RIVERSIDE

Almost reaching maximum capacity, the Highland Boardroom was filled to bursting last Thursday with family, teammates, and coaches all present to support the double signing day of Highland seniors Jared Diaz and Jaydee Macareno.

Putting pen to paper, both Diaz (committing to Waldorf University) and Macareno (committing to Grand View University) signed letters of intent to continue their soccer careers at the college level.

“I was a bit nervous at first, but when I saw all my friends, I was kind of thankful,” Diaz said about his signing day. “Because this is the community we have, and the fact that we’re all friends and that they’re out here supporting us on our signing day. It means a lot to me.”

“It’s gonna be memorable. It’s always gonna be in my heart,” Macareno said about her signing day. “And just to see how everyone has come out and supported us on this journey, it’s pretty outstanding,”

Trading Highland Huskies red for Waldorf Warriors purple, Diaz made a visit to the college campus located in Forest City back in the beginning of February and was impressed by what he saw and the coaches he met.

“I thought the coach had a good idea of soccer, and it basically determined where I was going,” Diaz said about his decision to play college soccer for Waldorf.

During Macareno’s decision process she visited three schools: Clark, Waldorf, and Grandview. While Waldorf was a strong consideration, in the end it was Des Moines’ Grand View University that won Macareno over.

“Grandview was just my school. I really thought I was gonna go to Waldorf, but Grandview was a good fit,” Macareno said. “Everything about the coach, everything about the education program, was intriguing.”

With one more season with Highand to look forward to before making the leap to college, both Diaz and Macareno are looking forward to making their senior years ones to remember.

“I really thought about it and I just want to make it far and have a winning record and make it past the first round,” Diaz said about his goals for his senior season. “Highland hasn’t done that, so I want to be the team that brings it to the next round.”

Hoping to outdo his impressive junior year, last season Diaz led the Huskies in goals (13), assists (4), and was named first team all-conference in the SEISC-North.

As a junior Macareno was an honorable mention all-conference and finished  the year with three assists.

“It’s the last ride,” Macareno said about her senior season. “There’s nothing to really lose this last season, so just give it your all.”

Highland finished with five wins last year, the most for the program since 2015 and they will begin its new campaign playing against Mid-Prairie on the road in the season opener on April 1.