BHS soccer players signs for full scholarship

BARSTOW • Ryan Wainner didn’t need a club team to get to the next level in soccer.

Wainner, a Barstow High School soccer player, signed a letter of intent to attend Waldorf College in Forest Park, Iowa on a full soccer scholarship with family and friends watching on Tuesday. He also received scholarship money to cover room and board and will participate in a work-study program. Wainner’s scholarship package was approximately $28,000 a year altogether. Tuesday was 12 years in the making for Wainner who started playing soccer when he was five years old. The fact that he received a soccer scholarship is more remarkable because he never joined a club team and solely played recreationally and for Barstow High School.

However, his lack of club experience is not due to lack of ability. Wainner was a member of an under 14-year-old team from Barstow that won five major tournaments in Southern California. The tournaments and his talent drew the attention of American Chivas, a professional soccer team, who offered him a spot on their developmental team. Wainner said the joining the team would have required daily trips to the Home Depot Center in Carson and other traveling which his family could not afford at the time.

“This has always been my dream,” Wainner sad. “I never played club soccer, but I’m here. Everything happens the way it’s supposed to. I’m just happy and excited for today.”

Wainner, who scored 16 goals and have 15 assists last season, will have a head start on many new students when he heads to Waldorf’s first training sessions in August. He traveled to Iowa to visit the campus last week and met players, coaches and teachers. Wainner said he prefers playing forward and being on offense, but enjoys every position. He played midfield for much of his high school career.

Barstow High School soccer coach Terri Peralta said Wainner was a major part of the Aztecs’ recent trips to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

“Ryan’s on field leadership and knowledge of the game were so useful to our team,” Peralta said. “There were times when everyone thought we were out, and he would get them back into the game. He has the ability, desire and drive a great player needs. He has heart and that’s something you can’t teach.”

While Wainner’s visit to Waldorf went well he did face one setback during his trip — a tornado. He was watching the Lakers play the Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals when a tornado watch was issued. The tornado ended up coming within 10 miles of the school.

“Everyone kept saying they hadn’t had a tornado in the area in more than five years,” Wainner said. “We ended up in a pizza place watching the game until the power went out. All we got was weather updates after the power went out.”

A lack of club experience didn’t keep Wainner from soccer success, and a tornado won’t keep him from a scholarship to Waldorf.

“It’s just something I’ll have to get used to,” Wainner said. “At least they can track tornadoes. Earthquakes just happen.”