MIA GONZALES-MHS

Mia Gonzales knew that this would be a rough year for soccer at Muskogee High having to go from Class 5A back to Class 6A, but she has handled it like a trooper.

“I new this year going back to Class 6A would be difficult because it’s just a different world playing the teams at this level. So my goal going into the season was just to excel at whatever the team needed me to do,” said Mia who will be playing soccer for Evangel University in Missouri next year.

It was a soccer-playing relative who really got Mia started in soccer.

“I started playing around four years old because my cousin Gabby Dover, who plays now for Hilldale, was playing. I owe a lot of my success to my dad who didn’t play soccer but refereed a lot when he was younger and coached me when I was young and pushed me even when I wasn’t feeling it.”

Rougher girls’ coach Oscar Flores is impressed at how Mia has improved over the years.

“She has been one our best players for the past four years whether it’s been scoring goals, playing defense, or just supporting the other players. I think the biggest improvement I’ve seen in her game is that she has really upped her soccer IQ in areas like applying pressure and cutting angles and she’s just smarter about the way she plays. She’s learned from her mistakes and now as a senior leader is passing that wisdom along to our younger players.”

Off the pitch, Mia is involved in the Oklahoma and National Honor Societies, Teens for Christ, Science Club and Library Club.

The team recently completed a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama where they won all three games they played which is a memory Mia says she will cherish.

“It was so nice to go someplace different and have a team bonding moment and I was so proud because I think those three games were the best I’ve ever seen us play.”

Another highlight for Mia was last year when she scored the winning goal against Glenpool, giving the Roughers their first district victory in seven years.