1-on-1 with the section’s top scorer: Getting to know Johansen senior Diego Gutierrez
After a 2-1 victory over Beyer on Wednesday in a Western Athletic Conference boys soccer game, Johansen (6-0-1, 12-1-1) is atop the league standings and looking to win the school’s second straight league title and fourth in school history.
The Vikings are led by senior forward Diego Gutierrez, who is fifth in the state with 27 goals and leads the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section according to MaxPreps. Gutierrez was named the MaxPreps/United Soccer Coaches High School State Players of the Week for the week of Jan. 6-12.
Gutierrez scored a goal in the Vikings’ win over the Patriots.
Bee sports reporter Julian A. Lopez caught up with Guiterrez about his life on and off the field:
Julian A. Lopez: What’s your favorite thing about soccer?
Diego Gutierrez: Just the feeling I get from the pitch. I just love the feeling of playing soccer.
JL: What is your favorite moment at Johansen?
DG: Definitely when we won league last year. It was a crazy moment. It was 1-0 against Beyer and I scored the winning goal to win the league. We went to Mountain Mike’s to celebrate.
JL: Who is your favorite soccer player and team and why?
DG: Lionel Messi and my favorite team is FC Barcelona. (Messi) is just a god and it’s unexplainable. He is a spectacular player.
JL: You first started playing soccer at the age of 4. Why?
DG: My dad introduced me to it ... He just gave me a ball and I started kicking it and I’ve loved it ever since.
JL: When you see your name at the top of the goals list, what’s that feeling like?
DG: It’s crazy. I am just a kid from Modesto who has the love and passion for soccer.
JL: Do you feel pressure to score every game?
DG: No, not really. I just do what I do and just play the game and help the team.
JL: Ryan said you idolized your brother (Oscar), why?
DG: We have been in soccer together since a young age. We played on some teams together. He went to Beyer.
JL: What do you want to do after you graduate high school?
DG: I plan on attending Modesto Junior College and then want to go to Stan State or somewhere else. Now that I have this opportunity to play soccer, I want to get a scholarship and play in college.
JL: What is one obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
DG: I had a leakage of blood in my heart and the doctors didn’t know what it was. It happened in October last year and it was scary because the doctor said I had to take a break and I didn’t listen to him and I played. I just had my appointment two weeks ago and the doctor said it was all gone.
JL: Hobbies?
DG: I used to play the piano a lot. I am trying to get back into it. I love hanging out with my friends. I also play the guitar.
JL: Favorite place to eat?
DG: Golden Corral. The one thing I always get is spaghetti. It tastes different there than anywhere else.
JL: Favorite Movie?
DG: Creed.
JL: What is your place to visit?
DG: San Francisco. I love to walk around and explore SF.
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
