For a soccer player, Natalie Santiago has an amazing arm.
Santiago is a junior on the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School soccer team, and she’s been one of the top players for the Knights since she got to the school.
She’s also on another team at Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, and in the other role, she discovered she’s talented with her feet and her arm.
“Freshman year my (flag football) coach asked me if I could throw, and I did because I played outside with my brother and his friends, so I knew how to throw. I love flag football, it’s great because it helps keep me in shape for soccer. It helps with my conditioning and my mentality.
“I love it. We have fun. Soccer is definitely my main sport, but I love flag football, too. It’s helped me in a lot of different ways.”
She likes football, but she loves soccer.
She’s been playing the sport for most of her life. She loved it as a kid, but before she got to Rush, she was falling out of love with the sport.
That’s completely changed since she got to high school.
It had everything to do with her coach Todd Corabi and her teammates.
Santiago played club soccer before high school and after playing for so long, she was ready to give it up.
Then mom suggested she give it a try. It was a great call.
“I think the biggest problem was I just didn’t like it, I had no passion,” said Santiago, who lives in Morrell. “I was around a bunch of people who just played, they didn’t love it. They would be late for practice, they didn’t care, they didn’t take it seriously. It was hard to play like that.
“My teammates, if they’re down, I’m down. If they’re up, I’m up. Everyone here is in it. They all give 100 percent. I nearly didn’t play because I just didn’t love it anymore, but my mom said I should try it, see how it is. I’m so glad I did. I love being part of this team. We all care, we all want to play well and we like playing together.”
So far, Santiago is having a ball as the Knights hang tough in the Public League.
Rush is 3-4 overall but has big wins over schools like Abraham Lincoln, MaST Charter 2 and Bodine.
The Knights have also hung tough against some established Public League programs like Philadelphia Academy Charter and Franklin Towne Charter.
Things are going well on the field for the Knights, and they’re going even better off of it thanks to their leader.
“I am a captain and I lead by example and check in on my teammates,” Santiago said. “I try as a captain and as a teammate in general to make sure I take care of everything and make sure everyone is doing well.
“Show up on time, show you want to be there. It’s something I was born with but I was shown that’s something that needs to happen on this team specifically. It’s not someone showing me but (on other teams) I’ve seen the opposite, so I adapted to what we needed.
“My mom said when I was growing up that I should lead by example and people will follow. That’s what I try to do and it’s working.”
She’s doing her part and at the same time, making history.
“We started our team in spring of 2010 and our first graduating class was 2012,” Corabi said of Santiago, who was named captain after a vote by the team. “This is the first time since then that the sole captain wasn’t a senior.”
That respect is mutual.
Santiago credits Corabi with helping the Knights be the best they can be.
“He’s one of the reasons I love soccer again,” Santiago said. “We’re working hard, but everyone on this team wants to be here. Everyone plays with passion. He has us ready to play. I didn’t want to play anymore, now I want to play in college. I love soccer again.”
She also loves being around this team.
The Knights are a good team. They might not win a title this year, but they are making strides every day under the tutelage of their captain.
The only thing Santiago wants is for Rush to have the best time playing the game they love.
“This year is phenomenal,” said Santiago, who works as a counselor at Mitchell Rec during the summer. “I love my teammates, I appreciate them.
“I couldn’t be more proud of everyone. All summer we’d work out on Tuesday and Thursday to get ready and it helped us a lot. Everyone is dedicated. I’m just happy with everything we’re doing. We are doing our best and having fun.”
