OTHELLO – Othello Huskies boys soccer player Jose Cabrera idolizes Lionel Messi, a world-renowned soccer player who used to play for the Barcelona Football Club. He can remember from a young age a play that followed the superstar athlete to this day.  

In April 2007, Barcelona took the field at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, to take on Getafe in the Spanish Copa del Rey semifinals, according to ESPN. Over 53,000 fans packed the stadium for the match and watched their star player, Messi, lead their team to victory.  

In the first half, Messi made a huge play for his team. After receiving a pass at midfield, he dribbled the ball past five defenders, including the goalkeeper, to secure Barcelona’s second goal of the game. He utilized quick reflexes and fundamentals to single-handedly outperform half of Getafe’s defenders.  

This highlight from Messi’s career has left a lasting impression on many fans and young soccer players like Cabrera.  

“I admire the way Messi can go around five or six players with ease and then finish with a shot on goal or with a goal,” Cabrera said.  

Cabrera, a senior, served as the Huskies' main striker and central attacking midfielder. He was named the Central Washington Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-Conference. In his career, he has notched 63 goals, 29 of which came this past season.  

“We've had some talented players come through maybe every 10 years, but not with his story, he's gone through a lot, he's suffered a lot, and throughout it, he's come up on top,” head coach Bernie Garza said.  

Cabrera has little free time; he drives from his grandmother’s in Basin City to go to school at Othello. From there, he goes to work for a landscaping business and back to Othello for soccer practice. Cabrera said he’s not able to start homework until late evening most days.  

“It's an obligation, like for bills, gas, a cell phone, this truck,” Cabrera said.  

According to Cabrera, he lives with his grandmother in Othello, but for him to have a phone or his truck, he has to take on the financial responsibility himself.  

“For me as a coach, it just hits hard where he has to do all that, and then still perform at such a high level, and then after he comes out from a three or four-hour workday and still expect him to practice hard,” Garza said.  

Garza called him a workaholic. He said he has seen Cabrera show up to practice after work and still tries to practice despite being hurt or dealing with wear and tear from playing soccer. At times, it’s a battle to get Cabrera to rest, according to Garza. 

Cabrera’s dedication to soccer has led him to become part of their opponent’s game plan. Throughout the spring season, Cabera dealt with several players teaming up on him whenever he got the ball.  

Against Franklin Pierce in the first round of the state tournament May 20, Cabera was flanked by two defenders. They were physical, but Cabrera took them on without hesitation. He returned the physicality on the field before being tripped up and earning a penalty kick, which he successfully scored.  

Cabrera welcomes that level of competition; the way he sees it, it means he's doing something right.  

“It’s just motivating, that that tells me that I'm a good player and that I can beat him, and then I will, and I did, so when I’m not surrounded by players, I’m like, ‘Why are they not marking me,’” Cabrera said.  

According to Cabrera, it took him a while to build the confidence that he has now as a player. He could recall when he used to be afraid of facing another player one-on-one and now takes on double and triple teams routinely.  

As his career at Othello ends, Cabrera looks to focus on pursuing soccer at a professional level. He had the opportunity to pursue professional soccer when he was 12, but did not take it because he wanted to remain close to his family. Despite being encouraged by his parents to do it, he chose not to. He said family is everything to him.  

Now that high school is ending, he sees now as his last opportunity to try his luck in a professional career. Many academies take players at a young age, like 12, and train them to be ready for the pros once they reach adulthood. Cabrera is 18 now; in one sense, he would be joining the ranks late.  

He said his dream is to play for Club America, a professional club based in Mexico City. The plan would be to attend tryouts held in Mexico City, where hundreds of other athletes will travel to try their luck. Despite the large pool of competition, Cabrera is not intimidated by it.  

“I think if he does that, they'll see what kind of talent he has, and they'll get him,” Garza said.  

As he prepares to graduate, Cabrera reflected on his accomplishments at Othello and attributed his support system to his ability to succeed.  

“It's not all about me; my grandparents have given me a home in order to live and without that, I wouldn't be here,” Cabrera said.  

    Jose Cabrera, 12 at the time of this picture, poses for a photo with his dad. Cabrera first began playing soccer when he was 10 years old.
  

    Jose Cabrera lines up a penalty kick against Franklin Pierce. Cabrera scored 29 goals this season for the Huskies.
  

    Jose Cabrera gathers with family members for a photo. Cabrera lives with family in Othello while other relatives live in Mexico City.
  

    Jose Cabera fires off a shot on goal and scores for the Huskies. Cabrera pulled off a decorated high school career while balancing school and a job as well as playing soccer.