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Austin Achieve boys' soccer coach Greta Kwedar has seen eight variations of the roster come and go since taking the job in 2016, but none has been as dominant as her current one.
As they tore through the playoffs, she felt a swelling of pride, calling the run to the UIL high school 4A Division II State Final some form of "magic." However, a tinge of sadness poked through. Win or lose, Thursday's game against Gainesville will be the final game they ever play together.
"This team is just so special. They work so hard and care for each other," Kwedar said. "Whatever happens on Thursday, they've made it and deserve to be there."
Kwedar, a former Division I soccer player for the Texas Longhorns, emphasizes precise technique and possession-based style in her coaching, with communication and teamwork being critical. Achieve is a veteran-laden group led by 12 seniors, most of whom have been playing together since their freshman year. Their accumulated experience allows Kwedar's tactics to flow freely, leading the team to a 22-4-1 record and a 21-game winning streak.
More: Texas high school boys soccer: 35 Austin-area players to watch this season
Up front, Achieve is spoiled by a trio of senior forwards: Fabricio Benitez, Emmanuel "Manny" Aranda and Fredy Lozano. Each of them has surpassed the 20-goal mark, something Kwedar, who helped found the program at the school, hasn't seen yet.
The Texas-ex knows several dominoes had to fall perfectly for the Achieve to reach this point. There's no guarantee they replicate this kind of run in the next few years. That's why when the game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Georgetown's Birkelbach Field, she doesn't want there to be any regrets.
"I just want all of us to enjoy it," Kwedar said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of the kids that I work with, myself included."
Achieve's last loss came against Northeast Early College. That's when Kwedar recognized her team had a different vibe from years past.
Her boys refused to give up, even as Northeast overwhelmed them, and the result became clear. Despite injuries and poor play, the Polar Bears' competitive spirit stayed strong.
"They just kept fighting," Kwedar said. "I saw different people step up, and they've continued that momentum."
Kwedar always preaches a never-quit mindset, but she says this development came from the team's collective focus on winning.
"It could be the last opportunity to be in the finals," Aranda said. "We're hungry for this and really want to win."
Achieve won its next match, and things began to click. The boys regularly scored more than four goals a game, beating most opponents by two and eventually defeating Northeast 4-1 in a rematch. Everything went smoothly for the rest of the regular season until the playoffs, when Kwedar felt pain in her abdomen after a win over Cole.
Kwedar headed to the emergency room, where doctors removed her appendix. Worried about her health, Aranda said the team sent her flowers. The incident hardened their motivation — they couldn't afford to lose before Kwedar's return to the field.
"I've been very in and out because I was obviously in the hospital for a while," Kwedar said. "I think that kind of ignited the seniors a little bit."
The Polar Bears are used to fighting for Kwedar, who has unique challenges as a woman coaching boys' soccer. When she first began, the coach had to adjust to the style of play and overcome the stigma of her position. She eventually earned the respect of the schools in the area, showcasing the knowledge stemming from her college background and leading Achieve to the regional finals in 2023.
Even so, Kwedar said she occasionally receives verbal jabs and disrespect from opposing players, coaches and referees who look down on her for her gender. She avoids conflict in those situations, opting to prioritize Achieve's performance.
"I find it very messed up that just because she's a lady, she doesn't have the same or equal treatment as a guy (coach)," senior goalkeeper Victor Escobar said.
Though Aranda admires his mentor's ability to ignore others and take the higher ground, he said the team does not take such comments lightly.
"That really gets us fired up," Aranda said. "We really love her like that, and we would do anything for her so she can be as happy as she wants."
Achieve is hungry to make history Thursday, but a talented Gainesville team poses a significant threat to its championship chances.
Escobar will be devastated whether or not they raise the trophy, he told the American Statesman. The final whistle Thursday will signal the end of the seniors' high school soccer careers and a magical season. There's no measuring what this journey has meant to Achieve.
"I know that whatever happened this season, I put my all into it," Escobar said. "Not just me, my whole team, coaches, everyone ... we sacrificed everything to be part of this team and to make it this far."
Thursday-Saturday, Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex, $15 single game, $35 all-tournament
Thursday — Class 4A DII girls: Wimberley (23-1-2) vs. Canyon Randall (22-5-1), 11 a.m.; Class 4A DII boys: Austin Achieve (22-4-1) vs. Gainesville (18-3-3), 1:30 p.m.
Friday — Class 5A DII girls: Cedar Park (23-2-1) vs. Frisco Wakeland (25-0-1), 11 a.m.; Class 5A DII boys: Liberty Hill (15-7-7) vs. Highland Park (20-1-2), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday — Class 6A DII boys: Vandegrift (20-3-3) vs. Mesquite (19-3-4), 1:30 p.m.; Class 6A DI girls: Lake Travis (22-1-1) vs. Coppell (21-2-3), 4 p.m.
See more of Caleb Yum's work here and follow him on X. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin Achieve faces Gainesville in UIL 4A boys soccer state finals
Continue reading...
As they tore through the playoffs, she felt a swelling of pride, calling the run to the UIL high school 4A Division II State Final some form of "magic." However, a tinge of sadness poked through. Win or lose, Thursday's game against Gainesville will be the final game they ever play together.
"This team is just so special. They work so hard and care for each other," Kwedar said. "Whatever happens on Thursday, they've made it and deserve to be there."
Kwedar, a former Division I soccer player for the Texas Longhorns, emphasizes precise technique and possession-based style in her coaching, with communication and teamwork being critical. Achieve is a veteran-laden group led by 12 seniors, most of whom have been playing together since their freshman year. Their accumulated experience allows Kwedar's tactics to flow freely, leading the team to a 22-4-1 record and a 21-game winning streak.
More: Texas high school boys soccer: 35 Austin-area players to watch this season
Up front, Achieve is spoiled by a trio of senior forwards: Fabricio Benitez, Emmanuel "Manny" Aranda and Fredy Lozano. Each of them has surpassed the 20-goal mark, something Kwedar, who helped found the program at the school, hasn't seen yet.
The Texas-ex knows several dominoes had to fall perfectly for the Achieve to reach this point. There's no guarantee they replicate this kind of run in the next few years. That's why when the game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Georgetown's Birkelbach Field, she doesn't want there to be any regrets.
"I just want all of us to enjoy it," Kwedar said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of the kids that I work with, myself included."
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A different kind of Achieve team
Achieve's last loss came against Northeast Early College. That's when Kwedar recognized her team had a different vibe from years past.
Her boys refused to give up, even as Northeast overwhelmed them, and the result became clear. Despite injuries and poor play, the Polar Bears' competitive spirit stayed strong.
"They just kept fighting," Kwedar said. "I saw different people step up, and they've continued that momentum."
Kwedar always preaches a never-quit mindset, but she says this development came from the team's collective focus on winning.
"It could be the last opportunity to be in the finals," Aranda said. "We're hungry for this and really want to win."
Achieve won its next match, and things began to click. The boys regularly scored more than four goals a game, beating most opponents by two and eventually defeating Northeast 4-1 in a rematch. Everything went smoothly for the rest of the regular season until the playoffs, when Kwedar felt pain in her abdomen after a win over Cole.
Kwedar headed to the emergency room, where doctors removed her appendix. Worried about her health, Aranda said the team sent her flowers. The incident hardened their motivation — they couldn't afford to lose before Kwedar's return to the field.
"I've been very in and out because I was obviously in the hospital for a while," Kwedar said. "I think that kind of ignited the seniors a little bit."
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Getting 'fired up' for their coach
The Polar Bears are used to fighting for Kwedar, who has unique challenges as a woman coaching boys' soccer. When she first began, the coach had to adjust to the style of play and overcome the stigma of her position. She eventually earned the respect of the schools in the area, showcasing the knowledge stemming from her college background and leading Achieve to the regional finals in 2023.
Even so, Kwedar said she occasionally receives verbal jabs and disrespect from opposing players, coaches and referees who look down on her for her gender. She avoids conflict in those situations, opting to prioritize Achieve's performance.
"I find it very messed up that just because she's a lady, she doesn't have the same or equal treatment as a guy (coach)," senior goalkeeper Victor Escobar said.
Though Aranda admires his mentor's ability to ignore others and take the higher ground, he said the team does not take such comments lightly.
"That really gets us fired up," Aranda said. "We really love her like that, and we would do anything for her so she can be as happy as she wants."
Achieve is hungry to make history Thursday, but a talented Gainesville team poses a significant threat to its championship chances.
Escobar will be devastated whether or not they raise the trophy, he told the American Statesman. The final whistle Thursday will signal the end of the seniors' high school soccer careers and a magical season. There's no measuring what this journey has meant to Achieve.
"I know that whatever happened this season, I put my all into it," Escobar said. "Not just me, my whole team, coaches, everyone ... we sacrificed everything to be part of this team and to make it this far."
UIL state soccer finals
Thursday-Saturday, Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex, $15 single game, $35 all-tournament
Thursday — Class 4A DII girls: Wimberley (23-1-2) vs. Canyon Randall (22-5-1), 11 a.m.; Class 4A DII boys: Austin Achieve (22-4-1) vs. Gainesville (18-3-3), 1:30 p.m.
Friday — Class 5A DII girls: Cedar Park (23-2-1) vs. Frisco Wakeland (25-0-1), 11 a.m.; Class 5A DII boys: Liberty Hill (15-7-7) vs. Highland Park (20-1-2), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday — Class 6A DII boys: Vandegrift (20-3-3) vs. Mesquite (19-3-4), 1:30 p.m.; Class 6A DI girls: Lake Travis (22-1-1) vs. Coppell (21-2-3), 4 p.m.
See more of Caleb Yum's work here and follow him on X. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin Achieve faces Gainesville in UIL 4A boys soccer state finals
Continue reading...
