Centineo and Fontenot Take 'Teammates' to a Whole New Level

Californians Teresa Fontenot and Jordan Centineo are both fifth-year seniors at the University of South Dakota who will soon be moving on from their time as members of the Coyote soccer team.

They grew up about 10 miles apart in Ventura County, located in southern California a little north of Los Angeles and as 6-year-olds played for the same club soccer team.

They did not go to the same schools and though they lived relatively close to each other, it was unlikely they would ever see each other again after that first season. Maybe one would lose interest – they were 6, remember – or one family would move or join another program or find another sport. 

But instead they stayed on the same extremely competitive path. Through elementary school, middle school and high school they were always on the same club soccer team.

That just doesn’t happen very often. 

Then they ended up on the same college team more than 1,500 miles from where they grew up.

That happens even less often.

Making this more unlikely was the fact that they were recruited by different coaches at USD and committed to the Coyotes without any plan to collaborate on a school choice.

It was another coincidence piled on top of all the others. Fortunately, this soccer connection – now working its way toward two decades – got off on the right foot.

“I was very shy and Teresa was shy in her own way, too,” Centineo said. “When you’re 6 you have a bunch of different personalities from all the girls and you just try to figure out who your friends are going to be. I didn’t mix too much with a lot of them but I do remember Teresa being one of the few people I talked to and liked being around.”

Centineo has a health administration degree and wants to pursue a career that combines business and hospitals. Fontenot has a political science degree and wants to continue on to law school. Both hint they need a break from South Dakota winters after five years, though they’ve loved their time at USD. More importantly, both see the value in what has become a lifetime friendship.

“It has been great having someone I know here,” Fontenot said. “Throughout my childhood and growing up it’s been soccer and knowing people through soccer that has basically got me through life. She would pick me up at the airport, we’ve been roommates, we’ve roomed together on the road going back to club soccer. It’s been really helpful for me.”

The recruiting process for the two was done separately because, though they’re part of the same class, Mandy Green was the head coach when Centineo committed to USD. Current coach Michael Thomas was directing the program when Fontenot made her choice months later to play for the Coyotes.

Both were part of the Eagles Soccer Club, a well-known program in southern California made up of elite players on track to earn scholarships. 

Thomas, like so many other college coaches, was familiar with both players prior to taking the job and was looking forward to having a pair of longtime teammates being part of the program.

“I was going to honor the commitments of everyone who had previously committed to the program,” Thomas said. “When I saw that Jordan was one of those commitments, that was an easy phone call to make because I really liked the way she played.”

Fontenot’s recruitment came later because she had been injured during what would have been a pivotal juncture in the process. Another coach told him that Fontenot had not yet committed to a school.

That ended up leading to another easy decision for the coach.

“I called her as soon as I could,” Thomas said. “We got her out here for a visit and the rest, as they say, is history.”

It’s a history that has included injuries for both. Centineo has had to overcome a pair of knee injuries in college that kept her from playing, including one this year that will keep her from closing out her career in Vermillion on the field. 

Fontenot has also had to deal with injuries over the years. In one instance, the injury she was dealing with was the one she caused. 

The pair were juniors in high school, the story goes, and practicing in preparation for an upcoming soccer tournament in Seattle. It was raining and the field was a little slick that day. 

“Teresa comes in and slips and slide-tackles me and breaks my ankle,” Centineo said. “I remember that everyone thought I was going to be so mad at her because it was right before this big showcase we were going to. I’m thinking ‘Well, it wasn’t her fault, these things happen in soccer.’ Our coach was so mad at her. I think he still holds a grudge against her. But now I can say my best friend broke my ankle. That’s pretty cool.”

The Coyotes play their last home game vs. Oral Roberts on Sunday at USD then travel to NDSU and UND to complete the regular season. Summit League championships begin on Oct. 28 for the top six teams. A pair of productive weekends will assure USD a berth.

Though Centineo will be sidelined for the home stretch, she and Fontenot were part of a record 10-win season a year ago during what would have been their senior years. Both came back for another year in 2022 thanks to COVID. 

Looking back, Fontenot remembers someone telling her that because the two had known each other so long they might not interact with their teammates as well as they would if they’d ended up at different schools.

Fontenot knew it was of no concern.

“We’re different people and we have different friends and people like us for different reasons,” Fontenot said. “The team was very open to it because we’ve been very open to others the entire time we’ve been here.”

There are moments, however, where their long history as teammates is conspicuous. Maybe not with teammates, but certainly with those who know how long they’ve known each other.

“Watching them play together last year as fourth-year seniors was a pleasure to watch and it cracked me up sometimes,” Thomas said. “One of the things I’ve missed this season – in addition to Jordan being able to hold the ball for us and get people involved and to score goals – is listening to her and Teresa interact with each other out there. She yells at Teresa in a way that you can only yell at your sister. And it’s the same the other way. You’ll hear ‘Jordan!’ and Teresa will toss her head back in exasperation. I’d see that on the sidelines and start laughing. That is two kids who have been playing together for a long time.”