By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Soccer players Jonathan Cruz and Iker Herrera of Graham will remain teammates in college.
They’re going to Louisburg College to continue playing the sport that they can’t get enough of.
“I love the sport so much,” Cruz said. “I have so much passion for it. I’ve been playing since I was 3. I would cry if practice got cancelled.”
Cruz, a defender, has been a four-year starter for the Red Devils. He averaged about three goals per season despite spending so much time on the defensive end.
Herrera led the 2024 team with 22 goals. The forward was in his second year with the Red Devils after transferring from Cummings.
Herrera was an asset on and off the field, Graham coach Tony Pineda said.
“He (does) everything for me,” Pineda said.
The chance to play for Louisburg, a junior college, is a coveted opportunity.
“This was the (best) option,” Herrera said. “I really wanted to keep playing.”
Herrera said he liked how he fit in with the Graham team.
Southeast Alamance coach Jackson Brooks has coached the players in travel ball, while Southeast assistant Keith Windley is a former Graham assistant coach. They both attended a signing ceremony for the pair at Graham and spoke highly of the Louisburg recruits.
Cruz, who was part of state-playoff qualifying teams in two of the past three seasons, said he was late to the recruiting process, but happy that it worked out.
“Something clicked and this lets me at least keep playing,” Cruz said.
