Senior Profile: Parsons weighing her options

Multiple broken bones and a concussion inspired Williams High senior Sarah Parsons to go to college and study physical therapy.

She was accepted into three colleges and narrowed her choice down to Chico State and Sacramento State, but a new contender entered the fray on Tuesday.

Parsons, and fellow team captain Estefania Aceves, received offers to play soccer for Mendocino College and now must decide if they want to follow in the footsteps of former Williams teammates Limbet Mena and Itzel Ramirez.

"Both of us are considering it, just yesterday we were joking around, if you go I'll go," Parsons said on Wednesday.

Parsons began playing soccer when she was 7 and was a member of three Northern Section Division III runners-up teams. She has the full support of her parents, Don and Vasna Parsons.

This year she is one of four seniors, and is the team captain and a leader on defense. Parsons, Aceves, Noemi Ibarra and Josiany Madrigal, who was injured and couldn't finish the season, held together a young team.

"I was used to being told what to do, but now it's different. I have to tell my team what to do. It's rewarding too, teaching them new things and helping them build their skills so hopefully their senior year they can have a fulfilling year," Parsons said.

She learned a lot during her four years, playing nearly every position on the field. Parsons began as a forward during her first two seasons and moved to fullback as a junior.

This season, the Yellowjackets (3-8-1) are fighting for the sixth and final playoff spot that Parsons hopes will give them a chance to reach the championship game for a fourth time in her career.

She had to sit out the championship game as a freshman because of a concussion, but the experience, along with breaking her wrist several times, introduced her to a possible career path.

"I've been to physical therapy and I kind of got interested in that because I've broken my wrist so many times, and breaking my finger, that got me interested in it," she said.

Parsons played volleyball her first three years at Williams, but didn't play this year because her wrist was giving her trouble.

When she isn't focused on soccer and school, Parsons is a bona fide animal lover. She began volunteering at the animal shelter and soon after was working there, though she hardly considers it work.

Her two dogs, Blu and Lulu, kept her company during her down time and helped inspire her desire to spend time with animals.

"When we would take the dogs to the vet, I would always talk to them a lot and I told them I had an interest with animals," she said.

She has all the tools to succeed in college, both athletically and academically. Parsons is a member of the California Scholarship Federation and the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement program.

CONTACT Kirk Barron at 458-2121 or kbarron@tcnpress.com.