PAGE A16, KEIZERTIMES, AUGUST 6, 2021
Salazar starts pro career as teenager
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
After spending nearly a year at the
Barcelona Soccer Academy in Arizona,
Alex Salazar got the opportunity
to advance in his soccer career this
summer.
The former McNary soccer star
signed a contract in June to play in
North Carolina for the semi-profes-
sional team Wake FC of USL League
Two.
As an 18-year old, Salazar was the
youngest player on the team.
“It was a great feeling to be able
to take advantage of an opportunity I
know every 18-year old doesn’t get. I
just feel really blessed to be where I am
at,” Salazar said. “Being the youngest
guy on the team was insane. I was play-
ing with 26 and 27-year olds, but they
all made me feel very welcome. Playing
with those older guys pushed me to be
better.”
Before signing with Wake FC,
Salazar helped the Barcelona Soccer
Academy to a #1 ranking in the country
for high school academies.
“It was amazing to play at the acad-
emy. They do a really good job of teach-
ing you and preparing you on and off
the fi eld,” Salazar said. “I really felt at
home there. Coaches were really sup-
portive and cared about you and saw
you as more than a soccer player.”
Salazar was also able to train for 10
days this summer with CD Leganés, a
Spanish team just outside of Madrid.
“That experience left me speechless.
Soccer is all they know in Spain. I saw
kids in the street playing all the time,”
Salazar said. “The level of play was
incredibly high.”
As his academy season was coming
to an end, Wake FC head coach Gary
Heale saw fi lm of Salazar playing at the
Barcelona Academy and made him an
off er to come play for his team.
“My coach was super excited to
have me and said that I liked the way I
played,” Salazar said. “It defi nitely gave
me more exposure.”
After not playing in front of fans
for over a year, it was a surreal expe-
rience for Salazar to sign autographs
for youngsters after games and play in
front of thousands of people.
“It was nothing like I had ever expe-
rienced. There would be kids coming
up to me after games and asking for
SPORTS
Former McNary soccer player Alex Salazar played five games with Wake FC of USL League Two earlier this summer.
autographs and for my shoes or jer- a scholarship to play at Fresno Pacifi c
sey. It was an unbelievable feeling and University in the fall.
something I will never forget,” Salazar
“I am really thankful to get a
said.
Salazar played in fi ve
of the team’s fi nal seven
It was a great feeling to
games as a defender.
He recorded an assist
be able to take advantage
in his second game
of an opportunity I know
with the team, and
played all 90 minutes
every 18-year old doesn't
in a contest against the
North Carolina Fusion
get. I just feel really
U23 team.
blessed to be
Although
Wake
FC is a professional
where I am at.
team that pays their
players,
Salazar
elected not to col-
lect a paycheck in
— ALEX SALAZAR
order to keep his
Former McNary soccer player
college
eligibility
— Salazar accepted
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scholarship and be able to play at
Fresno Pacifi c. I am ready to get to
work to win a conference title,” Salazar
said.
Despite having a four-year scholar-
ship, Salazar admitted that he would
leave school if he got an opportunity to
play a high level of professional soccer.
He is hoping that moment happens
sooner rather than later.
“I am trying to go pro as soon as pos-
sible. I want to do whatever it takes to
play in the MLS or in Europe,” Salazar
said. “I just need to continue my hard
work and show people how much I
want it."
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