Q&A with Healdsburg soccer player Viola Santana
HEALDSBURG, Calif. — A Q&A with Viola Santana who is a soccer player at Healdsburg High School.
Years in current sport: 12
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Viola Santana: I never truly decided what I wanted to do after my last year of club soccer, whether it was to quit playing or play at the collegiate level. But now I realize that I definitely want to continue playing. Also, college soccer isn’t right for me at this point. My goal is to finish out my last season, enjoy every single moment of it, and eventually join a club/intramural team.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Santana: The pregame ritual I follow is to blast music in my AirPods or on the car ride to the game to hype myself up. And, of course, drink an Enlightened Mint Yerba Mate.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Santana: It taught me that these girls are more than just my teammates, they are family, these relationships I have made go beyond the soccer field. I have created bonds with my teammates that will last a lifetime. And I am so grateful for all the people that I have met just from soccer.
What do you love about your sport?
Santana: Something I love about this sport is the level of intensity of the game. I love the feeling of fighting for the ball, of slide tackling, and when you score a goal and your whole team congratulates you. The nerves and adrenaline before every game, the feeling of running off the field with my teammates after a win, and, of course, the unforgettable memories soccer has brought me.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Santana: I have had a few big challenges in playing soccer, from time management to many injuries. Soccer has become my life, and although I have always been good at managing my time, it is hard to manage my homework and social life with soccer practice almost every single day after school and games almost every weekend. But I’ve done it because of the amount of love I have for this sport. I have made it my priority. I have missed vacations, friends’ and family’s birthdays and even school for this sport. And it has been challenging, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I seem to attract injuries when playing soccer, which has been challenging. In the first game of my sophomore year, I got my teeth knocked out by an opponent’s forearm. It was an intense tackle, and her arm swung back and hit my face. Then I was left with two front teeth dangling out of my mouth. Later had to get my left front tooth surgically removed. It was challenging to return after this injury, I was scared and hesitant to get back on the field, but eventually, I realized that things happen for a reason, and I could overcome this obstacle.
I now wear a mouthguard in soccer along with headgear to protect myself. I have owned the way I look and embrace my toothless smile. Another injury that has been extremely challenging to manage is my concussions, which is another reason why I am not playing at the collegiate level. I have suffered from several concussions that have affected me greatly in soccer and my day-to-day life. I now deal with intense migraines from my many concussions that will happen randomly. It is challenging to get these during a game or practice where I have to sit out and rest when all I want to do is get back out there, but I have realized that my health is a priority. The migraines also affect my learning, comprehending, and completing my work. Soccer brought many challenges to me, but I have dedicated myself and learned to deal with these challenges for this sport.
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