Daniel Mondragon
SENIOR / WARREN HIGH SCHOOL
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: BOYS SOCCER
I’M JUST PROUD our team won [the state title.] It just shows that where we’re from, there’s great soccer now.”
— Daniel Mondragon, OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN BOYS SOCCER
>> WHY HE WON
With a natural ability to read the field, the talent to fake out opponents and the speed to score goals, Warren High School’s Daniel Mondragon has wrapped up a successful year. Mondragon, a senior center attacking midfielder, scored 45 goals in just 19 games this season. He also helped his team win its first Class 4A state championship, where he also earned MVP honors. Mondragon (5-5, 130 pounds) has also been named All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Boys Soccer Player of the Year. “I’m just proud our team won,” he said. “It shows that where we’re from, there’s great soccer now.” Mondragon grew up watching his father play soccer, and coach Taylor Wood said Mondragon’s ability to see where the ball needs to go gives him a competitive edge over his opponents. “He plays with an intelligence that I’ve never coached before,” Wood said. “You can tell he has a natural soccer mind.” Wood said Mondragon is a good student in the classroom and a hard worker who is quiet and keeps to himself, mostly. Next year, Mondragon plans to attend the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and hopes to be able to walk on to the soccer team. Wood said he hopes a college team will pick him up, though. Mondragon plans to study physical therapy. “He is, in my opinion, the best player in the state,” Wood said. “His numbers are the same as guys who played eight or nine more games [this season] than he has.”