Alief Taylor's Jefferson Benitez
For those who actively compete, each one can remember when they first kicked a ball and began to foster a deep-rooted passion for the game.
Alief Taylor senior Jefferson Benitez is no exception.
“My first memories were of me playing soccer,” he said. “My family has always been into it and it’s been a part of my life since I could walk. We’ve got a lot of relatives so we’d go to the park every day and play. From then on, I’ve been a part of a team.
“That’s not to say I haven’t been through some tough battles with soccer. But that love for the sport never fades. I feel free when I’m out on the field, so that keeps me motivated to stick with it.”
As the team’s leading midfielder and one of its various captains who received an all-district honorable mention a year ago, he has gradually discovered his voice on the pitch, over the four years he’s spent with the Lions.
Bradley C, Collier (VYPE)
“Since joining this program, I’ve really noticed my growth in several areas,” said Benitez. “Compared to how I was at first, I’ve been able to open up and mature in a lot of ways, thanks to Coach (Anthony) Khan. It’s taken some time but I feel like I know myself better at this point and who I want to be.”
Like so many who have followed FIFA, Benitez has grown up as a ride-or-die FC Barcelona fan, while idolizing one of the greatest talents ever to exist, Lionel Messi, whose number he now shares.
Given Benitez’s background in the sport, one might assume that’s the path he wishes to pursue.
However, he’s ultimately decided to take an even more admirable route.
“I intend to join the Marines after I graduate,” he said. “That’s been a dream of mine for so long. I want to be the first in my family to join the armed forces, and be a part of something greater than myself. It’s going to be on my shoulders and I’m ready to work for it.”
But back to Alief Taylor.
The Lions went 15-7-3 in 2023, which was capped off by an appearance in the UIL-6A Area Round where they would narrowly fall to Humble.
That respectable performance is something Benitez and his teammates will aim to build upon this winter.
“To be honest, I’m really confident in this team’s ability this year,” he said. “I think we all know what Coach Khan’s plan is and how to execute, which should guide us to the next level. I feel like we’re going to make it farther this season, even though we’ll be playing some tougher competition. I trust my teammates, so I’m excited for the challenge.”
Benitez hasn’t been one to shy away from adversity thus far. It stands to reason that the goal might just be one he achieves in the near future.
Alief Elsik's Chi Bui
“I just started swimming during my sophomore year,” he said. “It was something my cousin got me interested in and I found it to be really fun and competitive. I hadn’t really done it before so I was pretty awful to begin with. But, I’ve gotten better, so that has kept me in it up to this point.”
Picking up an unfamiliar sport is difficult enough as it is.
Doing so while acclimating to a new home and culture, as Bui has, is another ordeal, entirely.
“I actually moved here from my home country of Vietnam just two years ago,” said Bui. “Just like swimming, I’m still adjusting to a new lifestyle. The hardest part has been the language barrier. Growing in this different environment hasn’t always been easy, but I think I’m finally beginning to get used to it.”
Of course, living in the U.S. does have its benefits.
Doug Brown (VYPE)
“The best part of living here is, definitely, the food. Buc-ees is my favorite so far, but I also like Chipotle and Whataburger. There’s so much to choose from and I’ve really grown to appreciate the variety.”
Now that he’s been properly introduced to the American way, Bui will look to continue honing his skills in the water, entering his junior year.
“The main goal for me now is to try to make Regionals,” he said. “I wasn’t able to get there last year. But, I know that if I can keep improving and learning, then I can at least do well in the district in order to potentially reach that level.”
Time will tell if Bui can accomplish that feat. However, the progress he’s made as a student-athlete and immigrant is nothing short of remarkable.
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