LA Harbor women's soccer puts accent on academics

LA Harbor College women's soccer head coach Arturo Caballero stands with eight of his 13 players graduating with AA degrees and dean honors this year.
LA Harbor College women's soccer head coach Arturo Caballero stands with eight of his 13 players graduating with AA degrees and dean honors this year.
June 23, 2021

WILMINGTON - The Los Angeles Harbor College women's soccer program, coached by Arturo Caballero and a member of the South Coast Conference, won't have any its 2021 graduating class playing at the next level. But the Seahawks have a remarkable 13 student-athletes who have earned numerous academic honors and will continue their academic careers at the 4-year university level. 

Caballero said: "My program is dedicated to coaching you to be a better person, student, athlete and help prepare you to transfer in two years or less. With an emphasis on developing you emotionally, psychologically, socially, and physically, I am confident that the habits and behaviors you develop will help you become someone successful on and off the soccer field."

The 2021 graduating class earned an impressive 41 Associate of Arts degrees combined and eight were named CCCSCA Scholar-Athletes awards winners. The team itself earned its first-ever United Soccer Coaches team academic award for earning a 3.0 or higher combined GPA. 

"During a difficult year due to COVID-19 and a cancelled soccer season, my players excelled at their educational goals despite all the difficulties," Caballero said.

Harbor soccer players transferring to continue their education include Jocelyn Barajas, 3.7 cumulative GPA, Karen Jimenez, 3.72 GPA, and Susan Morales all headed to Cal State Los Angeles, Zitlally Huerta, 3.64, to Cal State Northridge, Claudia Oropeza, 3.6, to Arizona State University, Alexa Gallardo to Cal State Dominguez Hills, Belen Corona to Cal Poly Pomona, Sarah De la Cruz to Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Katherine Cardenas, who has whittled down her college choice between Dominguez Hills or Cal State Long Beach.

Reina Caballero, Citlali Niebla, one of three players who earned four different AA degrees, Catherine Salazar, and Adriana Rivero all have graduated with honors but are still deciding on their next college destination.

Caballero did say that four of his players received athletic scholarship offers but passed them up to concentrate solely on their studies.

The Seahawks will return to the soccer field with their 2021 team later this year after the health crisis cancelled the 2020 season. 

(Robert Lewis, South Coast Conference)