By Lindsey Allen |Staff Writer|
Chelsey Jones is a diligent student and honored athlete working hard to achieve her dreams.
Jones began playing soccer when she was six years old and never looked back. She participated in other sports while growing up such as volleyball, basketball and track, but chose to pursue soccer.
“It’s by far the sport I am best at; it’s been with me since I was little. I enjoy it and it’s something I’m passionate about,” said Jones.
After receiving a presidential scholarship to attend CSUSB, Jones is now the captain of the women’s soccer team while playing as their goalkeeper.
As a freshman she earned CCAA All-Academic honors and last year as a sophomore earned CCAA Player of the Week honors, along with coSIDA Capital One All-Academic District VII honors. This achievement recognizes college athletes for their academic excellence and the sport they play in.
Additionally as a sophomore, Jones helped her team achieve a 7-1-2 record with 4 1/2 shutouts and helped to obtain their school record six-game winning streak and eight-game unbeaten streak.
She also produced an impressive scoreless streak of 470 minutes and 20 seconds.
Jones said that there are times when she gets tired, but her team keeps her going and she doesn’t want to let them down. She loves being active and looks forward to practice as a release.
Jones, a high-achieving athlete, doesn’t short herself from obtaining new goals for this year’s season as a team.
“My goal is for us to make it to the CCAA playoffs. I know we can do it,” said Jones. “I have to stay focused and healthy and take practice seriously. I want our team to realize it’s attainable, and to expect it rather than hope for it.”
Jones enjoys the sport of soccer and everything that comes with it. What she enjoys the most is being able to represent the school and the community, making others proud and having children and fellow students look up to her.
Balancing school and soccer comes fairly easy to Jones, she explains that it has gotten easier each year. She is very focused and knows what it takes to succeed in both.
“Grades come first,” said Jones. “I’m a student athlete, not an athlete student. It gets stressful sometimes but in those times it’s nice to have people to rely on.”
Jones is currently in the multiple-subject teaching credential program at CSUSB and plans on becoming an elementary school teacher.
She also wants to attend grad school to eventually become a speech pathologist. Her career goal is to help children in every way possible.
Besides being busy with school and soccer, she enjoys camping, riding dirt bikes, wake-boarding, playing volleyball, dodge ball and going home to Hesperia to spend time with her family.
She was also a SOAR leader for Advising and Academic Services here on campus and has volunteered her time with Book Buddies, Hesperia Clean-Up and canned food drives.
Jones has and will continue to blossom in the world of athletics, as well as in school and outside extra curricular activities.
With her positive attitude, skills on the soccer field and determination for her goals, she will definitely go far.