Avelino Cuadra Curreya is a member of Carol Morgan School graduating class of 2002. During his school years he showed a remarkable interest in sports. He has been collaborating with CMS soccer teams for almost nine years. He has been our coach for different tournaments such as Copa Claro, American Express Soccer Town cup, St. Thomas School Cup, Loyola and Copa Coca Cola, to name a few.
Jennalee Burch, CMS current Athletic Director defines Avelino as "an excellent asset to our athletic department/school and it a tremendous mentor for our students". Ms. Elia Abreu, his former HS teacher, describes him as energetic, talkative and always showing a smile which he used to persuade and convince others!
VM: When did your passion for soccer start?
AC: "I grew up with it... my first soccer lessons were at the age of five."
VM: What moved you to become a soccer coach?
AC: "Friends at CMS back in 2005. It all has to do with the growth of the sport in our country. Carol Morgan School Soccer Program always began at the end of the year, and focused exclusively on CAISSA. At that time, students became more and more interested in participating in other national tournaments and facing local schools. This is when Avelino joins CMS. Sophomores from class of 2008 made their own team for "Copa Loyola" and needed a coach. By then I was just a simple friend that knew about the sport and was willing to take these guys to Loyola to participate in a soccer tournament...and here I am today!"
VM: You are a both a great Civil Engineer and soccer coach, how do you balance these two very different activities?
AC: "People always have to keep alive what they really enjoy...soccer is what I really enjoy, but professionally I have other more important responsibilities to take care of. Coaching, for now, is my hobby and literally my stress reliever."
VM: We know that on your HS years besides participating in the CMS Soccer Program you also volunteered time coaching MS soccer players. How does your involvement in school sports back in HS relate to your being a soccer coach today?
AC "I grew up in CMS...it was my home for fourteen years. Having been a shark makes my "job" more special and committing, I coach CMS because I enjoy it; kids look up to me and that makes me feel proud of what I do. The day I stop feeling that connection with my players will be the day I stop coaching."
VM: Did you practice other sports while attending CMS? Which ones?
AC: "Yes, I also practiced Baseball with coach Tony; I played second base."
VM: How do you feel being on the other side of the "fence", coaching young sharks as you once were?
AC: "Sometimes it's frustrating. I always tell my kids that when I was a student I never had the opportunity to play on these well-organized tournaments, with thousands of fans on the bleachers and live TV broadcasting."
VM: How do you compare your soccer team in your school years to the teams you've been coaching?
AC: "When I was in high school I used to be one of the few "weirdoes" that practiced soccer; everyone else wanted to be on the varsity baseball team. Today, I walk out to the field and have over forty kids waiting for me at tryouts, and as I turn around the baseball field is empty. That's how much the sport has grown, and keeps growing."
VM: What is the most memorable moment in your career in sports?
AC: "As a player I'll never forget the day I missed a penalty shot to lose the CAISSA finals at Carol Morgan School, even my girlfriend wanted to dump me (laugh). Coach Tony never lets go of me with this story, even today.
As a coach, I have to say that would be the Copa Coca Copa District Finals in 2010. It was my first Copa Coca Cola. CMS Vs Babeque, we were losing 2-0 at halftime and reacted on time, we tied the game and won in penalties, our goalie stopped three penalties, and it was AMAZING. The best team I've coached in my CMS career."
VM: Do you have a pre-match routine? Tell us about that.
AC: "Somebody has been telling you a lot... (Laugh). I do, but I always keep it to myself. I'm very superstitious."
VM: What are your plans and goals as a coach in the near future?
AC: "Now that I can contribute, I always do my best to put CMS Soccer in the elite of schools in this country. Today I can proudly say that Carol Morgan School Sharks have a name in Soccer, and we are situated amongst the top five schools in soccer of the Dominican Republic. But I do believe we can be number one. I hope I can continue to contribute and maybe one day convince the school to develop a complete soccer program that involves elementary, middle school and high school all together."
VM: You quoted Vince Lombardi in your yearbook page: "If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?" What thoughts does this quote bring to your mind twelve years later?
AC: "Being part of a team teaches you commitment, responsibility, respect, teamwork and sacrifice. If you put all these things together usually at in the end you will win. So for me, winning is not the most important thing, winning is the only thing that matters."
VM: What is the most special part of being a coach?
AC: ""Today we barely know each other, but today we begin a journey that will make us feel as family in the end". These are the first words I say to my team at the beginning of the season. At first they all look at me with some weird attitude face, but in the end, they always remember that day when I said that "cheese statement". I try to make them feel part of a family, and try to identify myself with each and every one of them. I've watched how kids make new friends; I've had to coach my own friends and young cousins. The most important part of being a coach is the challenge to connect with each player, and letting them know that they all have and older brother in me."
