Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Anja Perreira of Clayton Valley Charter
CONCORD, CA (Sept. 23, 2024) – A member of Clayton Valley Charter’s first-ever flag football team last fall, Perreira is a dedicated athlete who helped her team win the Tournament of Champions to cap an historic season.
Since an early age, Perreira has been athletic and extremely competitive, whether that be on the soccer field or the softball diamond. She spent her childhood playing both sports competitively, spending five years on the Mt. Diablo and Diablo Valley Wolves soccer teams as well as the past seven years on the Choppers traveling softball team.
She played on the Ugly Eagles JV soccer team her freshman year and varsity softball for four years, where she was named first-team all-Diablo Athletic League last spring as a junior.
Combined, her experience in these sports led to her success on the flag football field where she earned a varsity spot as a linebacker.
Her coach David Cooney says, “Anja led [the] team in interceptions last season and was an integral part in [them] winning the championship.” Perreira reflects, “Coming into the season, we had no idea what we were doing but we put in the work and grew so much. By the end of the season, we had good team chemistry which led us to victory.” This success was acknowledged when she received second team all-DAL honors and earned a spot as team captain. Her coach continued, “I have known Anja for over 10 years. When I was named head coach of the flag football team, Anja was one of the first girls I reached out to. She is a tremendous all-around athlete. She is a student of the game and is always eager to learn. She is one of the hardest working players on the field.”
In the classroom, Perreira maintains a 4.09 GPA, is a member of the CVCHS Public Service Academy and National Honor Society. In the future, Perreira is hopeful for an official NCS title this fall and next year plans to attend college and play softball or possibly flag football.
CVCHS student journalist Corinne Jeandheur wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Anja and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.
Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement, or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Corinne Jeandheur
Corinne Jeandheur is a senior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. She runs on the CVCHS cross country team in the fall as well as competing on the track and field team in the spring. She also plays the piano and bakes in her free time. Jeandheur is a member of the CVCHS Engineering and Design Academy and concluded her sophomore year with a 4.33 GPA. She is serving as co-president of the California Scholarship Federation at Clayton Valley Charter this school year and continuing her academic and community involvement in the National Honor Society. She is very pleased to be writing the monthly Athlete Spotlight for the Pioneer.