Taking it to the next level
Austin soccer players taking their games to the college ranks “The passion will always be there, but playing at a higher level made it even bigger.”
Abel Gebrekiros, who spent his senior season with the Packers after moving from Ethiopia to Austin, was one of the first trend setters as he recently finished his third season at Division I Gardner Webb. GebreThe Austin Packer boys soccer team has grown by leaps and bounds kiros racked up 10 goals in his first 26 games and he had three assists over the past five years and now the program is having an impact well in 14 games in the 2021 season. beyond Austin. Henry Tolbert, who was Minnesota’s Mr. Soccer winner in his senior The Packers are starting to produce some solid college players and season with the Packers, played at Iowa Lakes Community College last some Austin grads are even pulling in athletic scholarships. Andres fall, where he scored five goals and had two assists in 20 games. Garcia was part of a class that won four Big Nine titles and four Section Garcia still plays with highly talented players and is motivated by 1A titles for Austin and now he is getting his feet wet with a fresh start playing next to them. in St. Cloud State University, which dropped football for soccer recent“The passion will always be there, but playing at a higher level ly. made it even bigger,” Garcia said. “It was hard on our bodies to play Garcia is part of a group of players that are hoping to build a new Andres Garcia two games in three days in the weekends, but we kept going. I’m very program. excited. I feel like we can go somewhere with this program. I can’t “The pressure was definitely there, but we all chose St. Cloud bewait for these next few years.” cause we wanted to start something new and build a good program here in St. Cloud,” Garcia may be focused on his college career, but he still has his sights set on Austin. He Garcia said. was able to get back to the Packer Dome occasionally to work out with the current Packer Garcia led the Huskies with eight goals in 16 games in his freshman season. It took him team, which includes his younger brother, Aidan Martinez. a little while to catch up to the speed of Division II soccer, but he was able to get there by Garcia has high hopes for the end of the year. Aidan and all of the future “It was a good first year. It’s Packer teams. different from high school,” “My brother has always Garcia said. “It’s way more been there for me and I’ve intense with older and bigger always been there for him,” guys. I wasn’t starting at first, Garcia said. “I tell him to keep but I got my rhythm back and doing his things and I hope it went well from there.” that he overtakes me and Garcia began playing socgoes to the Division I level. cer when his mom signed him I’ve always known what he is up for the sport as a four-year capable of and I expected that old. As he grew up in Austin, from him.” P he had plenty of soccer role models to look up to. By Rocky Hulne
Austin alumni Andres Garcia punches a shot forward for St. Cloud State University.
Photos provided by St. Cloud State University
68 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022
