By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Academics and soccer figure to keep Blair Averyt pretty busy in college next school year.
Averyt is a senior member of the Brownsville Veterans Memorial soccer team who has signed a scholarship agreement to play for the University of Dallas, an NCAA Division III school, beginning in the fall of 2018.
Family, friends, teammates, coaches, teachers and school administrators were all on hand Wednesday afternoon to witness the signing at the Brownsville Veterans library.
It was a long-awaited day for Averyt, who at age 3 was introduced to soccer and grew up playing the game with some of his current teammates in the Brownsville Opportunity Youth Soccer Association (BOYSA).
“I’ve been thinking about this day for awhile,” Averyt said. “Growing up my goal was either to play professionally or sign with a college, so this is a big day for me.”
A top student who ranks 40th academically in his senior class with a 4.35 grade-point average, Averyt plans to pursue a degree in computer science. He has been a member of the Brownsville Veterans soccer program since he was a freshman, playing mostly at forward and in the midfield.
In college, Averyt wants to excel in his studies as well as on the soccer field. He agrees that athletics and athletics go hand in hand as part of an education, particularly for a scholarship athlete.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Academics plays a huge role (for an athlete). You can be the best soccer player, but if you’re not a hard-working student or you don’t know how to manage your time or apply yourself, then you’re not going to play at the next level because it takes a lot (of discipline).”
Brownsville Veterans coach Alberto Vasquez has seen Averyt display the qualities necessary to succeed at the next level as an athlete and as a student.
“Blair has that type of determination and that type of character and it doesn’t matter where you put him in (the lineup),” the Chargers coach said. “He’s going to give you everything he has and he’s going to contribute.
“He’s been a great player to have on our team and he’s contributed every year,” Vasquez added. “Blair has a very good work ethic and I think that impressed the University of Dallas coaches at one of their camps.
“He’s a very technical player, a smart player and he’s very good on the ball. He’s got a strong leg and he’s a good finisher. He definitely has some soccer skills that they’ll be able to take advantage of. I’m happy for him.”
Averyt will retain plenty of good memories from his high schools days after he graduates in the spring. Many of those good memories will be of playing soccer for the Chargers.
“This team is everything to me,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of friends and brothers that I’ll never forget. This soccer program has been one of the best things in my life and I’ll never forget it.
“My friends, my family, my coaches and everyone who has been there,” he added. “I appreciate everything they’ve done for me.”