Mexico senior Fernando Guzman has shown much growth on the field but has grown around great teammates.
Guzman wants to continue to have camaraderie as that is why he made his college soccer …
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Mexico senior Fernando Guzman has shown much growth on the field but has grown around great teammates.
Guzman wants to continue to have camaraderie as that is why he made his college soccer destination NJCAA Hesston College — part of the 21-school Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference — in a ceremony Monday at the Mexico Sports Complex.
Guzman finished his Bulldog career as a multiple-time North Central Missouri Conference player, earning his final selection this past season for his 10 goals, six assists and two blocked shots. The senior made it clear that comfort and his teammates have always been important to him with his college choice.
“I went on a college visit, and I talked with the coach and the team,” Guzman said. “They all looked friendly and all that. It seemed like a nice environment, and that’s what matters. I’m happy with who I chose.”
Guzman said he has many teammates over the years as he started in the age range of 8-10, playing for area YMCA and other club teams.
It wasn’t until junior year, however, that Guzman said he had college potential. Mexico head coach Bill Gleeson said he noticed around that time as well.
“Toward the end of his sophomore year, he moved up to varsity and played a little varsity,” Gleeson said. “We moved him up because he did anything that we asked. I was like, ‘Hey, I’d like to see you try this’ and he tried it. He’s very coachable so I knew he was going to do good things.”
Gleeson said it is great to see where Guzman is now from where he first started coaching him as a freshman. Guzman helped lead the Bulldogs to an 8-16 record — an improvement from three wins a season ago — and a district win against Wright City to mark the program’s first playoff win in three years.
“He was a super tiny little freshman and now he is where he is able to hold his own a lot on the field,” Gleeson said. “He improved a lot of ball control and just being able to read the field. He was a huge improvement, which helped us be as successful as we were this season.”
Much work has been put in during four years at Mexico High School, Gleeson said, and he knows Guzman will continue that trend.
“It’s fun and exciting to see one of your players that’s been with me for four years to be able to move on to the next level,” Gleeson said.
Guzman said he has been grateful and will continue to show gratitude for the support from his friends and family, who were with him during Monday’s ceremony. The senior took a moment to proudly display the flag of Mexico to show that his nationality, his loved ones and God will always be with him through thick and thin.
All of that has helped Guzman grow into the person he is today, and he said he is eager to grow as a player as well.
“I feel like there is still a lot of room to grow, but I feel like I am prepared for college,” Guzman said. “Obviously, I’m going to put in a lot of work to become better, but I’m happy.”
