Page 6 - Reedley Exponent 1-24-19 E-edition

VELARDE Continued from page A1
He leaves next week to at- tend training camp for the 2019 season that begins in March with a road trip to Florida to play against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“All of a sudden, some- thing clicked,” said Velar- de of his two-year stretch of prowess. “I really don’t know what happened. I started feeling good, and all the hard work started to pay off. Something just struck me and I started being the player I imagined. I wasn’t a kid anymore. I was a man.”
Velarde said he was known as a good player, but never one he felt could play at a professional level.
“My senior year [at Fres- no Pacific] was either the year to prove that, or fold. It came together,” he said. “I knew what I could do, I just didn’t know it was going to be possible. Everything is timing, and everything came together. It was nice.”
Velarde earned his bach- elor’s degree in kinesiology, and used his time at Fresno Pacific not only to get an education but also perfect his game under coach Jaime Ramirez. And Velarde’s was a sweet game, with the 48 points as a senior the most by any Sunbird since the school joined the NCAA in 2013.
“It could be argued that he turned in the best statis- tical season of any player in the nation, and he ranks among the top players at his position to ever wear a Sunbird uniform,” Ramirez said. “It’s been incredible to watch him represent our program as a player and as a person, and we wish him all the best as he begins his career at the next level.”
That next level became possible when Velarde was invited to the San Jose Earthquakes facility for an initial tryout in early De- cember. That was followed by a two-day pay-your-way tryout with the Pittsburgh team Dec. 18-19. It was the
first time Velarde had ever been back east.
“Honestly, I wasn’t ner- vous at all,” he said about the tryout. “I went in there thinking ‘I’m going to play my game. If they like me, they like me. I’m going with whatever I have now. If I’m good enough, then they’ll take me. If I’m not good enough, then I’m done and I’ll go continue my career
and education.”
Velarde delivered on his
opportunity. He scored four goals in two games and dis- played his ability. Before his flight to California took off, he was told by Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley that he would hear by email if a con- tract offer was in the works. Velarde later found out from Ramirez that he indeed would be receiving a contract.
ABOVE: A file photo shows An- thony Velarde from his earlier playing days at Fresno Pacific University. Velarde recently signed a professional contract to play with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the United Soccer League.
LEFT: Velarde celebrates after scoring a goal in a 2018 match. He was selected as a first team All-American by the Division
II Conference Commissioners Association.
Fresno Pacific University / Photos Contributed
“It was — I wouldn’t say shocking, because I kind of had a feeling — but it still didn’t hit me until they of- ficially announced that now I’m a pro soccer player. That’s when it really hit me.”
Lilley wasn’t shy in his praise of Velarde.
“Anthony is a very gift- ed technical player who also brings creativity and sophistication in attack-
My senior year [at Fresno Pacific] was either the year to prove that, or fold. It came together. I knew what I could do, I just didn’t know it was going to be possible.
— Anthony Velarde
ing areas,” Lilley said. “We feel he can bring goals and assists, and are excited to help him make the jump from college to the profes- sional game.”
Velarde has been signed to a rookie contract with the Riverhounds, whose season runs about nine months. The team’s final game will be in late October.
“Hopefully the next year it’s a lot better [contract],” he said. “Or a chance at the MLS [Major League Soccer, the highest level U.S. pro league]. I have the ability to do that, maybe even go to Europe.”
Before he leaves town on Feb. 1, Velarde contin- ues to live at his parents’ house near Grant Middle School. His father, Antonio, and mother, Silvia, took him to games throughout his childhood,. That included his siblings, older brother Eric (now the Pirates’ boys varsity coach) and younger brother Christian.
Anthony said he’s proud to represent the Central Valley, and Reedley in par- ticular.
“I’m glad that we can give exposure to Reedley,” he said. “We’ve always had quality players, but never had that player that made it to the professional level or even to star at the college level. I’ve been hitting those goals, and would like to be an example.
“I wasn’t special. I wasn’t a prodigy. I used hard work, dedication and having the good circle around you. My brothers, parents and family backing me up.”
RC FORUM Continued from page A1
at the Reedley College Stu- dent Center. The public is invited.
Berry — vice president of administrative services at RC for nearly seven years before taken on the interim label when Sandra Caldwell left the state for to become executive direc- tor of the Wyoming Com- munity College Commis- sion — will speak at the forum from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Buckley — who once was a former vice presi- dent of instruction for the San Diego Community Col- lege District — will speak from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Prior to coming to Reedley College, Berry was at Porterville College for seven years. There, she served as director of administrative services, director of business ser- vices and information technology, foundation treasurer and adjunct in- structor. She earned her MBA at University of Phoenix, her B.A. in busi- ness administration-ac- countancy at Fresno State and her A.A. in business administration from Por- terville College.
At the Grossmont- Cuyamaca Community College District, Buckley held the positions of senior dean of planning research & institutional effective- ness, acting vice president of academic affairs, dean, interim associate dean and professor. He earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership from San Diego State University, his M.A. in biology from CSU, Ful- lerton, his B.S. in biologi- cal sciences from USC and is a graduate of LACCD/ UCLA Presidents Acad- emy.
Candidates will an- swer pre-submitted ques- tions. If time allows, questions from the audi- ence will be addressed. The deadline to submit questions online is noon on Monday, Jan. 28. Send questions to Sareang. Nhim@scccd.edu.
The Reedley Exponent A6 Thursday, January 24, 2019
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