Gael Castro and Itzel Meza become next in line to commit to college baseball
YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) – Amid the success of many student-athletes walking the halls of Cibola High School, two more standout dirt lifters at Raider Field committed to the collegiate level Wednesday.
In front of a well-supporting crowd, Itzel Meza signed with the University of Ottawa of Arizona to join the Spirit in the fall, while Gael Castro signed his name to Yavapai College football in Prescott soon after.
In Meza’s four years of college soccer, he scored 39 career goals, 19 of them in his outstanding senior season, which was good for sixth-place all-around 6A, while winning Region Offensive Player of the Year. Desert Southwest 6A.
However, it has always been his positive mindset and calm leadership that stood out above the rest.
“Her teammates flow to her. She always gravitated towards the ball and the game was hers. Her teammates saw that and harnessed her energy on the court,” Cibola head coach Andrés Preciado said. “She’s always been a leader. She’s quiet, but she leads by the way she plays.”
Something that Meza will look to take to the next level, along with a constant positive mindset.
“I think the mentality is everything. Positivity,” Meza said. “At Cibola, we had our ups and downs just like every other team and school, and I feel like keeping my head up all the time is what I need to have a positive attitude no matter what.”
With an eye for numbers, Meza plans to major in accounting in his time off the field.
Shortly after paying homage to Itzel with endless photos with family and friends, it was Gael Castro’s turn to take up the pen and commit to his future in soccer.
Castro, like Meza, will stay in Arizona but head to Prescott to play college baseball with aspirations of having a good couple of seasons and venturing to the Division I level.
Castro spent four years on the court for Bryan Claudio’s varsity team, where he learned to become a leader. Eventually, he earned a captain’s sash his senior year, a year in which he was also named to the Desert Southwest Region’s First Team 6A roster.
For Gael, becoming captain was the moment that everything changed towards a future on the pitch for him.
“I think a great moment was my last year when coach Claudio decided to put me as captain, so it was a big responsibility for me,” Castro said. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I was a freshman. So it feels good to achieve something I’ve been working so hard for, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Castro plans to study civil engineering at Yavapai and adds that he wants the people of Cibola and the Yuma community to remember him as a good teammate and friend who can be counted on anytime.
We congratulate both Itzel and Gael, along with the Cibola athletic community on these great accomplishments and wish them the best.
