Q&A: Georgia Gwinnett forward Kyara Armenta

(Photo Courtesy of Georgia Gwinnett College Athletics)

Senior forward Kyara Armenta cemented her Georgia Gwinnett College women’s soccer legacy by leading the team to a second Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Title and fifth trip to the NAIA Tournament in November.

The New Westminster, Canada native earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her four-goal performance. During the tournament, Armenta also became the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in career matches played (94) and moved up to second in career goals (35).

Following the conclusion of the season, Armenta spoke about her time at Georgia Gwinnett and what’s next for her.

(This interview has been edited for clarity.)

Q: When did you start playing soccer and when did you realize that you wanted to play at the next level?

A: I’ve been playing soccer since I can remember. I started officially playing when I was four. My mom put me in other sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse. I really was exposed to everything, but I think soccer was the one where naturally it just clicked and I always had a sense of joy anytime I was playing. 

All throughout high school and elementary school, I was always playing at a high level and it kept going until I got to the point in high school where I had to pick between my sports. Obviously, I chose soccer, and I'm so glad I did. I don't regret it one bit. 

My club really prepared me to come to the next level. I was lucky enough that my coach here at GGC flew out to Vancouver, Canada and saw me play and said, ‘Yeah, I'd love for you to come to GGC.’ In my process of choosing which school I'd like to go to and seeing what best fits for me, I fell in love with GGC. I think this is the best fit for me academically, soccer wise and just all around.

Q: How was the transition from Canada to Georgia?

A: I've never been here, to the East Coast, let alone eastern Canada because it's such a big country. I was excited for that experience. I was lucky enough that my mom could fly with me and we made a trip out of it to ease into everything. When she helped me move into the dorms freshman year it was an adjustment.

The South is very much its own, as opposed to the West Coast of the U.S., but I had a lot of other people around me and fellow Canadians and other international students that we all had each other. That really helped with the adjustment and easing into school here, meeting people, how things work and even soccer really because it's a different playing style.

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Lawrenceville?

A:  From an outsider, Lawrenceville is just Lawrenceville. You wouldn’t think twice about it, but this place has brought so many people into my life. Shout out to my coach because he recruited all these people on my team, but he really has brought so many people into our team and soon enough we built a friendship that I know will last years outside of me graduating this year. 

The people he's brought here, some of them really are like my second family now. I'm so grateful to have met them and have them in my life. I think that's the biggest thing is the people I've met here. It makes it even more of an experience that I'll never forget.

Q: Was there any adversity that you had to overcome to get to the CAC Championship this season and how were you able to overcome it?

A: We had a lot of adversity this season. I feel like over the four years there's always something with our team with adversity, but, especially this year, we had some issues with our record and ineligibility. 

It was no one's fault in the end, so we really had to take that and understand that we're still a team. At the end of the day, what we do on the field is what's going to matter. Everyone else knows what we can do on the field. I think even though we went through our slump or that wasn't our best performance, we always did try at the end of the day to learn from it, keep going and really shine where it matters. 

Despite everyone saying this, or maybe our record doesn't look like that, I know we really do come together and play for each other as hard as we can, even if people have injuries. That's been a thing too, people locked up or not able to play their best, but they're willing to give as much as they can. I think that really did help in the final with even myself.

Q: How important was it for you to beat Bellevue in the CAC Championship after losing last year’s final match to them in penalty kicks?

A: Last year was supposed to be my senior season. I had my extra year with COVID, but I wasn't sure if I was gonna take it or not. It was heartbreaking last year, not winning it and especially losing in [penalty kicks] because that's such a dramatic and intense way to go out. 

It was a revenge type of game. Winning it was even better. Scoring in it was amazing. My coach said afterwards, ‘Yep, they hate you. They don't like you. I think they're gonna be so happy they don't have to see you next year.’ 

It was such a great feeling because we gave it our all last year and we thought we had it. To lose in [penalty kicks] was tough. Me deciding to come back, I was like, ‘I'm looking forward to conference this year. I want to prove myself. I want to go out there and play for my team and win it for them.’

Some of these girls have never even gotten a chance to make it to playoffs or even win a trophy. If I can in any way help my fellow teammates accomplish that, I want nothing more. I was really happy that we could all win that for each other as well.

Q: How have you embraced your role on the team as a veteran and a leader this season?

A: It’s weird because I remember being in their position, especially coming in as a true freshman. I see all these new freshmen come in and it's hard to click into the style of play here. It doesn't just happen overnight. 

I love being a silent leader. Working with people on the field and wanting what's best. It doesn't matter what class you are in, at the end of the day we're all trying to figure it out and everyone's going through stuff.

I know with having so many freshmen and it kind of being like my freshman year when we came in with so many freshmen, I think it was really nice to see that my words, my actions mattered and they really did look up to me because I look up to so many people that are even older than me.

Q: Reflecting on your time at Georgia Gwinnett, what's one story that you're excited to tell your kids one day?

A: I see each year I've been here as a season in a TV show. This is almost the season finale, my grad and end of an era. Of course, I can remember it so well. A lot has happened. It’s crazy to think a whole pandemic has happened while I've been here. 

I would say one story that I would tell my kids is about the time I spent the whole year here because of the pandemic. I think that year I learned a lot about myself, went through some challenges with friends, learning, just growing up.

I want to reflect that one day when I'm a lovely mother to my kids and just say, ‘As much as things are gonna knock you down, as cliche as it sounds, things you're not going to expect, there's always going to be something brighter, or at least it happens for a reason.’ That's what I always believe. Everything happens for a reason.

Q: What's next for you? 

A: After my internship [with the Georgia Gwinnett College Recreation Department], I was really intrigued with all the marketing and behind the scenes of sports. Working with that and maybe more behind the scenes, that'd be something I'd love to pursue.

I'm also going to probably still be playing soccer when I go home. Do that for a little bit then possibly play overseas and get that experience. I've had a lot of friends from home that have been overseas. They've really enjoyed it and their experiences have been nothing but amazing.