By Savannah Schwarz, Guest Writer
Carlos Bellosta Manchon is about to graduate from Newman University, but he’ll long be remembered for his career on the soccer field.
Bellosta Manchon, the captain for the Newman soccer team for the past two years, scored 10 goals and 23 points during his senior season, which tied the Newman school record. Two of the goals he scored were game winners, which was also a team high, and he also scored two hat tricks, which is where a player makes three goals in the same game.
Bellosta Manchon says that although it’s hard to leave soccer behind, he’s looking forward to the next chapter of his life.
“I thought it would be worse than it is right now not having soccer in my life, but as of right now,
I’m chillin’, and I have more time for me,” he said.
Bellosta Manchon was born in Barcelona and raised in Madrid. At 13, he moved to Miami and lived there until he was 15. He then went back home to Spain before coming to Newman for college. He planned to play for four years but ended up playing for five because the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his sophomore season.
“The year before my fifth wasn’t very great,” he said. “I thought, ‘Since I have one more, why not play it?’”
Bellosta Manchon played in all 17 games of his senior season and started 15 of them. He earned two GAC/MIAA offensive player of the week titles and was named to the conference’s second team. One of the most important roles he played, he said, was that of team captain, which is voted on by the coaches and the players.
“I think being the captain is one achievement that is pretty special, and I like being recognized as a captain,” Bellosta Manchon said. “I’m honored, but it doesn't really matter who the captain is. I would still probably be one of the leaders even if I wasn’t a captain.”
Bellosta Manchon, who works on campus as the graduate assistant for sports information and communication, is earning his master’s degree in data science, and after college, he wants to go into sports data analytics for either soccer or baseball, he said.
In his free time, he likes to play pickleball, tennis and watch television. If you ever want to try to beat him in pickleball, you can catch him at Wichita State University, Chicken and Pickle or Sedgwick County Park.
Bellosta Manchon said he enjoyed being able to play with his younger brother, Miguel Bellosta Manchon, who is a sophomore and also on the team.
But he also grew close to his teammates, and even though his English wasn’t perfect, they made him feel at home.
“It’s easy to adapt here being on a team because they make you feel like family,” he said.
PHOTO: Courtesy photo, Newman Athletics
