A Dream Falling Into Place

Shea Salinas chose to invite only his girlfriend over on the day of the Major League Soccer Super Draft. "I didn't even know if I would be selected to be honest, and I didn't want all of my friends there in case that happened," Salinas said. ESPN 2 televised the 14 first-round selections on Jan. 18, but announced the rest of the draftees online as Salinas feverishly refreshed his computer in anticipation of some good news. The 2004 Grapevine High School graduate was chosen by San Jose with the 15th overall pick; the only player taken by the Earthquakes in the draft. "This is such a big opportunity for me," Salinas said. "To be able to play soccer for a living is a dream come true." While Salinas is now thrilled to have the opportunity to play soccer professionally, Grapevine High School head soccer coach Heath Bullard said the young man's opportunity of a lifetime was almost nipped in the bud. "Shea was a cross country runner first, and a soccer player second until his senior year when he was getting looks from colleges," Bullard said. "He now gets the opportunity to do things other players only dream about." Salinas has played soccer since the age of four, but said he fell in love with running cross country and track almost immediately when he reached high school. "I have always been passionate about soccer," Salinas said. "But I ran into a ton of success in cross country. They are so different, and I love the individual aspect of running. The feeling of winning a race is the best feeling you can imagine. It was not like winning a game in which 10 other guys contribute." Salinas was a three-time district champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter events in high school and four-time state qualifier in cross country. "That's what I thought I was going to do in college," Salinas said. "Then I started getting calls my junior year from colleges about playing soccer, so that's what I decided to do." Salinas also earned all-district honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons as a center midfielder for Grapevine, including Most Valuable Player his senior year. He is currently wrapping up his final semester at Furman University, where he played right midfielder for the Paladins. As the draft was being held, Salinas only had the slightest inkling that San Jose was interested in selecting him. "Up until the day before, I did not have a clue," Salinas said. "My coach (at Furman) said he had talked with their coach, but it was really still just up in the air; I really had no idea if I was going to be picked first or not at all." Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said it was Salinas' speed that initially attracted San Jose to the former Grapevine soccer player, but said his work ethic and adaptability were also important. "He's very fast," Yallop said. "He plays the right side midfield and can play both sides wide. We were kind of looking for that position in the draft, and I think we got the best one out of the draft for that position...Hopefully he can prepare mentally and get ready for the challenges that are going to come up. He's a very hard-working kid, and I think that he has a great chance."