JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Two Airmen here are currently looking to form a women's varsity soccer team comprised of players associated with all three Joint Base San Antonio installations.
Airman 1st Class Karen Torres, a biomedical equipment technician with the 59th Medical and Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Rebekkah Jandron, 502nd Air Base Wing Command Post Controller, want to field the first-ever JBSA Women's Varsity Soccer Team. Active duty members, dependents, and civilians with ties to JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland, and JBSA-Randolph may tryout for the team.
The idea started because both occasionally practice with the JBSA-Lackland men's varsity team. Karen's husband, Steven, is a midfielder on the team.
Torres and Jandron also play together in the Women's Soccer Association of San Antonio co-ed league, which they hope the JBSA women's varsity soccer team will join in the spring.
"We figured 'why can't the girls have a JBSA soccer team as well,'" Torres said.
"We wanted to form our own joint base women's soccer team so we can be on the same level with one another," Jandron said.
Torres said 15 women have contacted her about joining the team since she first advertised in the JBSA-Lackland Daily Bulletin Sept. 13. She said she is ideally looking for 20 women from each base to tryout.
Torres and Jandron are currently seeking approval to utilize the Defense Language Institute English Language Center field for team tryouts, Jandron said.
The two Airmen have already enlisted a coach who has over 40 years of playing and coaching experience at the Air Force level.
Phil Brown, 37th Training Wing chief of safety, said he wants to help get the team off the ground. The Belize native, who has played and coached at JBSA-Lackland and other installations during his 26 years in the Air Force, is a teammate of Torres and Jandron on their co-ed soccer team.
He encourages women to participate on the team to maintain fitness and build speed and endurance, as well as to build relationships.
Torres and Jandron agree with Brown on why ladies should tryout for the team.
"You can make friends from all over the military," Torres said. "Fitness wise, playing soccer is a pretty good workout. It's fun to play with someone you can relate to."
"Playing soccer helps with your fitness as far as run time because you are playing 90 minutes, and you are not just running; you are also sprinting," Jandron said. "It is also a great networking opportunity for not just military members, but for the community as well because you get to meet different people and immerse yourself in the life of San Antonio. I feel soccer is a huge part of the culture here."
If you are interested in trying out for the JBSA Women's Varsity Soccer Team, call Torres at 292-5103 for details.