CCHS Senior Kicks to New Heights

Photo courtesy of Ryan Parra

BY AJ KURZMAN

The word “successful” is one that is heard quite often in the world of sports.  A player who scores the winning point of a match or outruns the rest of their team can be called “successful.”  However, when a high school soccer player is given the opportunity to travel to Germany to show their skill, “successful” seems too common a term.  Being able to travel to a different part of the world to show foreign teams what they’re made of is every high school athlete’s fantasy, but for Cooper City High School Senior Ryan Parra, it’s a reality.

Parra plays for a local soccer team, the Plantation Eagles U17. They are competing in the State Cup this year, a tournament between Florida soccer teams to determine who among them wins the state title. Success in this State Cup allows for a chance to compete regionally and, if a team prevails again, nationally.  Parra’s love for soccer burns bright; eventually, his dedication and skill payed off, and has earned him the opportunity to go abroad to Germany to play against the best of the best.

“One of my coaches offered the program to the team, and, after talking to my parents about it, I decided that it was in my best interest if I really wanted to try to achieve my dream,” Parra said. “For as long as I can remember, it’s been my dream to play soccer in a stadium full of shouting fans.”

Like many, Parra wants to do what he loves for a living.  Regardless of whether he’s in the big leagues or plays a position in a lesser known team, he knows that if he can make his living on pursuing his passion, he’ll be happy. With the invaluable support from friends and family, Parra is rising to the challenge, hoping to be that much closer to making his dreams tangible.

“He definitely deserves this opportunity,” teammate Joshua Lovins said.  “He shows great leadership on and off the field, leading the team with dedication and pride and always proving that he is a strong and great player.”

Photo courtesy of Ryan Parra

Parra has been training for his dream since he was five years old; in that time, he has polished his technique and is ready for the next level. Soon, Lovins and he will become the co-captains of the soccer team, which will allow them to channel their passions for the game to lead the team to new heights.

“Soccer has taught me a lot about togetherness and the importance of family,” Parra said. “My team is very close and I treat them like they’re my brothers.”

Through the trip to Germany and the opportunity to be a team captain, Parra hopes to expand his abilities by leaps and bounds before college. In the meantime before the trip, however, he’s choosing to focus his efforts on helping his team achieve success in the State Cup. To Parra, his teammates are as important as his dreams. Once the state tournament is over, he is going to adopt a rigorous training regimen, in order to be up to par with the players he’ll be kicking alongside in Europe.

“The biggest obstacle I’ve faced is myself,” Parra said. “There are a lot of days that you don’t play at a high enough level, and it’s hard not to get down on yourself. You’ve just got to keep going, and the biggest thing that keeps me going is my dream.”