Commentary: No Mystery How Jenkins Returned to 4A Title Game

Sun. February 10, 2013 at 2:00 a.m. | By Bill Kemp

BILL KEMP

I learned a long time ago if you want to solve a mystery don't waste your time asking all the who, how, when, where and what stuff. Just ask, "why," and if you get the "why" everything else will just zoom in behind.

But not this time, I could have cared less about the why. I wanted to know "how," and I had a strong sense a lot of other people did, too.

I wanted to know how in the world a high school soccer team that lost seven starting seniors could get back into the Class 4A state championship game for the second-consecutive year.

I mean, if you do the math it doesn't make sense. Did anyone see this coming back in November?

And so I asked George Jenkins girls soccer head coach Marissa Kazbour — twice — and at a time when it hurts to have people asking you questions, at the post-game press conference, after another state championship defeat.

I figured if I asked the same question twice — a few minutes apart — I'd get the entire answer.

So here was the first response:

"All the credit goes to the kids," Kazbour said. "They came and worked hard. I can't ask for anything more from them. We have a freshman in the goal, three out of four on the back line are freshmen, and our outside midfielder is a freshman. I mean you can't ask for anything more. I think they did a fantastic job and all the credit goes to the kids,."

It's true the freshmen were fantastic. But I knew there was more.

So here was the second response two minutes later:

"You're looking at the two right here, Lauren (Greene) and Jessie (Scarpa)," Kazbour said, as she pointed to her two top players.

Yep, it's true; I was looking at the two — two who are returning next year for more.

"I'm really proud of all the girls for just getting there because no one expected us to get here losing seven seniors," Scarpa said. "It's just heartbreaking. We know what it feels like, it happened twice. But it's just going to fuel the fire for next year."

I bet. So is the third time a charm?

"We can. We can get there. Hopefully," Kazbour said, who immediately cracked a smile knowing the future is bright for a bunch of freshmen, two junior forwards and a pretty darn-good coach.

Yes, the coach. You see someone had to direct those freshmen and someone had to groom that duo. And I did the math. The Eagles played for a state championship twice.

So, you see, if you're a George Jenkins' soccer player, parent, fan or friend, it's not a time for sadness, it's a time to start planning for next year.