Nothing quite makes a lasting memory in the mind of a young athlete like winning a state championship. Glenwood School took the Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) state title in boys soccer in April and playing the entire way on the road to the championship was freshman Thomas Camacho.
Glenwood’s soccer program only developed into separate boys and girls teams three years ago. Right from the beginning Camacho has been a part of the boys varsity team even though he was only in the seventh grade his first season.
“I had been playing soccer for a long time and had good technical skills. Since I was more developed in playing soccer I was a starter for the boys team,” says Camacho, 15.
Years of playing soccer for recreation and travel teams has given Camacho a vast amount of experience. He continues to play soccer in an almost year round fashion, recently picking up again with the Auburn Thunder travel soccer club after a few weeks off from the Gator championship season.
It is perhaps his time with teams outside of Glenwood that have given Camacho the kind of confidence that allows him to be at ease playing with and against older athletes in school competition. The almost 6 foot tall rising sophomore feels he has an adaptable personality. He can fit in just about anywhere a coach wants to place him and he has such a mental command of the game, he is usually focused on what needs to be done instead of who is playing.
“I’m not scared when I get out there. In my mind, I am thinking, ‘ok, this is what I need to do to help out here and we need to do this’ which keeps me too busy to think about anything else,” says Camacho with a slight smile.
He tried baseball and did a stint as an Upward Bound basketball player. Neither sport captivated him like soccer. When he got to middle school age Camacho began playing soccer for the Gators and discovered he couldn’t get enough of the sport. He continued travel soccer which has placed him now in the U18 level because of his skills.
Last fall friends talked Camacho into becoming a member of the Glenwood Junior Varsity football team. His soccer skills served him well on special teams as a kicker. Then, Camacho got a chance at another position that, well, turned into a great story.
“I was late to many of the practices and I first started off as kicker and that was about it. Then coach said to go hop in as wide receiver. And my first two plays I got a touchdown. I had no clue what I was doing. He just said run down the field and catch the ball when it comes to you. It was a new experience. After that I kicked the extra point. And after that, I did the kickoff,” he recalls with a laugh.
With that kind of success, it might be concluded Camacho is headed for more time on the gridiron. At this point, he isn’t really sure.
His parents were not high school athletes as both participated in band programs. Camacho has taken up a similar pathway and plays saxophone in the Glenwood band. Often in the fall he would miss part of marching band practice to attend football practice or vice versa. At one point, he began wearing his football practice clothes to band practice in order to make it both. To continue to pursue football would eventually cause him to have to put aside his musical talents in favor of the fall sport. Fortunately, concert band season doesn’t interfere with soccer.
This spring Camacho was the only freshman on the team. He was mainly used on the soccer field in the left defense position with some game time at right midfield. Camacho prefers central defense but loves the sport so much, he just wants to be in the game somewhere. When asked why soccer is such a passion, the talented athlete gives a surprising answer.
“You learn so much in soccer,” says Camacho.
Learning is apparently another thing Camacho does well. At the end of his freshman year he held a 4.0 Grade Point Average and declared math to be his favorite subject. His future plans are a little uncertain at this point but he does have a goal in mind for the remaining years he has at Glenwood.
“Another championship in soccer. Maybe more than one. I think we have the people to make it happen,” he says with a smile.
Getting to know Thomas
Family: Parents, Jennifer and Luis; one sister, Katie, 19
Pets: Two cats and a dog
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite place to eat: Olive Garden
Music he listens to: Don’t have much time to listen to music but mainly classical
Person he most admires: My soccer coach
Best soccer game memory: State championship game in Montgomery. Last five minutes we knew we had it.
Best thing about attending Glenwood School: Great academics, great teachers and great athletics
Columbus Valley/Freshman Focus/June 2015
Thomas Camacho
Glenwood School
Smiths, Alabama
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
