Panther footballers make their goal

While refereeing a volleyball game in Saratoga last season, Rawlins soccer coach Christian Mills was approached by Saratoga High School freshman Kennison Spiering about joining the Rawlins high school soccer team. "I just asked him if I could come up and play soccer with them," Spiering said.

Mills was excited with the young freshman's enthusiasm and supported the idea since he had been instrumental in lobbying for and starting up the Rawlins high school program several years back

"(Coach Mills) said it would be a great idea for me to come over and play and told me to recruit anyone I could," Spiering said.

Spiering did just that when she found fellow freshman, Preston Dew and told him about the opportunity. "I hadn't played soccer in a while and was excited for the opportunity to play the game again," said Dew.

Saratoga's additions to the Rawlins have more than a name to add to the roster since each of them brings a certain amount of prior experience to their teams.

Spiering had previously played little league soccer and has attended mini-camps during her summers to keep up her skills on the field.

According to Mills, Dew has already seen some varsity team minutes in the goalkeeper position and has played an entire game as goalkeeper for the junior varsity team in their match versus Lander. Dew says his goal this season is to block as many shots as he can and that he chose goalkeeper because, "that's the position my dad played."

"I just hope that I can contribute to the team and help us reach our goal of making the state championships," Spiering said of her aspirations for her freshman year of soccer.