Many student-athletes struggle to juggle school, practices, games, and travel, but Aubriella Delgado has mastered this routine. “To be honest, juggling everything is probably the hardest part,” she remarked. “To finish everything, you must learn to prioritize your time and make excellent plans. Additionally, you must always prioritize your studies. You can’t play without school. Her academic motivation stems from her “student before athlete” mentality. “Without good grades, you can’t go anywhere in soccer, especially if you want to play in college,” Aubriella said. “Getting good grades has always been my goal. I always put school first, even though I loved soccer.
Her days usually begin early. In order to get a productive start before driving to school, Aubriella gets up at 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. She takes advantage of her free sixth period to finish assignments that she won’t be able to complete
during the week. She immediately goes to practice or a game after school. “One of my teammates and I like to run a mile for a cool-down and extra conditioning after practice,” shecontinued.
Aubriella excels in high-pressure plays as a defender. “Getting a really good play on defense, especially a one-on-one, is my favorite feeling,” she remarked. “I was well-known for my slide tackling in the past. I’m just pleased when our team performs well as a whole, but scoring is also pretty cool, especially as a defender.
When someone is feeling fatigued or overworked, their motivation may wane. According to one player, who spoke with an honest opinion about this subject, “This could be one of the hardest things about the season.” A strong motivating factor in helping her to stay focused is being part of a team and playing for the seniors. “I lose that feeling of fatigue or being overwhelmed once I get settled into the flow of the game.”
Aubriella’s love for soccer started early, thanks to her mom. “My mom inspired me. She started me out when I was three, and she was also a defender. She always pushed me to be my best. The older I got, the more I fell in love with the game.” Her biggest advice for younger players is simple: don’t stress yourself out to the point where it holds you back. “Stressing isn’t going to get you anywhere. Calm yourself down and come up with a game plan. Stay in the moment and don’t take the time for granted, it goes by really fast.”
Aubriella’s favorite high school soccer memory happened during her freshman year. “Beating Hemet High was huge. I grew up in Hemet, so I knew some of the girls on the team. We were a small school beating a big school, and I scored my first really good high school goal. It felt amazing.” Looking ahead, she hopes to continue the sport she loves. “I want to play in college. I don’t care what level. I want to go somewhere that gives me a good scholarship and a good opportunity to play college soccer.”
