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Seniors Taylor Seuis and Gabby Villa signed onto college sports teams this spring after dedicating years of their childhoods to practices, tournaments, strength training, and skills lessons. Seuis signed a letter of intent with the soccer team at The Master’s University. Villa accepted a softball scholarship from Loyola Marymount. Both are excited to be college athletes and Berean Christian alumni.
Taylor remembers playing family soccer games in the backyard with her dad and two siblings. “My dad is really athletic,” she says. “He always wanted me to play soccer.” Taylor says she’s been playing soccer since she was four years old with the encouragement of her father. “It’s been a great way to bond with my dad.”
Taylor has also played softball and volleyball during her growing up years. She’s had a hard time deciding which sport she really loved most. For a time, she played travel softball. But in the end, she chose soccer. “I always felt naturally good at soccer,” says Taylor. “And I put a lot more time and effort into soccer than other sports.”
For Taylor, the value in playing soccer hasn’t just come from winning on the field. She says that playing soccer gives her a chance to be an example to other players on the field. She works hard and plays hard to glorify God. The soccer pitch is her mission field.
Soccer has also given her opportunities to learn important life skills like how to work with teammates. She enjoys learning about the people on her team to better understand them and be a better teammate to them. Growing up taking sports as seriously as she does has also forced Taylor to learn how to manage her time between different priorities. Keeping up with her schoolwork hasn’t been easy with commitments she’s held on soccer teams. There were times when she had to skip a soccer practice in order to finish an important school project.
Taylor is excited to be a college student at The Master’s University. It’s a school that she’s had her eye on for more reasons than just playing on the soccer team. It’s a great school. Many of the teachers at Berean Christian are graduates of The Master’s University. Taylor is thinking about getting a business degree but doesn’t know where God will take her career after that – maybe management or human resources. Either way, Taylor is looking forward to enjoying the independence that college experience provides.
While Taylor dabbled in multiple sports, Gabby focused on just one – softball. She’s been playing since she was ten years old. “I’m a utility shortstop. I’ve played every position except pitcher.”
Gabby has surrounded herself with other girls who have the same goal: work hard to be the best athlete you can and earn a scholarship to a division one school. Gabby plays on a team that is ranked tenth in the nation for eighteen and under softball. “Everyone on the team has signed onto a college team,” Gabby says.
The travel softball league takes up most of Gabby’s time throughout the year, but she has also had the opportunity to play the game wearing a Berean Christian jersey. “The Berean team is young right now,” she says. As a senior, Gabby has played a role as player/coach on the team. “I really love working with the younger players,” she says. Berean has given her opportunities to develop her leadership skills as she mentors younger players.
Softball has given Gabby a focus in her life that she might not otherwise have. Playing the sport at this level has taught her about the sacrifice one needs to make in order to play among the best in the league. She found it hard to maintain friendships at home when she was always heading out the door to the next practice or tournament.
Playing on travel teams has also taught Gabby how to work with lots of different types of people from different backgrounds and perspectives. According to her, it’s been good preparation for entering a work environment.
“I’ve learned to be more coachable,” she says. “I learned how to take constructive criticism and how to be a team player.” Softball has also given her self-confidence. She says that she’s bolder now, she knows when and how to use her voice and speak up for herself when needed.
Gabby is not sure what career path she might follow. But the combination of a life dedicated to a sport with the encouragement and guidance she’s received from Berean Christian teachers has made her consider pursuing a career in teaching and coaching.
Because of the work these two student athletes have put into soccer and softball they have earned a place in collegiate sports. Congratulations to Taylor Seuis and Gabby Villa. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for you next.