By Blake Chadwick
Fresh off the 2024 city league championship for Wichita Southeast, the Buffaloes look to win another championship and make an even deeper push for a Class 6A state championship.
One of the Buffaloes who will be a big-time piece this year will be senior David Mlendja. Mlendja is the starting goalkeeper for Southeast, who has been named an all-league goalie the last two years.
“My goal this season is to get the state championship,” Mlendja said. “For my team, the goal is to do better and fix our mistakes from the last season, so we can do better this year and build up the future buffs to be better.”
The senior has been a huge staple for the Buffaloes in his time, but he has shifted his focus to ensure Southeast stays at the level he and his teammates have gotten it to.
“Being positive is something that I have learned from people I have been with, people I have watched on TV; if you are doing something with other people as a group, especially in soccer, being positive to your teammates is too important,” Mlendja said. “Soccer brings us closer than our family members. I love all my teammates as part of my family.”
Mlendja will look to give his all this season in hopes of getting a scholarship offer to play at the next level.
“I am planning to play soccer in college,” Mlendja said. “I don’t know where I will go, but I am still looking forward to it. If I am not playing sports in college, I will be an aerospace engineer.”
