Cv’S Kochendorfer Keeps It In Perspective

Rebecca Kochendorfer came late to soccer, becoming a player in the sixth grade only by doing a favor for a friend.

The Central Valley outside midfielder is also a rarity. For the past three years she has not played club soccer, but for the Bears only, a team otherwise filled by young and experienced premier league players.

Kochendorfer is the only senior starter on the Greater Spokane League’s third-place finisher, said her coach Craig Griffiths,.

“She has great speed, is physically strong and gives you 110 percent on the field,” he said.

Her position requires the ability to attack offensively while at the same time dropping back to help with defense.

“She runs 100-yard sprints at times,” said Griffiths.

Her sprinter’s speed and toughness are major reasons she is able to play her position so well. Yet soccer was a sport Kochendorfer discovered quite by accident.

“Actually, my friend wanted to try out for a select team and she just wanted someone to go with her,” said Kochendorfer. “I’d never played before and had no shin guards or cleats. I was wearing jean shorts and a tank top.”

Kochendorfer tried out, too, and made the team. Her friend didn’t. But rather than get caught up in a sport that can require a year-round commitment and travel throughout the state, Kochendorfer has succeeded while keeping things in perspective.

Not only does she play soccer, but she also runs track for the Bears. She works and is heavily involved in the CV marching band program, which travels weekends just as select and premier soccer players must.

“I really didn’t have time, so I don’t play select soccer any more,” said Kochendorfer. “I just play for CV.”

Friday afternoon she played in CV’s final league match against Ferris, then drove with her mother to Everett to join the band in a weekend competition.

It hasn’t seemed to affect her ability to have an impact as one of the quickest Bear athletes and an adept passer. She reasons that it boils down to whether a person has endowed athletic ability and skills.

“I don’t even know why me,” said the athletically gifted Kochendorfer.

Perhaps it is because, by her own admission, she doesn’t like to lose.

Two years after becoming a soccer player, Kochendorfer turned out for track and field in junior high. As a freshman the next year she ran on CV’s sizzling 1:42.7 800-meter relay team, which placed third in state.

An elbow broken during select soccer prevented her from running track as a sophomore. When she returned last year, she figured the sprint spots were taken and agreed to run the 300-meter hurdles to help the team.

Though they are a grueling event, Kochendorfer nonetheless ran them in 48 seconds flat as CV won its first GSL track team championship.

The following week she fell, but got up and finished fourth to advance to regionals. She also ran on CV’s fourth-place state 800 relay finisher.

Last year CV finished fourth in GSL soccer, then upset Mead and Ferris to qualify for its first state tournament in years.

On Wednesday, the Bears were hopeful of a first-round playoff win to advance to Friday’s game, which determines yet another state entrant.

“Last year was a really big deal because it was the first year we had done it in so long,” said Kochendorfer. “This year is big because I’d like to try to have a good season to end my career with.”