Humboldt State University soccer fans are in for a treat this season, as three local Fortuna High School products are wearing the Green and Gold. Francisco "Frankie" Calderon, his cousin Martin Calderon, and Alejandro "Chico" Cortes Garcia are taking the pitch at HSU for the first time. Frankie comes by way of College of the Redwoods, while Martin and Garcia spent last year playing for Fortuna High School.
 
The three were difference makers for the Huskies, according to Fortuna High School Head Coach Danny Holmes.
 
"They were natural leaders when they stepped onto the pitch for me," said Holmes. "They bought into the philosophy of family and played the game with as much passion as I had for it."
 
Holmes said the three, who started together at Fortuna High for two years, laid the foundation for incoming kids in the program.
 
Frankie, Martin, and Chico were all named Humboldt-Del Norte League MVP at one point in their high school playing career, and all three were four-year starters for the Huskies.
 
"Since we had been playing on the same team as kids throughout high school, we knew that it was possible for us to continue playing at the college level together," said Frankie. Why HSU? "It was just about being able to represent where we were from and having a community that watched us grow while playing soccer. It's great that they can come out and support us and be able to come watch our games every weekend we have a home game."
 
As far as goals, Frankie says it's all about the team, and he would like to see them get a winning record and have HSU be able to make it to playoffs.
 
"It has always been in the back of our heads that HSU was an option, and at the end of the day, we talked about it, and we thought that this would be our best option. What better than to play with two of my best friends for another four years?" said Chico, having known his fellow Fortuna mates since he was 10 years old.
 
He echoes Frankie's sentiments regarding the team goals being of the utmost importance, namely to have a winning record and to make playoffs for the first time in team history.
 
"Having our community come out to games to support and make soccer a lot bigger has really motivated us to be better, make sure we're focused, and make sure they have a good time," Chico said.
 
Lumberjack Head Coach Fred Jungemann has had the trio on his radar screen for several years, and says that while it would be great to get some more local support as a result of the signings but, "that's not why they're here. They're here because they are good soccer players, and they are going to contribute to our team."
 
"We would get together and the closer we got to graduating from high school, Fred was talking to all three of us," said Martin. "It's been a dream for us three to play together at the college level, and Fred gave us the opportunity. I think it's the best decision that we've ever made."
 
"Humboldt State hasn't really recruited a lot of locals these past years, and it's great to get recruited by Humboldt and show the community that it is possible. Locals can play for Humboldt State, and we just want to be people to look up to so that the future generations of local youth can also play at universities."
 
Regarding tradition at Humboldt State, Martin said he wants his squad to be a winning team but, "we have to be good people first, and obviously have good chemistry between each other, be cool to one another, and do things out in the community." As an example, he uses the kids' camp that the team participated in this past week, in which the soccer team helped coach.
 
Frankie has made his mark early as the Jacks' leader with five points and 11 shots.
 
"We had talked about it, and I'm always selfish as a coach and teacher that I want them to stay local because I get to go watch them still," said Holmes, when asked about when staying local became a tangible reality for his players. "But I would say junior, senior year for all of them. If we have a chance to continue to bring Fortuna's community into it, and all come support them, let's see if we can do that. I think they wanted that."
 
Jungemann acknowledges the special situation that has occurred with three players from Humboldt County who are talented enough to succeed at the collegiate level and interested in putting their skills to work here to connect with their community on and off the pitch. He says that while each school that they play – offering Cal State LA and UC San Diego as examples – often will have student-athletes from nearby on their squads, in Humboldt that is a rarity. The HSU community will benefit from the Fortuna athletes' dedication to growing local soccer.