Senior Athlete Spotlight: Santiago Franceschi

When you hear the name Franceschi around Palmer Trinity, memories of the 2018 and 2019 Boys Soccer State Championship teams quickly come to mind. Brothers Alberto ’19 and Eduardo ’21 were members of those teams, with Alberto being selected as the Class 1A State Player of the Year both seasons. However, current senior Santiago Franceschi believes he has the advantage over both of his brothers. “I am different because I am the youngest and I can learn from their experience,” Santiago says. He uses his brothers for inspiration and often goes to them for advice on how he can improve his game to best prepare for another state title run. Alberto and Eduardo are quick to help because, as Santiago believes, they all have the same love and passion for both Palmer Trinity and the game. “For us, playing for Palmer is the best experience,” Santiago proudly boasts.

 

Santiago has been playing soccer since before he can even remember, oftentimes serving as the designated goalie for his older brothers. His father and brothers inspired him to begin playing and ever since, it has become the sport they have all loved and shared. As a player, Santiago believes in hard work and discipline in order to gain the trust of both his teammates and coaches. He has worked hard to improve as a leader, knowing that his actions have impacts on others and that he can inspire his teammates with positive energy. This translates to off the field where Santiago works to plan team activities outside of the school to help create a family bond on the team and make the underclassman feel included.

 

Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach Abiodun Adeyemi believes he was fortunate that Santiago was a part of the team during his first year at Palmer Trinity, believing that Santiago was exactly what the team needed. “Not only did he bring elite skills, his qualities fueled the team with the confidence and the belief that we were the best team in the state,” Adeyemi recalls. Santiago, in return, is thankful for Coach Adeyemi for making him feel valuable and supported. “He helped a lot with my leadership skills. He asks for my opinion and demands excellence in setting an example for others,” Santiago speaks of his head coach.

 

During his time as a Falcon, Santiago has many memories to reflect back upon, but the recent win over Ransom Everglades where the whole team’s focus and mentality led them to the win on the road is the first that comes to mind. The other is last year’s Regional Playoff win over Westminster Christian, where the team thrived on the support and energy of the crowd.    

 

When he is not playing soccer or spending time with his family, Santiago tries to make an impact on another community. With the political instability and violence in Venezuela, many Venezuelans have made the move to Miami without financial backing. Santiago created a website named “Imigrantes Miami” that catalogs and explains resources available to those who need them. Through various fundraisers and contributors, Santiago is proud to offer assistance to low-income families because he wants to help those making the difficult transition.

 

Santiago, whose favorite food is steak and arepas, favorite movie is Harry Potter, and favorite artist is Myke Towers, is excited for his next chapter next fall. He hopes to continue playing the game he loves while studying business analytics or finance. For now, the only thing on his mind is joining his brothers in bringing a state championship home to Palmer Trinity.