After becoming one of the top goal scorers for the Duncan Demons throughout the past couple of seasons, Jose Gonzalez has achieved a life long dream of making it to collegiate soccer.
Gonzalez netted one of two goals in the first round of the Class 5A State Soccer playoffs against Piedmont and has chosen to play college soccer at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany.
The best game for the season for the senior signee was against Ardmore. In that game, Gonzalez netted two goals in the 8-0 victory and proved to be an offensive threat ready to shoot the ball at any given moment.
David Shaw, head coach for Gonzalez during the last three years, knew after the end of his athlete’s junior season that his goal was to play college soccer. Shaw is happy to hear that he achieved his goal.
“He has told me this was his goal since the end of last year was to play college soccer,” Shaw said. “He has worked hard and the opportunity presented itself to be able to continue his education while playing soccer and he is excited to continue to follow his dreams.”
As one of many seniors on the 2023 team to have their best district record in school history at 6-1, Gonzalez said this opportunity at Southwestern Christian was a great one and is happy to receive it.
“I chose Southwestern just because the coach made me feel welcome and I felt like it was a good opportunity for me to go and play at the next level,” Gonzalez said. “It feels good to go to the next level — not a lot of people have went to the next level at Duncan. So it will be good to have my name out there and let people know that I’m going to the next level. Hopefully other people in the lower grades can follow my lead.”
His plans at Southwestern Christian are to major in Business Management, however the goal for him is to continue to play soccer as long as he can. He hopes he can keep playing for years to come.
With graduation complete at Duncan High School and Gonzalez one of the All-State selections for the Demons, he feels thankful for his family to always have his back and be there when he needed them.
“They always inspire me to go try my hardest. They tell me to don’t stop until the whistle is blown,” Gonzalez said. “I am just glad to have people that inspire me to go and do what I do. I would like to thank my mom, dad, my uncle and all of my relatives.”
Gonzalez will represent Duncan one final time in the All-State game when he plays at 8 p.m. June 9 at Newcastle High School on the 5A West All-State team.