By Blake Chadwick
Being a goalkeeper is always one of the hardest positions to play. Especially when you start playing as a freshman in high school. For Gael Parra, switching positions was hard, but necessary.
“I started playing keeper the summer going into my Freshman year,” Parra said. “It was mentally tough as my whole life I’ve always known the field. Being a keeper also taught me to never get up even when times are tough. My freshman year consisted of a lot of learning, with lots of work in the off season I was able to start and play Varsity every game since my sophomore year.”
Parra helped lead the Salthawks to an 11-2-4 season with five clean sheets, while being named an all-league honorable mention player.
“Gael is a hard worker and a natural leader, always a high energy guy in training as well as the games,” head coach Cirildo Vargas said. “Not only does he have countless phenomenal saves in his highlight reel, but he also has the rarity of a box to box keeper goal from last year. We are fortunate to have a solid reliable player in goal, recently voted a team captain by his teammates, Gael will be vital to our team’s success this season.”
As a goalkeeper for the Salthawks, Parra has always had a lot of leadership resting on his shoulders, and now as a senior, there is even more.
“I’ve always believed that attitude is contagious,” Parra said. “Staying positive helps me push through challenges, and also lifts up my team when things get hard. A lot of it comes from my love for the game. I love playing, competing, and growing with my team. I know that we’re better when we support each other, so I make an effort to bring good energy and encourage each other.”
