Menu
Glenns Ferry students sign to play college soccer
During a ceremony last week, four soccer all stars from Glenns Ferry High School signed letters of intent to continue playing the sport with colleges across the region.
Joined by their coaches and families Feb. 4, Reagan Griggs signed to play for Edmonds Community College, Roni Crone will go on to compete with Grays Harbor Community College with twin sisters Cassandra and Lupita Vilavicencio moving on to play with Treasure Valley Community College.
The four students started playing soccer 10 years ago. They admitted it was their parents that persuaded them to get involved in the sport.
"We all wanted to start a soccer team, but there wasn't one in Glenns Ferry," Lupita Vilavicencio said.
Undeterred, they joined the competitive soccer league in Mountain Home with the help of Verna Weiss, who serves as the registrar with the Idaho Youth Soccer Association. Over the past decade, these teens continued to participate during the spring and fall soccer programs with 20 consecutive seasons under their belts.
Early on, their parents emphasized they could continue playing if they liked the sport, Cassandra Vilavicencio said.
"And it never stopped," said Crone regarding her ongoing love of the game.
But it wasn't with its fair share of challenges and frustrations, she added.
"I was told I was too short to play defense," she said. "But I told all the coaches that I loved playing defense."
When Crone took to the field to demonstrate her skills and aggressiveness, it convinced her coaches to change their minds.
"She's such a scrapper, my parents would say," she added.
Over the years, Crone also made it a point to ensure her jersey included the number 8, which became a tradition of sorts, she said.
During her time at Grays Harbor, she's looking at majoring in elementary education with plans of going on to become a teacher after graduation. She also plans to coach soccer as well.
Lupita Vilavicencio plays goalie for the girls team, which allows her to fuel her competitive spirit.
"It's a great feeling stopping those shots," she said.
In addition, she enjoys playing elsewhere on the field when possible. It allows her to play aggressively while tearing across the ground.
Her love of the sport kept her going over the past 10 years. It allows her to stay connected with her teammates, which are her close friends on and off the field.
She plans to major in nursing during her time at TVCC and to become a registered nurse after graduating.
Cassandra Vilavicencio, who plays as a forward and midfielder, set her sights on wanting to play for a college team shortly after she got involved with the sport.
"There's a sense of accomplishment, and I fell in love with the sport," she said. "I love the competitiveness of the sport and being active."
While she had been involved in other sports over the years, it was soccer that "stuck" with her.
"I can be pretty sneaky (on the field), but I can mix it up as necessary," she said.
The teen plans to major in pre-veterinary medicine during her time at TVCC. She hopes to become a veterinary technician after college.
Griggs started playing sports at a young age, starting with basketball before moving onto the soccer ranks.
"I've always been very competitive," said Griggs regarding her passion for playing sports. "I thought soccer would be fun, so I tried it and have loved it ever since."
Normally on the field as the team's forward but can fill in at midfield as necessary, Griggs admits that it's her leg strength that gives her an advantage against her opponents. That leg strength packs a powerful "punch," she said.
Over the next four years at Edmonds, she plans on majoring in marketing while keeping her options open on her job opportunities after graduation. She expects to conclude her soccer career at that point and isn't sure if she wants to become a coach to teach the next generation of soccer students since she isn't very patient working with children she said.
Weiss applauded the accomplishments of these students and their chance to go on to continue to play soccer after high school.
"They may not be 'big' colleges, but you know what? It doesn't matter," Weiss said. "These girls... are living proof you can make your dreams happen."
The ceremony marked the second consecutive year that a soccer player from Glenns Ferry signed to join a college-level team.
Last year, Anna Orr signed her letter of intent to play for Sierra Nevada College.