Senior ready to kick off soccer season

Preparing for a new soccer season is nothing new for David Castillo.

"I've been playing soccer since I was 5," Castillo said. "So I started doing this as soon as I could run."

The East Bay High senior is presently gearing up for his fourth and final season as an Indian.

Castillo has high expectations for himself and his teammates.

"We think we can do very well this year because some of us have been playing together since sixth grade," Castillo said, referring to several classmates who also attended Eisenhower Middle. "This is the year when it all has to come together."

His coach is confident in Castillo's ability to bring everything together.

"He's been a team captain since his sophomore year, so he's obviously a natural leader," said Jonathan Drake, soccer coach. "He's also very dedicated both inside and out of the classroom.

"In the past, he'd spent his lunch hour with me working on school work which told me everything I needed to know about his dedication."

Castillo was born in Las Vegas to Guatemalan parents and moved to Florida 12 years ago.

The Riverview resident hopes to play soccer at the University of Tampa or Florida Gulf Coast University, where he will study to become a teacher or a personal trainer.

To accomplish that, he knows he must have a successful senior season.

As he prepared for the team's Tuesday season opener at Lennard, Castillo kept everything in perspective.

"We made it to regionals last year, but I don't really want to say that's our goal," he said. "We can't get to regionals or anywhere else if we don't do well in district.

"So our goal is to win districts."

GET TO KNOW

WHO: David Castillo

AGE: 18

SCHOOL: East Bay

GRADE: 12th

SPORTS: Soccer

FUTURE PLANS: Wants to play soccer at the University of Tampa or Florida Gulf Coast University and study to become a teacher or a personal trainer.