At an early age, Jayden Olivencia began his soccer career, and he quickly developed a passion for it.

Years later, Olivencia joined the football team as a sophomore kicker. Over the last three years, it has been a busy autumn for the Catasauqua senior.

So far, both sports have worked in his favor.

“I really had to think about it due to the fact that football and soccer were in the same season,” recalled Olivencia. “But thankfully, I was able to work out a schedule between my coaches and kick for the team without having to miss a soccer or football game.”

Catty head boys’ soccer coach Josh Inman has appreciated Olivencia’s development through the years.

“He has progressed into being a leader on the team,” said Inman. “Jayden is a great player, and he should have a good season. We’ll look to him, and he can have a lid future.”

Olivencia began his soccer career at the age of four, and it soon evolved full circle. He is a right wing for the Roughies.

“I started playing soccer when I was 4-years-old,” recalled Olivencia. “I would watch games and thought that it was an interesting sport. So one day, I told my parents that I wanted to play and it brought shock to them, but they didn’t hesitate to sign me up for a team.

“After trying it for the first time I enjoyed it and have been playing soccer since that day. I eventually got involved in travel soccer.”

His football career began innocently enough.

“I started kicking for the football team my sophomore year of high school,” noted Olivencia. “It all started when coach (Mark) Bartholomew told me that I should try to come up and kick for them because they didn’t have a kicker.

“It has worked out well for me.”

Through it all, his parents Kathleen and Rafael have been his driving force and have helped keep him on a steady path.

“My parents have been the biggest influence when it comes to playing sports,” he stated. “They have been supporting me in my sports career and show up to all of my games. They support me in anything that I want to do when it comes to playing sports.”

Whether it be soccer or football, Olivencia has realized the importance to help form a tight team bond. He also has striven to improve his own games.

“I want to work on our team chemistry and be able to have a successful season this year for my last year of high school soccer and football,” stressed Olivencia. It is about communication on the field as well as off the field so we can get a team bond and not argue with each other as much as previous years.

“I have been working on kicking for football and practicing to consistently hit touchbacks to give the other teams a chance to not be able to return the ball.”

In both teams, Olivencia has relished his roles. He also has worked to be as prepared as possible.

“I feel like my roles on both teams are very important,” said Olivencia. “In soccer, I have to be able to distribute the ball and score, so that way it gives the team a chance. I have to also be able to play both sides of the ball. I can help defensively as well.

“In football, I feel like my role is also important due to the fact that I need to be able to consistently hit extra points and field goals to put points on the board. If it’s ever a close game at the end, I need to be able to be prepared to go for a field goal and make it to the team.

“Overall, it has been a lot of fun in both sports.”

Olivencia also plans to institute a strong work ethic for both seasons.

“We have a lot of things to work on in soccer, but I feel like we improved a lot since last season,” he said. “Our football team is off to a good start, and I feel like as a team we have a lot great things ahead of us this season if we continue putting the work in.”