They say dream big.
Nichole Kibel is doing that.
At just 14 years old, the Dolores native is well on her way to achieving her dream.
The young soccer player discovered her passion when she was only 4.
Kibel loves soccer so much, she eventually wants to play in the Olympics. She has definitely taken a step in the right direction, with that third step being the charm.
Kibel made the 2012 New Mexico Olympic Development Program girls youth soccer team. A total of 297 kids tried out. Kibel was one of 18 selected to the team after not making the cut it 2010 and 2011.
Im excited, said Kibel, who competed against kids from some of New Mexicos major cities. When I found out, I started crying. I never thought I would actually make it that far when I tried out. Its, like, a good feeling to be one of the top 18 players.
Now, the youngster will travel to Moscow, Idaho, July 1-6, to compete for a spot on the Region-4 team. The top 30 players will be selected from the camp. After that, players will try to make the national team.
I just want to show off what I have, I guess, Kibel said. My coach Chris (Wolf) said, To show them what us girls from Montezuma County are made of.
Kibel played center back defender for the local Tri-City Soccer Wolfpack. She played midfield and forward during the NMODP tryouts for coach Jimmy Hall, who is an assistant coach on the Fort Lewis College girls soccer team.
Chris Wolf was Kibels coach for the Wolfpack. She has been working with Wolf and Montezuma-Cortez High School coach Nate Ross to prepare for the next level of high school.
Although Kibel will be a freshman at Dolores this fall, shell wear orange and black on the soccer field.
Dolores doesnt have a soccer team, so Kibel will suit up for coach Ross and the M-CHS Lady Panthers. She feels her NMODP competition has greatly prepared her for the next level.
The girls I play with now, most of them are taller than me, Kibel said. They get rough. You go to Cortez games here, you can tell that theyre rough. Thats how the girls are down there (in New Mexico).
Besides enhancing her soccer skills, Kibel has been working out to be in high school shape. She does a program of sit-ups, pushups and runs a mile a day, in addition to running on the soccer field.
Im really excited. I want to play at the beginning of next year, Kibel said. I want to make varsity. But if I dont, thats OK. Id stick with the girls Ive played with (on the Wolfpack) on JV and build a stronger team, so that when Im a junior, we have a strong team.
Beyond high school, Nichole, the daughter of Chad and Laci Kibel, wants to play in college, then professionally and possibly the Olympics.
So far, Kibel is showing that dreams can come true.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.