Colquitt soccer program says goodbye to 21 senior players
Published 6:14 pm Monday, April 3, 2023
- Lady Packer seniors in alphabetical order: Adalia Hernandez, Adriana Santiago-Rojo, Haylie Linsley, Jacey Wetherington, Jessica Sanchez, Laura Bryan and Yaquelin Aguilar.
MOULTRIE, Ga. — At the end of the 2022-23 season, Colquitt County varsity soccer will be saying goodbye to 14 Packers and seven Lady Packers senior athletes.
For the Packers, they are:
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Luke Brogdon
Position: forward, midfield and defender
Why soccer: “It’s a family sport. I started playing at three years old.”
Favorite aspect: “Winning — there is no better feeling.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Beating Tift County on Senior Night.”
Brogdon plans to continue his soccer career at Georgia Southern as a preferred walk in the center back position
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Rene Dominguez
Position: goalkeeper
Why soccer: “My older cousins played and motivated me.”
Favorite aspect: “You get to meet different people from different places and for 80 minutes you have no worries.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Beating Tifton senior night.”
Jackson Glenn
Position: goalkeeper
Why soccer: “I played when I was younger, but got back into it about three years ago. It’s a way to hang out with friends.”
Favorite aspect: “As a goalkeeper I feel like I have control of the game, and I love being able to spend everything playing this sport with the people I love the most.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Being able to come out my senior year and have one last year.”
Luis Corona
Position: midfield
Why soccer: “I would watch it on TV with my dad. I liked how the ball moved around.”
Favorite aspect: “The adrenaline when you play makes everything else fade away.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Bus rides on the way home.”
Eric Garcia
Position: midfield and defender
Why soccer: “My older brother was a Packer.”
Favorite aspect: “The teamwork. I love all the moving parts and seeing the product of the entire team working together.”
Favorite Packer memory: “The night we beat Tifton. I got injured in the second game of the season, and watched from the bench. It hurt to not play, but it’s my team and I can’t help but be happy for them.”
Yudi Duvergel Jr.
Position: midfield and defender
Why soccer: “My Uncle showed me a lot of sports when I was young, and something about soccer was different. It was freeing.”
Favorite aspect: “When we all come together as a team and we are all having fun. That’s the best part.”
Favorite Packer memory: “It hasn’t happened yet, but Yoyo is going to score. That will be the best.”
Jose Espinoza “Yoyo”
Position: defender
Why soccer: “My dad played and had a big passion for it. I fell in love with the competition.”
Favorite aspect: “I love coming out and practicing with my brothers. We all have the same goal and come together for the love of a sport.”
Favorite Packer memory: “When I scored my first goal playing against Tifton last year. Beating them on senior night too.”
Samuel Jimenez
Position: midfield
Why soccer: “I grew up playing it.”
Favorite aspect: “Playing with friends and having a good time smiling and having fun.”
Favorite Packer memory: “That we are currently undefeated in region this year. It would be perfect to end the senior year with all my friends being undefeated.”
Yahir Cleto
Position: defender
Why soccer: “My older brother played so I would play with them.”
Favorite aspect: “Having fun with my friends.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Being undefeated so far this year.”
Josue Ramirez
Position: defender
Why soccer: “I would always play with my brothers.”
Favorite aspect: “When we score. I love how we celebrate as a team after.”
Favorite Packer memory: Beating Richmond Hill in penalties when we played them the first time this season.”
Giovanni Pascual
Position: midfield
Why soccer: “It was just for fun at first, but it just felt right and I got good.”
Favorite aspect: “I get to see my body at its full potential and being physical. You can do things on the field you can’t do anywhere else.”
Favorite Packer memory: “When I scored my first goal in 10th grade. It was against Tifton and it was a pretty goal — I hit the ball on a bounce and it flew into the goal.”
Fernando Bautista
Position: forward, midfield and defender
Why soccer: “I love the intensity and the fans. Plus it’s always fun.”
Favorite aspect: “Celebrating with my team after every win.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Just having fun and enjoying the sport with my friends.”
Jacobo Rodriguez
Position: goalkeeper
Why soccer: “I would watch it on TV and my older family members played.”
Favorite aspect: “As a goalie, I really like the adrenaline you get after saving a shot.”
Favorite Packer memory: “When we beat Richmond Hill in overtime earlier this season.”
Iszac Doroteo
Position: goalkeeper, defender
Why soccer: “My dad. Plus, seeing it on TV.”
Favorite aspect: “Playing it with the boys.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Making my first varsity save in ninth grade. We had fouled and they had a freekick. I went left, but the ball went right. I dove and just got the ball with my fingertips. The ball hit the post and then went out.”
For the Lady Packers:
Laura Bryan
Position: center back
Why soccer: “I came out in my eighth year having never played before. I was convinced by friends to try.”
Favorite aspect: “When we are all connecting together. I love that it takes a whole team, not just one person.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Coming to tryouts in tennis shoes and falling on my butt.”
Haylie Linsley
Position: defender
Why soccer: “I picked a sport and just stuck with it.”
Favorite aspect: “Being able to play with friends and show off my skills.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Senior night a couple weeks ago. We worked hard and won. It felt good to win as a senior on senior night.”
Jacey Wetherington
Position: goalie
Why soccer: “I played soccer second to softball. I grew to love the sport, and that you can’t do it alone.”
Favorite aspect: “This was my first year as a goalie. I did enjoy playing the field, but being a goalie taught me perspective to how it feels to be in that position.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Just all of it.”
Adriana Santiago-Rojo
Position: midfield
Why soccer: “I started playing because my dad had a big passion for it.”
Favorite aspect: “Meeting new people and making friends.”
Favorite Packer memory: “My teammates accepting me for who I am.”
Jessica Sanchez
Position: Forward
Why soccer: “Having friends and getting to play with them.”
Favorite aspect: “Scoring and cheering for goals.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Laughing and joking around with friends. Also, playing in the rain.”
Adalia Hernandez
Position: Defense
Why soccer: “I get to play with teammates.”
Favorite aspect: “When you finally score after a long time.”
Favorite Packer memory: “When we beat Camden 2-0 after going into overtime tied 0-0.”
Yaquelin Aguilar
Position: Forward
Why soccer: “My brother and sister.”
Favorite aspect: “Playing with the team.”
Favorite Packer memory: “Being able to beat Tifton on senior night.”
Next season, the varsity Packers and Lady Packers teams will have big cleats to fill as they work to replace these individuals
