Annandale Star Athlete Worked Hard To Get Healthy, Make Team

ANNANDALE, VA — We all know student athletes who also bring their A-game to other parts of their lives.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know the individual stories behind the leaderboard.

This submission comes from Ana Gutierrez, who nominated Valerie, 10th grade, of Annandale.

Star student athlete’s name

Valerie, 10th grade

Star student athlete’s home state

Virginia

Star student athlete’s Patch town

Annandale

How do you know the star student athlete?

I’m the mother

What sport does the star student athlete play?

Volleyball and basketball

Why do you believe the star student athlete should be recognized?

My daughter is an example for the family. She is an excellent student since kindergarten she was advanced academically, but talking about sports she was not good she had some overweight problems and no athletic conditions but always was a fighter, trying hard, being a team player for over everything and a kid that all the coaches loves to coach, for her personality and passion. When she was in 8th grade, she decided to change her life completely. She lost over 40 pounds by herself working out at our basement during the pandemic in 2020 and changing completely her lifestyle for a healthy diet and working on her body and condition. She always dreamed about being part of the volleyball and basketball team in high school but that was so hard because she never was part of a competitive team or competitive training program (just recreational teams) that because money issues too. But that never stops her for trying, and she did the tryouts giving her best. She ended up in the team because she was the athlete that improved more day to day at the tryouts. She didn’t get any prizes for being the best player or the most points, but she got prizes for being the player that was all the time at the ground diving and trying to get a ball. She never gave up a ball without her best effort. That’s for me the most important thing in a sport player. This year, she has a recognition for being an Athlete Scholar and having the highest GPA at the volleyball program.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star student athlete?

She does her best always. She's not the best player but she never gives up for any reason.

Keep up the great work, Valerie!

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