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NewsTribune Athlete of the Week: La Salle-Peru’s Ismael Mejia · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: News Tribune Athlete of the Week, LaSalle, Peru's Ismael Mejia.
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  Speaker 1: Written by Kevin Schlum. This article is being read by
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  Speaker 1: an automated voice, brought to you by Everlit. The LaSalle,
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  Speaker 1: Peru boys soccer team is off to a strong start
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  Speaker 1: this season, and senior Ismael Mejia has been a big
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  Speaker 1: part of that. In the season's opening week, Mejia scored
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  Speaker 1: six goals and had five assists to lead the Cavaliers
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  Speaker 1: to a 4-0 start and their second straight war on
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  Speaker 1: 34 tournament championship. Last week, he played very well and
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  Speaker 1: was a main contributor to our 4-0 record, LP coach
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  Speaker 1: David Spudik said. For his performance, Mejia was voted the
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  Speaker 1: News Tribune Athlete of the Week, sponsored by SoQ and
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  Speaker 1: Grassers Plumbing and Heating. Mejia answered some questions from News
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  Speaker 1: Tribune sports editor Kevin Schlum. When did you start playing soccer,
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  Speaker 1: and how did you get into it? Mejia said, I
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  Speaker 1: started playing soccer when I was very young. I cannot
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  Speaker 1: remember a time when I wasn't playing soccer. My family
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  Speaker 1: is very big into soccer, so it's all we know.
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  Speaker 1: It was always around me growing up, so soccer just
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  Speaker 1: came naturally to me. What do you enjoy about playing soccer? Mejia,
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  Speaker 1: what I love most about soccer is everything it has
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  Speaker 1: taught me, both on and off the field. It's taught
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  Speaker 1: me important life lessons like discipline, teamwork, and how to
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  Speaker 1: keep pushing through challenges. I also love that soccer has
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  Speaker 1: always been something I can share with my family. which
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  Speaker 1: makes it even more meaningful to me. What makes you
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  Speaker 1: a good soccer player? Mejia, I think what makes me
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  Speaker 1: a good soccer player is my determination, leadership, and ability
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  Speaker 1: to read the field. I'm always willing to work hard
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  Speaker 1: and push myself to improve while also encouraging and leading
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  Speaker 1: my teammates. My ability to read the game helps me
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  Speaker 1: anticipate plays, make smart decisions, and understand what needs to
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  Speaker 1: happen next. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions? Mejia,
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  Speaker 1: My pregame ritual is pretty simple. When my team gets
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  Speaker 1: onto the field, I scrape the grass and say a
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  Speaker 1: prayer to God, asking for a good game and giving
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  Speaker 1: thanks for the opportunity to play. Lacing up my cleats
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  Speaker 1: is something I never take for granted. It's always a
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  Speaker 1: privilege to step onto the field and play the sport
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  Speaker 1: I love. If you could get advice from any soccer player,
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  Speaker 1: who would it be and why? Mejia, if I were
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  Speaker 1: to get advice from any soccer player, it would have
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  Speaker 1: to be Leonel Nessie. He is my idol and the
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  Speaker 1: best player in the world. Having his advice would make
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  Speaker 1: me a much better player. Besides soccer season, what is
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  Speaker 1: your favorite thing about the fall? Mejia, besides soccer season,
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  Speaker 1: I really look forward to the fall because my birthday
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  Speaker 1: is during the fall season. With what food could you
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  Speaker 1: win an eating contest? Mejia, a food I can win
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  Speaker 1: an eating contest with has to be tacos. If you
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  Speaker 1: could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go
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  Speaker 1: and why? Mejia, if I could travel anywhere, I would
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  Speaker 1: choose Spain. Even though I've been there once before, my
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  Speaker 1: experience was phenomenal and I would love to go back.
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  Speaker 1: I loved everything about it. The food, the people, the culture,
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  Speaker 1: and especially the soccer was all incredible. It was such
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  Speaker 1: a memorable experience that I'd love the opportunity to explore
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  Speaker 1: more of Spain. What is a movie or TV show
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  Speaker 1: you never get tired of watching? Mejia, a movie I
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  Speaker 1: can never get tired of watching, has to be Fast
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  Speaker 1: and Furious. What are your thoughts on your individual performance
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  Speaker 1: last week? Mejia, my thoughts on my individual performance last
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  Speaker 1: week are only positive. We've started the season undefeated, which
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  Speaker 1: is a great reflection of the work we've put in
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  Speaker 1: as a team. Personally, I've been working extremely hard throughout
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  Speaker 1: the offseason to make my senior season my most memorable
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  Speaker 1: one yet. I feel that preparation has translated onto the
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  Speaker 1: field through my confidence, decision-making, and ability to control the midfield.
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  Speaker 1: I've focused on being a leader for my teammates. creating opportunities,
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  Speaker 1: winning the ball back, and making the right plays to
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  Speaker 1: help the team succeed.