Merced Union High School District

Golden Valley High senior Savanna Benc had verbally committed to play softball at Southwest Oklahoma State University shortly after her December visit. However, she wanted to put off officially signing until her close friend Zoe Gonzales had made her college choice for track so they could sign together.

 

That day came on Thursday evening as Benc and Gonzales made their college choices official as the school held a special signing ceremony in Cougar Arena. The duo signed their national letter of intent in front of family, friends, teammates and coaches. Benc is headed to Southwest Oklahoma State University to play for former Atwater High ace Cheyenne Mahy who is the head coach of the SWOSU program. Gonzales is headed to Stanislaus State. 

 

“I’ve known since the beginning of the school year that Zoe wanted to sign for track,” Benc said. “I thought it would be special to have a signing day with someone who I call one of my close friends. I’ve seen some of her ups and downs during her track career. Sharing this with her was a lot more special than doing it by myself.”

 

Benc and Gonzales are both multisport athletes, model students and great teammates. They played volleyball together in the fall. Benc also kept busy with FFA. Gonzales also played basketball in the winter. “Playing all the sports kept me in shape all through the year,” Gonzales said. Benc says it wasn’t easy to find time for all her activities but it was worth it. “I usually don’t have the time but you have to make it,” she said. “You have to love what you’re doing.”

Gonzales, who will compete at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Track meet on Saturday in Folsom, says Stanislaus State was the perfect fit for her. She immediately bonded with the coaches and team. “The coaching there is absolutely amazing,” Gonzales said. “The team really feels like family even though I’ve only met them once. They’re really inviting, open arms completely. It’s not too far and not too close so I get that independent feeling.”

 

Benc also felt a connection with her new coach. It also helped that Mahy is from Merced County and knows where Benc is coming from. Benc will also be joined at Southwest Oklahoma State by two Oakdale seniors who she has played with on other travel teams. 

 

“Southwest Oklahoma State felt like home,” Benc said. “As soon as I visited, I was like, ‘I like this place.’ Oklahoma in general is just so open. I’ve always wanted to go out and be independent. The coach is from Atwater and went to Atwater High School. She understands where I came from. We had the same pitching coach, played for the same travel teams, she understood me more than any other coach I talked to and she is going to give me more opportunities  than any other coach or program was going to give me.”

 

Benc said it’s been a long journey to get to the point where you are sitting at a table, with her family seated next to her at a gym full of teammates, coaches and friends and you have a national letter of intent placed in front of you, ready for you to sign. “There’s so many ups and probably more downs in my softball career,” she said. “It made me think of all the times when I wanted to quit, I wanted to give up and stop playing softball. It’s shown how much I’ve grown since those moments and it’s all worked out in the end. This is a big reward.”

 

Gonzales felt appreciative of everyone who showed up to share the moment with her and Benc. “I’m just really honored that everyone came here to support me in this big achievement that I had,” she said. “It’s like all my dedication and hard work is paying off so it’s just relief. All the stress is gone, I’m going to the next level, I’m just excited.” Benc agreed. “I’m so excited to go out, do my thing and play softball,” she said.

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.