JESSICA PETZNICK NAMED GATORADE ARIZONA GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

XAVIER COLLEGE PREPARATORY STUDENT JESSICA PETZNICK NAMED GATORADE ARIZONA GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR



Xavier College Preparatory is pleased to announce that senior Jessica Petznick has been named by The Gatorade Company, in partnership with ESPN RISE Magazine, as its 2008-09 Gatorade Arizona Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The award distinguishes Jessica as Arizona’s best female high school soccer player.

“Xavier is incredibly proud of Jessica,” said Sister Lynn Winsor, BVM, CMAA, Xavier’s Vice Principal for Activities and Athletics. “She is a focused and talented athlete, but also dedicated to academics and volunteerism. Jessica is a leader and a role model, and this award is well deserved.”

In addition to her soccer achievements, Jessica has maintained a 3.78 GPA, volunteered with her church youth group and to help women in need, and is a member of both the Spanish and Chinese clubs at Xavier.

On the field, Jessica led a defense that recorded 18 shutouts and allowed just 11 goals this past season as Xavier won the Class 5A Division 1 state title. A two-time Arizona Republic First-Team All-Arizona selection, she was named the 2009 Desert Valley Region Player of the Year. The four-year starter led the Gators in minutes-played each of her four years on the varsity team. Jessica has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at Boston College this fall.

“Jessica’s presence on the field, athletic ability and organizational skills kept our team confident and made our team better,” said Xavier head soccer coach Barb Chura. “She will leave her mark as one of the best to ever play soccer at Xavier.”

Jessica is the third Xavier athlete to be named a 2008-09 Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field.