Gunnison Middle School kicks off its first girls’ soccer team

Kanae Haneishi has dedicated her life to researching justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in physical education and sports coaching. Originally from Tokyo, she moved to the United States to play soccer at a university level. She won a silver medal at the World University Games with the Japanese National Team, won the NCAA D2 National Championship, and played for a semi-pro team in New York City for 8 years as a team captain. She has taught kinesiology, physical education, and teacher education at multiple schools while coaching women’s soccer teams.

​When Haneishi moved to Gunnison five years ago to teach Exercise and Sports Science at Western Colorado University, she was shocked to learn that the schools didn’t offer girls’ soccer. If they wanted to play, they were required to participate on the boys’ team. After living and breathing women's and girls’ soccer her whole life, Haneishi was unimpressed by this.

“I immediately thought, ‘that’s not right,’ and decided it was time for that to change,” said Haneishi. “I got to work organizing a team.”

Four years ago, Haneishi helped start Gunnison’s first girls’ soccer team through Parks and Recreation, with 16 girls participating. Haneishi said the team’s first season was about creating opportunities to play, even though they didn’t win any games. Since then, interest has grown rapidly, and the program has had to turn girls away because it doesn’t have enough spots.

That’s when Haneishi shifted her focus to starting a team at Gunnison Middle School, where the team continues that momentum. After years of working to get a team started, the Gunnison Middle School girls’ soccer team held its first official practice on Oct. 9. More than 30 girls registered, though only 20 attended the first practice due to a multicultural event that overlapped with practice. Running the program through the school has allowed girls to take part where they already are and reduce obstacles for girls who might face barriers with Parks and Rec, such as costs, transportation, and language.

The middle school team is intended to build participation and demonstrate demand for a girls’ soccer program at Gunnison High School. Haneishi hopes a high school team could be established within the next two years, though no official timeline has been set.

This fall, the team will have a short season designed for outreach, inclusion, and getting the basics of soccer down. They may hold scrimmages or an internal tournament, but have no official games scheduled. They anticipate a longer season with opportunities to play other teams for spring 2027.

“The goal right now is not so much being competitive; it’s about outreach, getting the basics down, and creating a sense of belonging,” said Haneishi.

Getting the team started has become a real community effort, with support coming from volunteer coaches, school staff, and grants. Earl Devanny, former assistant women’s coach at Western, has come out of retirement to lead practice with the help of Western Professor of Mathematics Kim Fix.

Graduate Student and WCU midfielder Natsuki Murakami has been assisting with organizing the program, coordinating sign-ups, and ordering t-shirts for the team. Murakami is using this time with the team to conduct a study, supported by an interdisciplinary research grant from the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education, to determine how participating in girls’ soccer affects self-confidence and sense of belonging in young girls. Haneishi has hopes of Murakami coaching in the spring after finishing her own playing season.

Haneishi credited Sarah Strong, a Spanish-speaking teacher at Gunnison Elementary, for outreach to Latino and immigrant families to get more girls involved, and middle school principal Lance Betts for strongly supporting the program and getting the team access to the field. The team is also supported by the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley grant, which they’ve used for registration and potential scholarships for the girls.

​Haneishi, the coaches, and the girls have worked hard to make this team happen and are more than excited for the spring season. The growing turnout is already making a point: when girls have a place to play soccer, they will play soccer. For now, the priority is helping players feel like they belong and building a foundation for what comes next. Haneishi hopes that by the time these girls get to high school, there’ll be a team waiting for them.