Burnet’s Valencia signs to play soccer for Oklahoma Wesleyan
CAPTION: Burnet senior Caroline Valencia (seated, center) is congratulated by her teammates after signing to play college soccer. Photo by Martelle Luedecke/Luedecke Photography
Burnet High School senior soccer player Caroline Valencia signed her National Letter of Intent to play for Oklahoma Wesleyan University May 15.
Valencia, who has been part of the Lady Dawgs’ record-breaking seasons the last two years, was recruited to be a midfielder and forward.
“I think they loved the way she played on the ball, and her confidence when shooting,” Burnet head coach Kimberly Myhre said. “She is a threat on offense and will be a great addition to them.”
Valencia helped the Lady Dawgs win several gold balls the last two seasons. In 2023, Burnet won the District 25-4A championship and advanced to the regional quarterfinals where it lost to eventual Class 4A Region IV champion Boerne 3-2.
In 2022, the Lady Dawgs were even better.
After finishing third in District 18-4A, the Lady Dawgs went on a tear by winning four consecutive playoff matches and qualifying for the Class 4A Region III tournament. By the time the season ended, Burnet recorded the best postseason finish in school history.
And Valencia was a big part of both seasons. In 2023, she was named the district’s Midfielder Most Valuable Player and was an all-district second team member in 2022.
“Caroline was such a presence on the field,” the coach said. “She worked hard every single day and wanted to do whatever it took to get better. She is a sweet kid and very, very coachable.”
Myhre summed up why colleges wanted Valencia in their programs.
“Caroline is a workhorse,” she said. “She works hard every single day to get better. She has beautiful footwork and a killer shot.”
The athlete plans to major in business.
Oklahoma Wesleyan, located in Bartlesville, Okla., competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
“Caroline was a blessing to our program,” Myhre said. “I am forever grateful she moved to Burnet her sophomore year. She brought a lot to our team — on and off the field.”
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