MINT HILL – For some players, soccer is just a game, but for others, it is a game for life. Over the years since Rocky River High School opened, many great players have come from their program. Kimberly Olvera started to attend Rocky River when the school opened, transferring from Independence High School. She was a part of the first class to graduate from Rocky River in 2012. During her time at Rocky River, their soccer team did not have the best record, but it never stopped her from pursuing her dream of playing soccer at a college level. Kim was able to move forward and play soccer at a college level. Even after graduating and to this day, Kim plays soccer each weekend with a group of people of all ages with the same love for the game.  That is where she had the opportunity to meet another player with a similar story. 

“I was part of the first graduating class at Rocky River High School back in 2012,” said Olvera. “It was an exciting time as I was the first ever player on the girl’s soccer team to commit and continue my soccer career at the college level. I think it is amazing that 10 years later the girl’s soccer program has another player going on to play college soccer. I met Jamayia through a local soccer team and she’s a very talented player,” she continues, expressing her hopes for the support of the soccer program in the future especially for Jamayia Brown. “I wish her the best at Greensboro College. I hope that the community continues to show their support to the Rocky River High School girls soccer program during the spring seasons. I’m thankful for the support I received during my time at RRHS, it allowed me to pursue my academic and athletic career at Pfeiffer University.”

Jamayia Brown is from the graduating class of 2022 at Rocky River High School and plays weekend soccer with Kim. Jamayia has a similar story to tell. She worked very hard in her soccer career playing at a high school level playing club soccer and weekend soccer. Even through many trying sessions starting with a transfer in her sophomore year to Rocky River and through COVID, which changed the athletic world for quite some time, Jamayia was able to shine through.

“No matter the circumstances that you are put in, always play your part,” advocates Jamayia Brown. She never stopped loving the game and knew that she wanted to continue her future playing at higher levels than she had experienced before. The preservice that she had to continue her career in college was great, through help with contacts from club soccer and making her own contacts she was able to get offers to make that dream come true. In the spring of 2022, she accepted an offer from Greensboro University. She knew it was the perfect fit from the academic to the soccer program all the pieces just fell into place. She achieved her goal.