Senior signs with Colorado as a soccer defender

DRAPER – Taryn "T" Vitacca, a senior at Juan Diego Catholic High School, Draper, signed a National Letter of Intent Feb. 7, with the University of Colorado to compete as a defender on their soccer team.

Of the schools she would have liked to attend, the University of Colorado was her first choice. The University of Colorado, one of the Big 12 schools, had the top offer. Colorado has offered to pay 90 percent of her college expenses her freshmen and sophomore years, and has given her a full-ride scholarship her junior and senior years.

Vitacca committed verbally to Colorado two days before her 17th birthday, July 19, and before she got her driver’s license. She must report for practice July 19 of this year for the upcoming fall season.

Vitacca has played soccer for Juan Diego since her freshman year. She earned a varsity letter all four years, and also served as team captain her senior year.

As a midfielder and high scorer, she helped Juan Diego take first place in the Class 3-A Region 8 Finals. The Soaring Eagle team out scored its opponents and finished undefeated. Vitacca’s level of play did not go unnoticed. She made the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune Second Team All-State her sophomore and junior years, and First Team All-State as a senior.

Jamie Schock, Juan Diego soccer coach, said Vitacca is a consummate leader. Proof of that came in the playoffs when Vitacca suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to her knee. Instead of ending her season in sadness, her character was revealed. She stepped up her role and continued to lead the team from the sidelines. Her teammates wanted the victories for her.

Vitacca started playing recreational soccer when she was 4 years old, and on a competitive level when she was 8 years old. In addition to playing for Juan Diego, she plays on the Utah Avalanche club team.

"My club coach, Joanna Barney, has been very influential in leading our team to eight straight State Cup Championships," said Vitacca. "Our club team is ranked fourth in the nation. Barney has been a State Olympic Development Program player for five years and has attended four region camps.

Vitacca follows in the footsteps of her older sister, Kara, who graduated from Juan Diego in 2006. Kara lettered all four years in soccer, and received a scholarship from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Vitacca carries a 3.4 grade point average, well above the 3.0 grade point average needed to play on Juan Diego’s soccer team. She said the road trip games are not all for fun because the team members are buried in their books studying and doing homework. She said the team knows academics come before soccer.

Schock said the soccer teams he has coached at Juan Diego all work hard. Each member will be ready when she graduates to become a community leader in whatever she chooses to do. They all take their education seriously.

Vitacca also earned an academic award in journalism from Juan Diego, and served as editor-in-chief for the school paper.

Vitacca is excited about the prospects of playing for the Colorado Buffalos. Following her ACL injury, her interest in exercise science grew stronger. Her primary interest will be in physical therapy.