the game.
“Communication as a goalkeeper is such a crucial trait to have,” Medina said. “As the keeper, you see the whole field better than any other player out there. You have to be able to organize your team, like letting them know when a man is coming behind them or if they can turn with the ball. Things like that are very crucial in the game.”
