‹‹ Colorado Matters

For these Latino and Latina athletes, soccer could be the gateway to higher education

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14min 56sec
Rachel Estabrook/CPR News
Maribelia Avalos, founding executive director of the CASA youth soccer club, at a game on March 18, 2023.

The CASA youth soccer club provides high-level competition and coaching to Latino and Latina student-athletes. Maribelia Avalos founded the club and says one key goal is to get them noticed by colleges that may offer them scholarships. But, she told Colorado Matters, "Playing a sport, it teaches you so much about leadership. And that's the greatest goal when it comes to what we do: Yes, we want them to go to college. But at the end of the day, you want to create great leaders in our community."