Profile: Scholar-Athlete Jose Sotelo '23

Jose Sotelo ’23 came to Church Farm School two years ago from Chicago (Cicero) with more than a decade of rec and travel league soccer experience. Finding Church Farm School through the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, which identifies 8^th grade students with strong academic potential but without the financial resources to attend college prep high schools, Jose’s impact on the team has been substantial, with the Church Farm School Griffin being named a captain this year, scoring 14 goals in 14 games and providing 11 assists. His exemplary leadership was recognized recently when he was named Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) 1^st Team, as well as MVP for the BAL Independence Division. He came just short of All-State recognition.

 

With Church Farm School’s fall 2020 sports season tabled due to Covid-19, Jose tried to keep his skills sharp as a midfielder and striker in a travel league. However, he says he felt pretty out of shape when he returned to Church Farm School in August for pre-season. He quickly ascended to a leadership position on the team. “There were some heads down at the beginning of the season, but we all stepped up and played better than we expected. We gained so much confidence and had a really united front. I think if we go into next year with that mentality, we’ll do great.” This past weekend, he was able to see how D1 soccer dreams can become reality when he met Joel Richmond ’18, who plays for Holy Family University. “I was able to talk to Joel and to his coach and it got me really excited about playing at the college level.” His top choices right now are the University of Pittsburgh, Clemson University, Indiana University, Holy Family University and West Chester University.

 

Jose treasures the experience he is gaining at Church Farm School. A self-proclaimed “momma’s boy” who was attending a 2,000-student middle school, he says it was important to him to attend a small, private boarding school where he could forge his own independent path amid a community of other highly motivated young men. “It’s seen as a big accomplishment that I went to a boarding school in a different state,” Jose says. He enjoys math and English, in particular; participating in numerous clubs such as the multicultural club, photo club, film enthusiast club and nonprofit leadership lab club; bonding with his CFS ‘brothers;’ and working at his athleticism by playing other sports including basketball and baseball. And, of course, he still talks to his mom every day.