ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The next step in Kaylyn Samano’s athletic career beyond high school took place Thursday.
The graduating senior at Rivera signed an athletic scholarship agreement to compete in track next school year at Texas Lutheran University, an NCAA Division III school in Seguin. TLU competes in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in all sports except football.
Samano has participated in volleyball, cross country and basketball besides track for the Lady Raiders. She is a strong track competitor in the triple jump and relays while serving as a team captain. One of Rivera’s relays that included Samano advanced to the Region IV-6A meet in San Antonio last month. She also ran the open 400 meters at times.
“I told the coach over there (at TLU) they are getting an exceptional human being, not just an exceptional athlete,” Lady Raiders track coach Jennifer Schuster said.
Samano’s signing was held in the Rivera Auditorium. It was attended by family members, teammates and classmates along with coaches, teachers and school administrators.
It was a time of celebration for everyone on hand for the signing ceremony.
The Rivera standout athlete has run track since she was a first-grader, so Thursday marked an important day in her life.
“Honestly, I couldn’t sleep last night because I was just so excited about today,” Samano said. “But once I got to school, it was like a bittersweet emotion. I felt happy (about signing), but I was sad, too, because I’ve been here for four years. But I’m excited for the next four years at Texas Lutheran, and I’m excited to see what my future holds.
“Being here at Rivera has meant the world to me,” she added. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It’s been the best experience of my life, and I don’t regret coming to this school at all. I’m so glad that my parents (Marcos Samano and Vanessa Garcia) encouraged me to come to Rivera so I could be a part of the Lady Raider athletic program. It’s been life-changing and it’s something I will carry with me for my life.”
Samano’s parents are both Rivera graduates who played sports at the school as well.
In addition to thanking her parents and all her coaches and teammates at Rivera, Samano said she wanted to particularly thank Rebecca Garcia, her grandmother who she credits as having had a big impact upon her life.
In college, Samano plans to pursue a kinesiology degree with the hope of one day becoming a physical therapist or athletic trainer.
“I’m going over there and aiming high,” she said. “I would like to break some school records and make a name for myself like I have at Rivera.”
Schuster said she has developed a close bond with Samano during her time at Rivera.
“This day is amazing, and I could get pretty emotional about it,” Schuster said. “Kaylyn wanted this more than anything when she came in as a freshman. She was playing multiple sports, and sometimes that makes it even harder because you have to spread yourself out (to play those sports).
“She’s been a team captain for us, and she’s the most positive leader you could possibly want,” Schuster added. “She just encourages everyone (on the team). She’s sacrificial, too. She was hurting before the District 32-6A meet and she had to be replaced in the mile (1,600-meter) relay. She was there at the district meet screaming and urging on her teammates to qualify for the area meet. She was doing better and was able to run on the relay at the area meet, and they qualified for regionals. She wanted that so badly.
“Some athletes who get hurt might be a little resentful or feel down about not participating. No, not her. She was there cheering on her relays, and the boys teams, too. That’s just the way she is. She’s such an encourager and so positive with the coaches and her teammates.”
The Lady Raiders coach said she had quite a impressive group of seniors this season with Samano leading the way as a team captain.
“I’m so grateful for this senior bunch,” Schuster said. “They surpassed all expectations. I knew that this group would do well when they came in as babies as freshmen. They’ve just stayed together, stayed true to each other, encouraged each other and they were so loving and supportive of each other. All through the season you could feel a camaraderie. They wanted to dedicate the season to God and to my mother (Carole Johnson, who died two days before Christmas 2018).
“My teams are always close, but there was something special with what they did this season to help me get through the grieving of my Mom’s death,” Schuster added. “It showed. My Mom, who was my No. 1 fan, would be so happy with the outcome of this season and this signing.”
Schuster said after Thursday’s signing, there is nothing holding back her star athlete now.
“When Kaylyn’s able to key in on just one sport, there’s no stopping her,” the coach said. “We’re going to see great things from her at the college level. With her personality, they’re going to fall in love with her over there.”