The Pampa Harvesters soccer program held another signing party Wednesday afternoon as senior goalie Yahir Camacho put his name on the dotted line to play at Wayland Baptist University.
“It’s close to home and I looked at their program and they are pretty successful,” Camacho said. “I had the privilege to go to one of their practices in the fall and I really enjoyed it. “
Camacho was a four-year player on varsity, tallying 97 games with 298 total saves and 25 clean sheets (not allowing a single goal in a game).
Camacho will be joining a Wayland Baptist Pioneers squad who won the NAIA National Championship in 2017.
Camacho played under Head Coach Hugo Aguillon the last three years and has experienced a lot of growth, after starting his freshmen year.
“When he came a lot of things changed like how we practiced and what he expected of us,” Camacho said. “As the years went by, we started improving a lot of things like our cardio, chemistry and learning how to believe in each other. It’s been a three-year long process where we felt like a family and a home. It’s going to be hard leaving.”
The Harvesters won their District this year and made it through to the Regional Quarterfinals round of the playoffs. But it’s the memories before District Camacho enjoyed the most.
“The tournaments have always been fun,” Camacho said. “Being able to bond and be together with the guys and coaches has been great.”
Camacho is the son of Adriana Portillo and Rosario Camacho and said both have been a big part of his career.
“Pretty close to my mom, she has been there for me,” Camacho said. “My sisters (have been there), too. But my mom has been the one supporting me through making my college steps. I’ve been busy with soccer and not been able to work as much so she’s allowed me to dedicate everything to soccer. She’s always been there for me.
Camacho got his love from soccer from his father.
“The sport was introduced to me from my dad,” Camacho said. “I fell in love with goal-keeping. He’s always been there to support me and make me believe in myself. My biggest role model has always been my dad and I appreciate him for introducing me to the sport.”
Camacho expressed that he wanted to set an example for his sisters, Melissa Castillo and Karma Delgado.
“Being a first-generation college student, I wanted to be a role model to them,” Camacho said.
Aguillon said Camacho is the personification of the word “leader” to the Harvesters.
“When I came in his sophomore year, he had that experience of being a goal-keeper,” Aguillon said. “That was a lot that they put on him as a freshman. He adapted very well. He’s a leader and a role model.
“He’s not just a role model to his sisters, but to these boys here. Especially this year, he took a big role as the only goal-keeper.”
Aguillon said there were several games where the scoreboard may have looked lop-sided in favor of the Harvesters, but that’s due in large part to the great play of Camacho.
“There’s been several games, this year alone, where we won by two goals, or people will say they won by two or three goals,” Aguillon said. “But they don’t see Camacho saving two or three of those shots. If not for him, the game may have been tied or we would have lost.”
Camacho will major in Spanish and plans to go into coaching/education.
