DECEMBER 31, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A25
Salazar starts pro career
as teenager
After spending nearly a year at the
Barcelona Soccer Academy in Arizona,
Alex Salazar got the opportunity to
advance in his soccer career over the
summer.
The former McNary midfi elder
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.”
Salazar played in fi ve of the team’s
fi nal seven games as a defender. He
recorded an assist in his second game
with the team, and played all 90 minutes
in a contest against the North Carolina
Pet
P
e
e
hap
Fusion U23 team.
Although Wake FC is a professional
team that pays their players, Salazar
elected not to collect a paycheck in order
to keep his college eligibility — Salazar
accepted a scholarship to play at Fresno
Pacifi c University.
Continued, page A27
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