On Scholarship: Kealakehe’s Cuaresma signs with Eastern Oregon

After finishing up a successful soccer career at Kealakehe, 2015 graduate Lexie Cuaresma will now take her talents to the college level.

Cuaresma recently accepted a partial athletic-academic scholarship to play for Eastern Oregon and head coach Justin Wager.

Cuaresma chose Eastern Oregon because of their new head coach. Previously, Wager had been recruiting the Kealakehe soccer standout to New Mexico Highlands University and she was prepared to go there until the changeover.

“He ended up moving to Eastern Oregon and I was really excited about it because Oregon is similar to Hawaii in that it is green and outdoorsy,” Cuaresma said. “I really like his coaching style, his determination, and the fact that he is very competitive.”

Wager also has a connection in his past with Hawaii. This is where he started his coaching career after playing with Brigham Young University-Hawaii on Oahu for two years in 1998 and 1999.

During his playing days at the college, he captained the Seasiders as a sweeper to the most successful season in school history. He later took over as coach of the inaugural female squad where he he was asked to build a program from scratch. He led that first team to a 12-4 record and a second place finish in the Pacific West conference.

Wager spent six seasons at New Mexico Highlands University. Before his arrival the program had 13 straight losing seasons, but within two years, Wager’s team posted a 9-3-2 record to break the streak. That season included multiple wins over nationally ranked teams.

Cuaresma has had a chance to talk with Wager on several occasions and she says she has been told she will have a chance to start her freshman year, but it is not guaranteed. Much will depend on how well she adapts to the college game and how hard she works coming in to the program.

Cuaresma is coming off a solid soccer career at the high school level. In her first year playing for the Waveriders in 2012, she started and helped lead a group of girls to a BIIF title. She was also a member of the runner-up squad the following year. In her senior season, she was honored as the top female student-athlete at Kealakehe.

“Soccer is what I based my entire high school experience around,” Cuaresma said. “It was the most important thing to me.”

While soccer might have been the most important thing in high school to the young player, it was not the only thing. Cuaresma excelled in everything she did. She played varsity volleyball for three seasons and was a part of the cross country team her senior year. She also performed well academically and was a member of the National Honor Society.

“I worked very hard” Cuaresma said. “I feel good, not just about what I accomplished athletically, but everything I did overall.”

Cuaresma plans to major in exercise science and business and wants to be a personal trainer, though she admits that is not completely decided yet.

“I just really like soccer and being active,” she said. “I just have a passion for it and love to play.”