Five seniors signed to advance from high school to collegiate level sports after signing to their respective colleges Feb. 6.
Two varsity soccer players, Ashley Homer and Justine Ibarra, are graduating and will be playing soccer in college. Homer will be playing goalie for College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. and Ibarra will be playing center midfielder for Gardener Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Ibarra has been playing soccer since she was five years old, saying it is the thing that she has been most devoted to. Since her sophomore year she has been sending emails, making videos and bios to send to college.
“If you want to play division one or division two, any sports in college, start early. As early as possible,” Ibarra said.
Both Ibarra’s and Homer’s soccer coach Matt White complimented his team members on their tenacity and ability to communicate with their team. According to White, if you want to play soccer or any sport at a collegiate level you have to be seen by colleges.
“The only way you’re going to be seen [by a college scout] is if you play for a league club. That’s just the game. As [purely] a high school player the only way you are going to be seen is if your team makes the state tournament,” White said.
Along with Ibarra and Homer, three football players are progressing to play at the collegiate level. Riley Andal will be attending Pima College in Tucson, Ariz. While both PJ Loko and Rod Howard will be attending Wayne State College in Nebraska.
Andal is excited for the journey in a bitter sweet way. He comments on the fact that he has lived in Washington and is anticipating some changes in his life.
“I’m excited to go but I’m not excited to leave,” Andal said.
On top of anticipating the college life, Loko stated that hard work was never enough.
“[Football] is a lot of work but I think its all about faith, about believing you can make it,” Loko said. “Have faith in everything you do because there are going to be people that try and train forever to get to the college level and they get hurt, ending their football career. You have to believe you can do it.”
