Senior Sofia Neri is a naturally gifted athlete who in her senior year became captain of the Varsity Soccer Team as well as the Varsity Softball Team. During her years at UC High, she has excelled in all of  her chosen sports. “I always want to be able to do my best when I’m playing. Sports keep me busy, and I love them,” said Neri.

   Neri has been playing soccer for the majority of her life and has always had a passion for it. Her hard work and dedication to become the best player she can has shaped the person she is. “I’ve been playing and enjoying soccer for the longest time. I always have loved playing soccer because it requires a lot of agility, endurance and skill,” said Neri.

“I worked really hard, and I feel like all of the time that I put in and all the effort finally earned my spot as captain,” she said.

   Though Neri feels that she is a great player, she knows that she has some areas that she still needs to work on to be able to improve her play. “Some of the aspects of my play style that I need to work on are my dribbling and my shooting. When I am dribbling up the field, I feel that  it could be a lot cleaner than what I have been doing. My shooting is a part that I know every player, even the pros, can always improve on, but nonetheless, I know that I can still improve,” said Neri. “Same thing with soccer: I know that there are certain things that I can do better, like my fielding. I know that I am a good fielder, but my play-making and agility can always be improved upon. Another thing I know I can improve on is my hitting, because softball is a sport based around hitting, so becoming the best I can at it would be the most beneficial for the team,” Neri explained.

   Neri also has just as much passion for her play on the softball field as on the soccer field. “Along with playing soccer, I feel that I have put just as much time and effort into softball. This has allowed me to become captain of the Softball Team as well, and I will continue to put all my effort into my passions as I have [done] with softball and soccer,” said Neri.

    Softball and soccer are two different sports that require unique talents, and Neri has been able to use the skills that she has adapted from one sport to the other. “Many people don’t think that the two sports have anything in common because they are super different. I have been able to use skills that I have learned in softball in soccer, such as cutting angles and positioning, and I have used skills from soccer in softball, such as endurance and decision-making. I feel the way I have been able to balance the two has made me excel in both sports,” said Neri.

   Neri has a talent that few possess, and that is the ability to be able to focus and apply herself to many different activities at such as softball, soccer, school and her social life. “Playing two sports while still having to focus on grades is stressful, but it forces me to be on top of my life all the time,” said Neri.

   As Female Athlete of the Year, Neri has accomplished an impressive level of athleticism this year and has done a tremendous job at balancing her sports and school commitments.