“I’ve alway loved playing sports, but soccer was the only one that I was really good at,” sophomore midfielder and forward Teya Marquez said.

Teya began playing soccer at three-years-old. While she joined other sports like volleyball, basketball, tennis, and dance, soccer is the one that always stuck out. Teya seriously began her soccer career playing at Wells Branch which later turned into the club, Fierce United.

“When we would play at the school it was super fun, we all did fun drills together,” senior Luchi Papasidero said. “It was a lot of passing and shooting drills, which were my favorite.”

At Fierce United, Teya would “play up” in teams meaning she would play with the older age group.

“When we were little she would always play up on my team with Luchi,” senior Mya Marquez said. “Teya has always been incredibly competitive”. 

Teya’s soccer career continued when she went through the rigorous tryouts for the varsity girls soccer team. 

“During preseason it’s hard, you just run around a lot,” Teya said. “Then we have a week of tryouts where we work on different things to see what team we’ll be on”

After tryouts, Teya made the varsity team as a Freshman. 

“It was nerve wracking, being a freshman on varsity,” Teya said. “But all my teammates and coaches constantly inspire me to keep playing soccer.”

Varsity soccer coach Mark Hinshaw has been coaching Teya for the past two years on the varsity team, where Marquez stands out for her encouraging and optimistic attitude. 

“Teya stands out as a player for her skill, her effort, and her incredibly positive attitude,” Hinshaw said. “She is unique in that she brings positivity to every training session and every match, and this lifts the players around her.”

The key to a good game for Teya is being in tune with the other players and feeling comfortable. 

“I love playing soccer here, it’s so much fun, I love the coach and the team’s really supportive,” Teya said. “Playing soccer can sometimes feel scary, but it’s better when you’re comfortable with your team—when you’re uncomfortable that 100% makes it harder”

For Teya, the atmosphere of games and energy of the team is just as important as the outcome of the game. 

“Highpoints are whenever we’re doing good and having fun,” Teya said. “It can be a low point when we’re doing really good but it’s just not fun, the team is a big part of what makes it fun.”

In January, The Austin American Statesman featured Teya in a segment called “Faces off the Field” highlighting Austin area high school-students athletes. 

“I had spoken with the newspaper prior to the piece, so I was aware of it, and I was alerted to its publication by assistant Coach Matt Hoover,” Hinshaw said. “I immediately shared it with her parents and told Teya how proud I was of her. She is a great representative for McNeil.”

The process for Teya to be a part of the article was special and something she is glad she was able to experience.

“At practice, coach Hinshaw came up to me and asked me to check my email and he told me that he had some exciting news,” Teya said. “When I checked, I saw that I had been invited to do it, it made me feel special and cool that they chose me.”

This moment for Marquez also provided a chance to get to know other high school athletes in the area.

“I met a girl from Westwood that we get to play against,” Teya said. “That’s really cool because now when we play I know her.”

While soccer is fun for Teya, it also can be a very mentally hard sport to play.

“When I don’t do well in a game I honestly feel like I’m letting the team down,” Teya said. “I think mentally, soccer can be hard sometimes. If you’re not in the right headspace then you’re not gonna have a good game”

Teya makes soccer a big part of her life, which can also cut time out from other aspects of her life.

“I’m [only] home when I’m sleeping because of soccer,” Teya said. “I have high school soccer then straight to club soccer during preseason. It’s sometimes hard to have a social life, but it’s worth it.”

Through soccer, Teya experiences growing and creating a community for herself.

“My favorite memories are getting to know my teammates and team dinners,” Teya said “Having fun is the best part of playing soccer and community is the biggest part of it all.”