School board sides with soccer player

BRADEN RIVER — There’s rarely a day that goes by that Braden River High freshman Carley Engelberger isn’t kicking around a soccer ball.

From the moment she first stepped onto the field as an energetic 3-year-old, Carley has been anticipating the day when she would finally be able to represent her school on the soccer field.

But Carley’s dream of playing high school soccer under the guidance of her father, Don, the Lady Pirates varsity coach, nearly derailed three months ago. In mid-August, Engelberger learned of an FHSAA rule involving his daughter and a possible recruiting violation.

Last year, Carley played sporadically for her father’s Braden River Soccer Club U14 girls team. As a result, Carley, who attends Braden River because her father is both the girls soccer coach and a social studies teacher, was deemed ineligible to play at the beginning of the year.

“There’s a rule that is in place, and the idea is basically that I can’t be coaching at the club and recruit players to come here,” Engelberger said. “The rule is definitely in place, and I understand that’s the rule.”

The news was especially devastating for Carley, who also was reeling from the loss of her 11-year-old cousin who played soccer because of her.

“At first, I was shocked,” Carley said. “Then, I was kind of frustrated and then disappointed. I was like ‘What do you mean I can’t play?’ I’ve loved the idea of coming up with my dad and playing high school soccer. I went through (multiple) stages of feelings.”

Shortly after learning of the violation, Engelberger approached Braden River Athletic Director Bob Bowling, who said Carley was ineligible. Although Bowling told Engelberger he could appeal the decision, the odds of winning weren’t high.

After discussing the matter with his daughter, Engelberger appealed the decision and went to court Nov. 2.

“At first, I thought maybe they’ll make an exception,” Carley said. “He teaches and, of course, I’m his daughter. … I wasn’t very confident though. I started to doubt and prepared myself for the worst.”

Engelberger presented his daughter’s case before the court at the Manatee County School Board. Bowling also spoke and the Braden River Soccer Club sent a letter on Carley’s behalf.

Their persistence paid off. The jurors sided with Engelberger and his daughter.

“They understood — they got it,” Engelberger said. “I cried. All of the emotion and what we went through … it was very emotional. She plays because of me and then she wasn’t going to be able to play because of me.”

Shortly after receiving the court’s decision, Engelberger told his daughter the news.

“I came down the stairs and he said, ‘Go get your uniform; you’ve got practice,’” Carley said. “My mouth dropped open.”

Since then, Carley has returned to the JV sidelines where she has helped lead Braden River to a 2-2 record. Later this season Carley hopes to join her father on the sidelines in preparation for the district tournament.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].