Early in Cristian Zaragoza's soccer career, he made the decision to move from forward to defender. For a teenager, it was quite the move to risk losing the glitz and glamour that comes from scoring goals to helping prevent them.
It was also one of the things that drew Chattanooga Red Wolves head coach Jimmy Obleda to him in the summer of 2020.
But wrapped in that maturity has been the loss of a close friend which has led to a hunger to deliver on a promise that Zaragoza made years ago - a promise that he and Misael Huijon made while growing up.
Zaragoza was able to make that come true this past season, as Dalton won the Georgia Class AAAAAA state championship. But Huijon wasn't able to be there, having passed away on March 4, 2020.
"In high school, we said we would be together. We would be state champions," Zaragoza said recently, wiping away tears. "Since that point, when he passed away, everything I'm doing, I'm doing for him."
But before he had helped be a part of the title-winning team, he had already signed a professional contract to play for the Red Wolves, becoming the first academy player in the team's brief history to do so. He saw his first professional action in Sunday's 3-2 win over North Carolina Football Club, playing the final few minutes of the win.
Obleda has talked in the past about wanting players who have a hunger, because that shows up in their on-field performance. It's almost as if a prospect is taking a test, with the teacher asking, "What's your motivation? What's your why?"
It's obvious that Zaragoza has a good answer.
"When I saw Cristian play, there was a maturity and demeanor about him that really stood out to me in the games and even after the games," Obleda said. "I like to observe players away from the natural environment of playing, and he was a kid that kind of showed that. Then when we started looking at players we could bring in and academy kids, he was the top one, the one I wanted.
"He's traveled with us the past few games. We weren't able to get him in, but he's a kid that's growing every day in this environment. He has great professionals around him that are guiding him and teaching him and I think that's an important thing: that the environment isn't just about soccer, it's about how to be a proper professional and you have a lot of young guys here that have been professionals for a few years that are good role models and good standard bearers for him."
Playing with older players is nothing new for Zaragoza, though. Growing up in Dalton and playing soccer is almost the equivalent of playing pickup basketball in areas such as Memphis or New York: If you want to get tested, you show up at the bevy of recreational fields to play. The players could all be of any age, but what's expected is that there's a high skill level involved - it's what's led to the soccer excellence of the town that birthed three state championships in prep soccer in 2021, as Dalton, Southeast Whitfield and Coahulla Creek all claimed titles. Then add the prospect of being a 16-year old playing against a 30-year old and it's no wonder why the sport is so good in Whitfield County.
All of the training has worked out. In January, Zaragoza will start his college career at North Carolina State, choosing to stay with the Red Wolves through the end of the 2021 season.
Maturity. Talent. Hunger. It's a good combination, especially for a player who just turned 18 on May 24. There's a lot more to come, but Zaragoza won't forget his motivation.
"He (Huijon) would be proud of me," Zaragoza said.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.