Moorpark College Men’s Soccer is mid-way through their season and team captain Michael Trejo has led them through their victories and losses.

On a team of 26 players, Trejo has overcome a life of doubt. He leads the way for the Raiders as they enter the soccer field day to day.

“I always had people tell me I couldn’t make it. That I should give up. They said I couldn’t make a high school team. Eventually I became a full time starter and captain of Birmingham High School,” Trejo said.

Most athletes will go through struggles on the field and they will be doubted for their play. Trejo has taken this doubt and turned it into a positive experience.

“Michael motivates us by his actions as a captain on the field and off the field he is the Vice President of the Captains Council,” Trejo’s Moorpark College Teammate Edy Osoy said.

Trejo comes from a tough background; he was born and raised in the ghettos of Los Angeles. Poverty, drugs, and gangs led Trejo to the soccer field. Through soccer, he had found a safe haven and a distraction from the outside world

Trejo’s positive attitude and hard work ethic has paved the way for his leading role in life on and off the field. He felt that coming from nothing and having the chance to become someone important in this world gave him that edge to get him to where he is today.

“All I would work for was one opportunity to prove everyone my belonging,” Trejo said.

Trejo is not only a star athlete at Moorpark College, but he also excels in the classroom. He is a scholar athlete and plans to further his education by receiving his bachelors and master’s degree in kinesiology from a university. His dream would be to first play professional soccer and then become either an athletic director or a head coach.

With Trejo’s help Moorpark has an overall record of 6-5-1 halfway through the season.