Conestoga’s Diego Ramirez is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week (Oct. 24-30)
The junior attack midfielder leads the Pioneers (14-2 and ranked No. 2 in District 1 4A as of Oct. 21) in goals scored and is the Central League scoring leader as well. Ramirez has tallied a number of crucial goals, including a game-tying goal against Lower Merion with just over a minute to go in the game to send the game into overtime and an eventual Conestoga win, and a game-winning goal against Harriton with eight minutes to go for a 1-0 win. Conestoga boys soccer head coach Dave Zimmerman said, “Some of the qualities I admire most about Diego are his ability to communicate effectively on the field, his incredible work ethic and his ‘team first’ mentality. Diego suffered a torn ACL that caused him to miss all of the 2021 season, and he worked incredibly hard to return to play. I could not be happier about the success he has had this season. He’s earned every bit of it!”
Q: Have you always been a midfielder? Tell us a little about your start in soccer, your top soccer mentors, and the most important thing you learned from each of them.
A: I started off as a striker and over time developed into an attacking midfielder. I currently play for Penn Fusion. Some of my mentors throughout the years have been my Dad, Julio Rameriz, who played professionally, Coach Art, and Coach Zimmerman. My Dad always gives me advice and tips on the game. Coach Art {Art Hernandez, one of Diego’s club coaches] taught me to be myself on the field and to have confidence in myself. Coach Zimmerman taught me how to compete every time I stepped on the field.
Q: What do you think have been the biggest keys to your offensive production this fall?
A: The biggest key to my goal scoring this season has been my teammates and being at the right place at the right time. If it wasn’t for my teammates finding me in the right spots and trusting me to score, I wouldn’t be the top goal scorer in the Central League this season.
Q: You tore your ACL in the spring of your freshman year, causing you to miss your sophomore soccer season at Conestoga. Tell us a little about the rehab — what was your biggest challenge, and how did you meet it?
A: Rehab was very difficult for me, not only physically but mentally as well. It was challenging for me to sit on the sideline and see all my friends play, but I overcame that by working hard during rehab to come back a month earlier than expected and start playing.
Q: Tell us about the two key goals you scored recently against Harriton and Lower Merion.
A: Against Harriton, we had a restart around the halfway line. We put the ball down and played a long ball into the back post, where my teammate head it back into the middle of the area and I ran in and slotted away into the corner. On the goal against Lower Merion, the ball was played by our keeper from the back. It got flicked on to me, where I tried to flick it up and it got headed away. It landed in front of me at the top of the box. I hit it first time and it went into the bottom right corner.
Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game? What part of your game have you worked on the most recently?
A: I feel the strongest part of my game is my movement off the ball and my soccer IQ. Recently I have been working on my dribbling and tactical side of the game, and on the physical side too with my coach, Greg Martin, I’ve been working on my speed and agility with him.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: My preparation starts the night before by getting a good night sleep. In the morning, I drink a fruit smoothie in the morning. Before the game I listen to music and right before warm ups, I take time to pray to God, and then I take the field.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 14 for Conestoga. Is there a reason you chose that number?
A: I chose No. 14 because as a little kid I looked up to Mexican striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, he as always worn No. 14.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Conestoga? What do you think you would like to major in at college? Is there a career path that particularly appeals to you at the present time?
A: My favorite academic class at Conestoga is Psychology. In college I would like to major in Business and minor in psychology. After college I would like to open up a sports psychology businesses to help athletes with their mental health.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Conestoga other than soccer?
A: I belong to a club called Helping Hearts. This club helps buy items on wish lists for kids in the hospital through fundraisers and donations.
Fun facts — Diego Ramirez
Favorite book: Mamba Mentality: How I Play.
Favorite author: Stephen King.
Favorite TV show: The Office.
Favorite movie: Toy Story.
Favorite athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Dance Now by JID.
Favorite place to visit: Puebla, Mexico.
Favorite pre-game meal: Pasta with chicken.
Person I admire the most: “My dad and my mom because they both work hard for everything.”
Family members: father Julio Ramírez, mother Jana Garanicova, sister Alexa Garanicova.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
