Athlete of the Issue: Julia Glanz

Rebecca AsoulinStaff WriterAs children, we all have role models. But not often is there a child who not only wishes to emulate her hero, but actually has the ability to do so.“When I was eight or nine people would always tell me that I would be the next Mia Hamm,” senior Julia Glanz said.Glanz has been playing for the Samo girls' varsity soccer team since her freshman year and is one of its strongest forwards. Her ability is clear to anyone who watches her play the sport she loves; so the frequent comparisons to Hamm (who has scored more goals than any player, male or female, in the history of professional soccer) come as no surprise.What did come as a surprise to Glanz was when the coach of her club team, Slammers, announced that Mia Hamm was going to coach the team.“When he told us, I mean you can ask anyone, I was crying,” Glanz said.Starting earlier this year, Hamm has been coaching Glanz and her teammates every other Tuesday. The team’s improvement has been incredible and Glanz is working harder than ever as she runs through the drills set up by her childhood hero, amazed that she is really here.Glanz has been an essential member on girls' varsity since freshman year, when her team made it to the semi-finals of CIF. Glanz was instrumental in getting her team there. In the final minutes of their second-round CIF game, Glanz scored the game winning goal, breaking the 2-2 tie. Unfortunately, Samo has not made it this far in CIF since Glanz’s freshman year, but she and her teammates are optimistic about this year.“Our team has been bonding a lot more this year. We have a lot of seniors. This is the last time we get to play and we want to make the most of it,” Glanz said.Glanz is dedicated to her team and and inspires her teammates through her playing.“Julia stepped it up this year — she has become a great team player and she takes the initiative. When she is playing the field she commands the ball; her presence really organizes us,” junior and varsity defender Claire Saiza said.Glanz will be attending the University of Arizona next fall on a full scholarship based on her superb soccer skills.Past college, she has no definite plans to pursue soccer, but is simply letting things play out as they will and seeing where the sport leads her. There is no doubt, however, that wherever she ends up she will always have soccer in her life.“I have been playing soccer basically since I could run,” Glanz said.For Glanz it has always been soccer. And maybe one day there will be a little girl who will play with such skill that her family will watch her, smile and say, “You’re going to be the next Julia Glanz.”rasoulin@thesamohi.com.