J.H. Bruns student stays focused on the pitch

Island Lakes

Alessa Guzzi is a 15-year-old Grade 9 student at J.H. Bruns Collegiate.

“School is good,” Guzzi said. “I have great grades and great friends. My favourite class is science. I am very interested in biology.”

Alessa has always been very active and locked on to her favourite sport since a very young age.

“I have been fully focused on soccer since I started playing when I was three,” she said. “I started playing club soccer at U9 at Bonivital Soccer Club.”

In addition to club soccer, Guzzi also plays for her high school’s soccer and volleyball teams.

“I love playing soccer because it has always been a huge part of my life,” she said. “Both sides of my family have always been very involved with soccer. I love looking forward to something after school everyday and on the weekends. I have always been around the sport and game whether by coaching minis or playing.”

While she usually plays fullback, sometimes she finds herself holding midfield as well.

“I enjoy fullback because I have the freedom to take the ball up the field or make overlapping runs with the winger,” she said. “I also like holding mid because I can send through balls to my wingers and strikers, and I am more involved and have more control throughout the whole game.”

Guzzi’s father, Michael, coaches soccer and has been her personal coach for years.

“He helped to develop me into the player I am,” she said. “Coach Faith and Coach Dave at Bonivital always encourage me to be my best and improve, and have really helped me gain confidence in my game. My teammates are fun to play with, and we always have each other’s backs.”

Alessa lives in Island Lakes with her mom Ashleigh, dad Michael, and older sister Siena.

“My parents have supported me with everything that I do and to help me reach my goals,” she said. “My sister, Siena, plays soccer at Winnipeg Phoenix FC, and we help each other develop.”

Alessa’s goal is to play at the university level after high school. I bet with her level of dedication she reaches that goal.

Alessa has this advice for other athletes: “The strongest players are not the ones that never fall, they are the ones that get right back up and try again. No goal worth having comes without struggle and doubt along the way, so do not give up on it.”