Palo Duro athletes sign to continue careers in running, wrestling, soccer

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Seven Palo Duro athletes signed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level across running, wrestling and soccer.

Cross Country and Track & Field

Three athletes signed to the next level. Sabrina Carbajal and Melanie Garcia will stay as teammates and stay local, competing for Amarillo College. Abdihafit Mohamed will change time zones and run for New Mexico Junior College.

All athletes have been key roles for the Dons and Lady Dons cross country and track program and all share the same sentiment about being excited to compete on the collegiate stage.

Mohamed said the opportunity aligned with his goals.

“I found New Mexico and I felt like it had the best financially and the best opportunity because it’s one of the top JUCOs in the nation,” Mohamed said.

Carbajal said the decision made sense academically and athletically.

“I know that AC has a good nursing program and I know that their cross-country program is really like growing and I’m like I’m looking forward to it you know like and it’s close to my family so like it was the best option for me,” Garcia said.

Garcia said coaching made a difference in her development.

“Coaches have helped me motivated so much. Coach Harris came my freshman year and helped me grow my time into a better running pace,” Carbajal said.

Wrestling

Talent from the high school wrestling mat at Palo Duro made their decision to continue on in their college careers. Jasmine Vick and Niko Villalon both stuck together as teammates and will take their talents to Roseburg, Oregon, to wrestle for Umpqua College.

During their high school career at Palo Duro, both grapplers were heavy contenders within the district and the state.

Head coach Jose Alvarez said having them on the team brought a different level of intensity and energy for younger athletes and they deserve to be celebrated.

Both future Riverhawks said they are ready to take the next step in their collegiate journey.

Villalon said the coaching staff’s track record influenced his decision.

“Coaches, they’re, the way they talk about them, the way that he has sent a lot of kids off to bigger programs and how he has took a lot of kids all over the world and really just exploring out there with all those guys,” Villalon said.

Vick said the program’s reputation and competition level appealed to her.

“Just how going further there they have one of the best programs and they have girls that could really push me to my limits,” Vick said.

Soccer

Eliel Baray and Leo Gomes are taking their teammate chemistry on the soccer pitch from Palo Duro to the University of Southwest, signing their national letters of intent together.

The two seniors helped guide the Dons to a second place district finish this past season. Now that their book on high school ball is closed, they know the work it will take to be successful at the next level.

Gomes said the approach remains the same.

“Pretty much just work hard. Don’t let anything stop you. Injuries or not or anything to stop you just play to the max, play to that last whistle and things can happen,” Gomes said.

Baray said reaching the next level fulfills a longtime goal.

“It feels great moving on, you know it’s basically everybody’s dream when they start playing soccer is get on to the next level, big level,” Baray said.

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