RFC'S LEADERSHIP TEAM

Just a couple of rascals that love soccer and Capri Suns. As the Co-Founders of RFC, Micaela and Preston strive to serve the community of RFC by creating vision for the organization, empowering incredible leaders and coaches, and establishing a strong organizational culture that champions fun, belonging, and feeling valued for all players, coaches, and fans. Micaela originally grew up playing soccer in the land of waving wheat that sure smells sweet, Oklaaaahomaa. A visionary with a passion for community and belonging, launching RFC with friends is one of the best things she has ever had the privilege to be a part of. Now, after living five wonderful years in Redding (2017-2022), she is now based in Dallas, TX. Preston is originally from and is currently based in Dallas, Texas. From his six years spent living in Redding (2016-2022), he considers the opportunity of starting a fun soccer organization alongside his friends to be of his greatest honors and joys.

Hannah and Daniel serve the community of RFC by facilitating an atmosphere that is full of safety, order, joy, honor, and celebration. They are the direct oversight and primary point of administration for the adult recreational soccer league and our select league. Spring of 2022 was the couple's first season to coach together, in which they led a brand new team, the Sundial Eagles, to their first championship. Behind the scenes, the Polkinghorne’s help uphold the long-term vision of RFC through the day-to-day reiteration of organizational values in everything we do. Hannah and Daniel are happily newlywed and enjoy the opportunity to lead together. Hannah is from Florida, and is currently finishing her masters in Family Counseling. Daniel is originally from Australia, where he first gained experience running soccer leagues.

As the Adult League Overseer, Blake keeps a pulse on league health, acts as a gatekeeper for a strong culture of comradery, and ensures games are running smoothly. Blake is one of the original founding coaches with RFC. Upon being with the league since the start three years ago, Blake has served RFC through a wide range of roles. Blake has a heart to serve the community of RFC and has continually demonstrated this through whatever has been asked of him, whether that be coaching, coordinating events, overseeing field setup, being responsible for league gear, or being an advocate for players in the league. Blake is originally from Oklahoma, and moved to Redding four years ago and happily calls it home.

Hannah is a force of a human that brings zeal, fun, honor, celebration, and joy to the community of RFC. As the League Community Coordinator, Hannah is responsible for providing opportunities that build deeper connection within the leaders, coaches, players, and community of RFC. Her focus is to bring fun and joy to the community of RFC through practically serving and by hosting events that cultivate and further instill our values for fun, belonging, and intentionality within the league. She has literally purchased and delivered thousands of Capri Suns to the park for all to enjoy. Hannah is originally from Texas. She has lived in Redding for more than seven years, loves her city, and proudly calls it home. In addition to RFC, Hannah is also in college and works full time. What a boss!

Go Mambas! Tanner is the direct oversight and primary point of administration for the youth teams of Redding Football Club. In the Spring of 2022, Tanner led RFC into coaching our first youth team, by serving as the head coach of the boys 10U Mambas. Alongside three assistant coaches, Tanner went above and beyond with his squad, consistently encouraging his players through games on the weekends and in two practices per week. Upon being with the league since the start three years ago, Tanner is one of the original founding eight coaches with RFC. He has done a phenomenal job of championing others, coordinating local pick-up games, and carrying a heart that balances both fun and competition. Tanner is a stand-up guy, originally from Texas, now proudly in Redding. Outside of RFC, he has worked as a roaster for Feast Coffee and an instructor with California Adventure Academy.

One of the original eight coaches, now retired soccer stud Lucas Dos Santos has generously maintained a position serving RFC for over three years, despite no longer being a player on the field. Lucas has been a faithful friend to RFC by determining league fixtures each season, as well as managing the league table and game scheduling. Once a committed Redd City Sonic coach, Lucas now cheers his Sonics on from the sideline, where he can also be found regularly rallying team chants, starting “the wave” in the crowd, and occasionally taking hold of the aux during matches. Lucas is Brazilian born, New York raised, and has lived in Redding for nearly ten years. It’s safe to say he puts the ‘fun’ in “FUNdamental piece of building an awesome local soccer community.”

Destiny Kweyama is a fiercely friendly man, and his skill with the ball at his foot makes him frightful to encounter in opposition on the pitch. Destiny is one of the original eight founding coaches with RFC. Since helping form the league at the start over three years ago, Destiny has provided formal and essential building blocks for RFC by helping establish league rules and regulations, as well as helping train referees and coaches. Destiny is originally from South Africa, a loyal coach to Downtown United (RFC Cup Champions, Spring 2021). Away from RFC, Destiny is an awesome husband, skilled drummer, and the Goal Keepers Coach for the Simpson University men's soccer team.

Another one of the original eight coaches, two-time-championship-winning coach Joey Nickerson (Bears - Fall 2020, Fall 2021) has been an unparalleled aid to RFC. This is Joey’s fifth season coaching for RFC. After co-coaching the NorCal Bears for three seasons, he then helped start the Hilltop Greyhounds, who placed 2nd in their first season as a team. Behind the scenes Joey has been pivotal in helping create a structure for organizing hundreds of sign-ups each season and a system for placing players on teams. Joey grew up in Alabama, has a cool home, has experience as the head of administration for an organization with thousands of students, and is overall very pleasant to be around but not play against. He is also noteworthy for his wizardry with a spreadsheet.

Originally from the royal land of England, Kitty Cerda is an absolute queen, full of joy and unmatched kindness. Attending matches from the very beginning as wife to one of our original eight coaches, Benji Cerda, she is now head of RFC’s Creative Team. In being with the foundations of the league, Kitty knows the heartbeat of our community and how to communicate it with flying colors. She is the guru behind our emails and social platforms, covering our creative team while intentionally capturing and sharing helpful information, league updates and keeping our RFC audience on its toes, engaged and excited. Without further ado, let’s all raise our right hand in the royal wave for Kitty and say “Thank you for being here today.”

Marcus is the magician behind the camera. Fueled by excellence, Marcus has taken RFC to the next level through his videography abilities. While also being a loyal player on the pitch for the Whales, Marcus captures weekly highlights and creates weekly Sportscenter-esque interviews and videos that has our community considering itself too blessed to be stressed. Outside of RFC, you can find Marcus huddled up working on his creative endeavors in a coffee shop in Redding, wearing cool clothes and being an all around great human. When ya see him, give him a hug on us.

The woman behind the camera, and what a woman at that! Brooklyn serves RFC week in and week out capturing our community and all the action spilling out on the field. All those beautiful photos on our socials –is thanks to her! Originally from Irvine, Brooklyn is now living happily in Redding, CA with her family.