Every year young athletes come into high school not knowing what to expect. Some of those athletes seem to go above and beyond their expectations. Some even receive scholarships or even get drafted. A select group of fall athletes have met those expectations. 

Anthony Manzanares, senior

Manzanares is a 17-year-old Boys Varsity Soccer player who has been playing soccer his whole life. According to his stats, he is one of the top players on his team, and he recently helped the team to regionals. 

Q: What made you decide to play the sport you are currently playing, and how long have you been playing?

 A: “I’ve been playing soccer since I can remember. My mom always tells me how I started playing soccer when I was 3 and I was running around with the biggest smile on my face. It is something I grew up with and I was raised to love the game of soccer.” 

Q: What has been your best game/meet since the season started? Why would you say that is your best?

A: “I think my best game I have played this year was our 3-2 win over Bowie. I had an assist to start our lead at 1-0, which found ourselves down 2-1 with 7 minutes left on the clock. I pushed forward, and scored the tying and winning goal last second. The energy that the fans brought to Bowie was amazing, and I love playing for them.”

Q: In all honesty, Parkdale teams sometimes struggle a bit when it comes to winning games. How do you keep yourself  motivated despite the adversity? 

A: “Being completely honest, I feel like the boys soccer team is the best sport we have in this school. Yes we have lost 3 games this season but they were games we put ourselves down in and we could’ve easily won. Since those three games we lost, as a team we collected ourselves to keep pushing forward. We do it for the fans, for our families, for our coaches, and for ourselves as a team especially. We are a family and we hold each other accountable and motivate each other to keep playing. We will continue this through playoffs, this is for all the supports, coaches, and for our school” 

Q: One random fact about you!

A: An IB (International Baccalaureate) student 

Karina Diaz. (Senior)

Girls soccer varsity player enjoyed watching professional soccer games with her father. That is where her deep rooted passion for the game started, ever since then she has been in love with the sport. 

Q: What made you decide to play the sport you are currently playing, and how long have you been playing?

A: “I decided to start playing soccer when I was in the 5th grade, so around 11 years old, because I enjoyed watching professional games with my Dad. I immediately fell in love with the sport and have been playing on club and school teams since.”

Q: What has been your best game/meet since the season started? Why would you say that is your best?

 A: “My best game would probably be the game against Northwestern High because  that game showed a lot of the skills I had been working on this season. Overall, I gave it my all and scored the winning goal in overtime.” 

Q: In all honesty, Parkdale teams sometimes struggle a bit when it comes to winning games. How do you keep yourself  motivated despite the adversity? 

A: “I stay motivated knowing it’s my last year. After this year, I won’t have the opportunity of playing for my high school. Furthermore, I know I won’t get to play with the same group of girls that I’ve grown close with during these past seasons. That’s why I continue to try my hardest out on the field, I know that a loss moving forward will be the conclusion of my soccer career at Parkdale high.” 

Q: Do you hope to continue participating in your sport beyond high school? If so, in what ways? 

A: “I know I’ll continue to play soccer because I’ve grown up on the field and it’s now a part of me. I’ll probably play minor leagues in college or help out a community youth team to stay in touch with the game.”

Iveth Martinez (Sophomore)

A 15-year-old sophomore who has seen her mother play volleyball, Martinez attributes her love for the game to her upbringing.

Q: What made you decide to play the sport you are currently playing, and how long have you been playing?

A: “I decided to play volleyball because ever since I can remember, I would always see my mother play volleyball with such passion. She is definitely one of my biggest inspirations that made me want to play volleyball. I actually put dedication into volleyball at the age of 9. Ever since then, I fell in love with the sport.”

Q: What has been your best game/meet since the season started? Why would you say that is your best?

A: “My best game most definitely was our team’s first official game versus Northwestern. I say this because the energy all around was just on a whole different level, mostly because it was my first game in an official volleyball team.”

Q: In all honesty, Parkdale teams sometimes struggle a bit when it comes to winning games. How do you keep yourself  motivated despite the adversity? 

A: “I just acknowledge my strength as well as my team’s strengths and potentials. I keep a positive mentality and I always like to say that every ball is playable no matter what.”

Q: Do you hope to continue participating in your sport beyond high school? If so, in what ways? 

A: “I most definitely can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and my love for volleyball. After high school, if I have the opportunity, I will be looking into playing college volleyball and follow in the same footsteps as Kathryn Plummer, Morgan Hentz, and Jenna Gray, ex Stanford players.” 

Iveth Martinez, Sophomore

 15 year old sophomore has seen her mother play volleyball which is where her love for the game developed.

Q: What made you decide to play the sport you are currently playing, and how long have you been playing?

A: “I decided to play volleyball because ever since I can remember, I would always see my mother play volleyball with such passion. She is definitely one of my biggest inspirations that made me want to play volleyball. I actually put dedication into volleyball at the age of 9. Ever since then, I fell in love with the sport.”

Q: What has been your best game/meet since the season started? Why would you say that is your best?

A: “My best game most definitely was our team’s first official game versus Northwestern. I say this because the energy all around was just on a whole different level, mostly because it was my first game in an official volleyball team.” 

Q: In all honesty, Parkdale teams sometimes struggle a bit when it comes to winning games. How do you keep yourself  motivated despite the adversity? 

A: “I just acknowledge my strength as well as my team’s strengths and potentials. I keep a positive mentality and I always like to say that every ball is playable no matter what.”

Q: Do you hope to continue participating in your sport beyond high school? If so, in what ways? 

A: “I most definitely can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and my love for volleyball. After high school, if I have the opportunity, I will be looking into playing college volleyball and follow in the same footsteps as Kathryn Plummer, Morgan Hentz, and Jenna Gray, ex Stanford players.” 

These students apply pressure daily. What will you apply pressure to?