MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
Hanna goalkeeper Valeria Perez knew exactly what collegiate program she wanted to be at after her high school career was all said and done.
And when several offers from other programs came the senior’s way this school year, she decided to hold out hope that the right one would eventually come.
That patience would pay off and Perez’s dream was made official as she signed her letter of intent to play soccer with Southwestern University in Georgetown during a ceremony Thursday afternoon at Hanna High School.
“ It’s blessing (to sign) honestly,” the Hanna goalkeeper said. “I’ve been working so hard, especially trying to go to (Southwestern); they were the last ones to give me an offer. It was a really tough process and I wanted to give up at times, but I’m glad I was able to make it and be here today. I’m really excited to see what the future holds with this school.”
Perez will join the Southwestern Pirates playing in NCAA Division III’s Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and plans to study kinesiology.
Being able to play out a new chapter of her playing career in Georgetown was important as Perez felt the pairing fit like a glove after taking in the town, campus and everything else Southwestern had to offer.
So being able to finally put ink to paper brought relief after a mentally challenging recruiting process.
“ It was really tough,” she said. “Some schools never replied and some schools didn’t have interest in me. It wasn’t until this year that I got multiple offers. It was hard to find the right fit financially, athletically and academically. It’s all mental toughness. You have to be able to process everything. It was really hard towards the end, but I’m glad with what I’m sticking with now.”
Hanna head soccer coach Eliseo Guzman said Perez is as tough as they come as a goalie, but also brings a solid work ethic to everything she does.
It’s that work ethic that has the Hanna coach believing his goalkeeper can tough it out in college and even beyond.
“ She has a lot of potential, but she brings the right attitude to be part of a team and determination,” Guzman said. “I know it will be tough at the beginning, but she has the potential to be there and grow a lot as a goalie. I have seen her growing and growing this year. Over the next two years I think she’ll grow to be able to play well at the college level and even as a professional because she has a lot of potential.”
Perez has been at the varsity level since she was a freshman, when she was a starter and named a second team all-district player, but had her next two seasons derailed due to injuries.
She suffered an ankle injury as a freshmen and a collarbone injury as a junior.
Now, Perez believes she is at the top of her game and plans to make up for those seasons in a big way.
“ It was tough, especially last year with my collarbone,” she said. “I was supposed to out for a long time and they said I wouldn’t be back the same. That just pushed me to work harder and I see myself at my peak right now. I think I’m playing my best season that I’ve ever had. I’m hoping to come back for everything like All-Metro goalkeeper, hopefully playoffs and maybe all-state keeper as well.”