RECRUITED: Poly varsity soccer players, Kayla Valenzuela and Caitlin McManus, are both committed to prestigious schools to pursue their passion for soccer.
By Kate Santoso, Staff Writer
From Germany to Australia, from Brazil to America, soccer is recognized as the most popular sport in the world with an estimated 3.5 billion fans. Around the world, soccer is cherished by many, making its influence more far-reaching than ever. Two of Poly’s talented athletes decided to continue this beloved sport after high school. Poly’s goalkeeper, Caitlin McManus (10), and co-captain, Kayla Valenzuela (11), have both committed to colleges to play soccer for years to come.
McManus began her journey as a soccer player when she was five and began to play competitively at ten. Along with playing keeper for the Poly soccer team, McManus played for a variety of prominent soccer clubs, including Matrix, Milan, Legends FC, Barcelona, and Albion Orange County (OC). She currently plays for the Irvine Strikers Elite Club’s National League (ENCL), practicing two days a week. Any day she does not have club soccer is a day spent with a private goalkeeper training. “Caitlin is an amazing person on and off the field. She really motivated me as a freshman to do the best I could,” Jessica Hernandez (9) exclaimed.
San Jose State University (SJSU), which recently won the mountain west championship against San Diego State University (SDSU), is situated in the scenic California Bay Area and the booming Silicon Valley. In the eighth grade, SJSU kept an eye on Caitlin McManus and her remarkable talent as keeper. McManus and her skills proved to be outstanding as the college recruited her at the ENCL showcases and the Surf Cup. Head Coach, Lauren Hanson, invited McManus for an unofficial visit and a tour of the college’s campus. Despite the other schools that possessed a keen interest in McManus, she felt a close connection to SJSU and recognized her future lay there. “The moment I stepped onto the campus I just knew I would be a Spartan,” McManus stated.
After exploring the campus, SJSU offered a full ride scholarship, which McManus accepted in a heartbeat. This made McManus the first recruit for the class of 2018. “I’d like to thank my keeper trainer Jess White, for whom I would never be where I am today. I’d also like to thank all my coaches and trainers for all their support along the way,” McManus expressed.
One of the captains of the Poly soccer team, Valenzuela, is immersed in her twelfth year of playing soccer, beginning at five years old. Like McManus, Valenzuela played for notable soccer clubs, including Riverside MGFM, Corona Eagles, and Inland Empire Surf. She currently plays outside defender for the Albion OC (Orange County) soccer club, practicing twice a week, and she plays for the Poly soccer team, practicing Monday through Friday during season. “Kayla is a true road runner, and you can always count on her to have your back on the field,” Co-Captain Peyton Hays (12) promised.
Valenzuela verbally committed to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) last June at the end of her sophomore year. With her love for California and the beach along with experience playing games at UCI at a young age, Valenzuela felt right at home at UCI, knowing this was the college for her to continue to shine and follow her passion. “My coach passed away last year, and I play every game for him. This made me appreciate soccer even more and made it that much more special to me,” Valenzuela expressed.
“There is something so special about stepping on the field, under the lights. There are no words to explain how exhilarating it is,” McManus proclaimed. “No matter what’s going on in my life and no matter what mood I’m in, the second I step on the field, all the outside factors go away,” Valenzuela expressed. Both McManus and Valenzuela look towards the future, hoping to become professional soccer players someday with their dedication and commitment to their sport.