By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — San Benito midfielder Senovio Cerdan has spent his whole life around soccer, from going to his dad’s games when he was 2 months old to excelling on the field with the Greyhounds.
Growing up loving the game kept him dreaming of one day becoming a professional soccer player. On Wednesday, Cerdan took a step toward achieving that goal by signing to play for Dallas Christian College. The District 32-6A offensive player of the year and All-STAR first-team midfielder will be playing under Rio Grande Valley native Dan Mariscal in Division II of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
“I’m excited. I’m the first in my family to go to college to play soccer at the next level, and I just feel ready,” Cerdan said. “Since sophomore year I just worked on getting a scholarship. I’m looking forward to playing in college and becoming a pro. That’s been my dream since I was a little boy.”
Cerdan said San Benito coach William Huerta helped him throughout his recruitment. He had some other offers, but getting to play with his Greyhounds teammate Adrian Martinez and other Valley athletes led him to pick Dallas Christian.
“Going with a teammate is much easier. You have someone to talk to and hang around with, and make the best of the college experience,” Cerdan said. “The players that are going from Brownsville are really good players, and I think we’re going to be great as a team.”
Cerdan and Martinez will have some bragging rights over a few future teammates. One of Cerdan’s favorite memories from the coronavirus-shortened season was beating Brownsville Hanna in a double-overtime contest and Brownsville Rivera in a 1-0 win the same week. He said that success was “unheard of in San Benito history” and that it felt good to beat two perennial powers in consecutive games.
Huerta said Cerdan’s skills, both as a player and leader, helped the Greyhounds reach new heights during his three-year varsity career. Cerdan was a captain his junior and senior year because of the example he set on the field and in the classroom. Huerta said Cerdan was looked up to by younger players, including Cerdan’s little brother, Jared, who was the 32-6A first-team goalkeeper.
“He’s just a great kid, and I’m happy he’s moving on. I’m trying to find the right words, but I just feel like Dallas Christian is really going to benefit from Senovio,” Huerta said. “He played at a different level compared to a lot of the kids that we competed against. College ball will be a good fit for him.”
Though Cerdan primarily played as a midfielder, Huerta called him a utility player who can adapt to any position. He believes Cerdan will have a smooth transition to the college level and that he and Martinez will be a solid duo for the Crusaders, just like they were for San Benito.
Cerdan hasn’t decided what he’ll be studying at Dallas Christian, but if professional soccer doesn’t pan out he wants to work in business. He’s been working out with his brother as he prepares to take on college soccer and feels he’ll do well in Farmers Branch.
“Senovio’s tremendous when he has the ball at his feet. He’s got great vision of the field, great ball skills, he’s smart with the ball and he works well with others. He’s just an outstanding player,” Huerta said. “He knows the game very well, and that’s a tremendous asset going to the next level. He’s one of those kids that you tell him what to do, and he’ll do it at the best of his ability.”