Student Athlete of the Week – Jada Barnes

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) - La Quinta striker Jada Barnes is this week's student athlete of the week.

"When I first made varsity, and I was in sophomore year, I actually did not get a lot of playing time, and because of that, that pushed me to use whatever playing time I had to my full capacity, my full potential," Barnes said. "I use that kind of as motivation to show what I really had."

Jada Barnes has been a playmaker throughout her three-year career, scoring over 30 points in that span, and coach Meza knew that Barnes was gonna be a star as soon as she stepped onto the field.

"She's a superstar, you said it," head coach Jorge Meza said. "She's, like I said, all on the field and off the field. She's good. She's a good student. She's a good family girl as well."

After not making the team her freshman year, Barnes never looked back, and it came down to two factors that made her the player she is today.

"I've practiced for this, and it's again mentality and confidence that I use to keep playing despite the long minutes and the hard sprints," Barnes said. "Just keep going with that."

Being the 2nd best goal scorer in the DEL last year, the coaching staff knows that Barnes has set a standard for all the future girls' soccer players at Laquinta High School.

"She's been doing great ever since she started varsity," head coach Meza said. "She's one of the captains, and she's very good with everybody when it comes to helping out the team and everything."

We are always looking for Student-Athlete of the Week nominations. If you know a senior who should be featured next, be sure to contact the KESQ sports department.

The Student-Athlete of the Week segment airs every Tuesday.