Jimenez stands like a brick wall for Wolves in goal

All-Garland County Boys Soccer Player of the Year

Lake Hamilton soccer player Mikey Jimenez Thursday, May 27, 2021. Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record
Lake Hamilton soccer player Mikey Jimenez Thursday, May 27, 2021. Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record

PEARCY -- Leading 1-0 and looking for a win over cross-town rival Lakeside, Lake Hamilton's senior goalkeeper stared down a penalty kick he needed to save to give his team a chance at winning against a rival the Wolves had struggled against in recent memory.

Mikey Jimenez did just that, saving the penalty kick in a game where the Wolves took down the Rams 1-0 behind the his solid capabilities.

Jimenez stood as a brick wall for the Wolves this season making 152 saves, and he is The Sentinel-Record's 2021 All-Garland County Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

"My friend Blaine, he did what he had to do, and he slide-tackled the guy," Jimenez said. "He gave a penalty in the box. At that moment I picked up the ball. I was just confident and smiling. I was just jumping around ready for the PK telling the ref to hurry up. I didn't have any doubt in my mind that I wouldn't save it."

Jimenez watched the film of that moment over and over again. He saw his teammates in disbelief before running over to him in celebration.

"He has a great smile," Lake Hamilton head coach Cito Dickson said. "Everyone talks about Mikey's smile. He loves life. He's strong in his faith. My first impression of Mikey was just that. That you see Mikey and you can't help but be in a good mood."

Despite earning the title of the best boys soccer player in the county, Jimenez did not actually start playing soccer until his freshman year of high school. He originally played wide receiver in football.

"Soccer wasn't my first option, but my friends and my teammates convinced me to start playing (freshman year)," he said. "I played (football) since middle school, and I was really good at it. I thought that my position as goalkeeper would be easy transitioning, but it was pretty hard."

However, Jimenez's father played soccer growing up, and he helped his son develop his game.

"But he didn't force me to play anything," Jimenez said. "He supported me in anything and was really happy to hear that I started to play soccer. I had a big help from my father. He taught me a lot about the game. I feel like I had an upper hand against other goalkeepers in the county."

Not only did Jimenez have to learn the game of soccer over the past four years, but he also transformed his body. The senior lost 40 pounds while increasing his soccer IQ.

With better conditioning and lots of training, Jimenez got into a rhythm of playing a position where every error is magnified but glory comes with the big saves.

Jimenez said he struggled in his first two years playing the position, but by his third year he got the hang of his role. He highlighted his senior season as his best season.

"I like how much my teammates depend on me and how much I can save or lose the game," Jimenez said. "Sometimes I get into my head, but that's what I really like about it is being able to affect the game."

Both on and off the field, Jimenez affected his teammates with positivity, work ethic and a strong faith.

"On those big games, those moments where they're really going to determine what type of player you are, it's those big games where he became super vocal, very encouraging," Dickson said. "He always had motivational words to try to get his team in the game, keep them in the game when they started to look like they felt defeated."

This season marked Dickson's second season in charge and after last season ended due to COVID-19, this year was a new experience for the coach. This was the first group of seniors leaving his team who he really had time with on the sidelines.

"Mikey and the group that's leaving is the group I needed to change the culture of this program," Dickson said. "He's been an integral part of that, making the newcomers understand that things are going to change and change for the better. But growing hurts sometimes."

Part of being a goalkeeper is having a good relationship with the defense. The back line and goalkeeper are in constant communication, and errors can be costly.

"Miscommunication can lead to errors, and errors are goals," Jimenez said. "This season I had my closest friend Blaine, (and) he played center back for me. That connection really helped in stopping most of the goals."

Dickson emphasized just how much Jimenez's physicality and mental toughness improved from junior to senior year.

"His focus (is what makes him a great player)," Dickson said. "Mikey's one of those players that is always 100% in. Whether it be practice, whatever it is, he's willing to give it the extra mile. Which is why a lot of what he did to get better was done individually outside of practice. That's what it takes to excel in a sport, is to be able to go beyond what the coach is asking you to do and do a lot of it on your own."

Jimenez said he plans to try out for National Park College's soccer team and major in biology.

"I just want to thank God, my teammates and my family," Jimenez said. "And coach Cito especially."

Dickson noted he spent more time with Jimenez than his own family, and he loves Jimenez like a son.

"We've had our rough spots just like any coach and any athlete does," Dickson said. "But at the end of the day, me and him have been and always will be really good friends. Mikey mentioned his faith several times, and Mikey's genuine in that. I think just the fact he shows how genuine he is, it really affects those around him."

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Boys Soccer

G Mikey Jimenez, senior, Lake Hamilton, 152 saves, 1 goal

F Imanol Barragan, junior, Lakeside, 34 goals (single-season school record), 12 assists

F Collin Brown, senior, Hot Springs

F Dereck Strong, senior, Lake Hamilton, 14 goals, 15 assists

F/MF/D Elijah Shields, senior, Lake Hamilton, 13 goals, 14 assists, 8 blocks

MF Walter Martinez, senior, Hot Springs

MF Alvaro Barragan, senior, Lakeside, 3 goals, 14 assists

W Larry Morales, junior, Lake Hamilton, 16 goals, 4 assists

W Brock Garner, junior, Lakeside, 12 goals, 12 assists

D Josh Porter, senior, Lakeside

D Anthony Blaine Schauf, senior, Lake Hamilton, 9 assists, 15 blocks, 2 goals

D Paul Gonzalez, junior, Lake Hamilton, 11 goals, 13 assists

D Polo Rios, sophomore, Hot Springs

D Rene Portillo, senior, Hot Springs

D Juan Leos, sophomore, Hot Springs

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