Broken Arrow Senior Kicks Cancer, Gets Back On The Pitch

The high school soccer season can be long and grueling, but for one Broken Arrow senior, it's a much-needed distraction as he battles adversity. 

Eric Chavez's senior season isn't quite going according to plan. Last May, Chavez started experiencing pain in his stomach and knew something was wrong.

“I was just chilling in my living room and I just started feeling pain like long lasting pain and it stopped and then it came back again and then I waited for a week and then it still happened and then I just went to a doctor," said Broken Arrow soccer midfielder Eric Chavez.

Chavez was diagnosed with cancer, throwing his life into uncertainty.

"I was like what’s going to happen now what’s my future going to look like,” said Chavez.

After five chemo treatments and beating cancer, Chavez goal was to get back on the pitch with his teammates and hopefully raise the school’s first state championship title since 2017.

"Coming out here, trying to win state, with my teammates means a lot to me, that’s pretty much it, that’s what I'm looking for," said Chavez

Even when he is unable to compete on the pitch, he provides the motivation for his teammates from the sidelines. 

"He is starting games, getting as many minutes as he possibly can before his body gives out and so we are really proud and really happy that he is here," said his teammate, Broken Arrow right back Luke Ferguson.