Erick Garcia, junior striker and JHS boys soccer captain, has become nationally recognized under the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) soccer rankings. Garcia took the number six spot in the nation for most goals scored in High School varsity boys soccer for the 2024-2025 season in early Jan. Prior to this, Garcia was ranked number two in the nation. 

“I fell in love with the game at such a young age I can’t take my heart off it,” Garcia said. 

Garcia, ranked as number seven in the nation for goal scoring, is ranked number one in the Florida class 7A District eight division, securing his number five spot in FHSAA rank among all Fla., High school players. 

“At the first home game against Wellington, we were down 2-0, and I realized I had to do something. I ended up scoring four goals within 10 minutes and winning the game with a comeback,” Garcia said. “The next morning I got a text from my friend saying I’m 8th in the nation, and I thought it was fake because it doesn’t sound believable. I checked it and it turned out to be true.”

Training daily at Football Club Florida Prep Academy (FC Florida Prep Academy), Garcia began his high school career in 2022, where he played on the varsity soccer team as a freshman. Garcia was the only freshman on the team at the time, starting his success early.

“I practice at FC Florida everyday, so I get the practice that I need. Even during breaks, they still host practice, so I love that,” Garcia said. 

Garcia began his athletic career at 5-years-old, where his father put him in travel soccer. 

“I started playing at 5-years-old thanks to my dad, who decided to put me in a travel team. I started off playing at Jupiter United, then Palm Beach Soccer Academy and currently playing at FC Florida,” Garcia said.

Garcia has played with both senior captains Dylan Bruns and Brandon Leibovich for the past six years, building their dynamic at JHS and at Jupiter Middle School.

“We have a good relationship on and off the field, and good chemistry working together to score. Playing with him for the last three years allowed us to learn each other’s play style, giving us the ability to be successful with minimal mistakes,” Leibovich said. “Erick is a great player, our leading goal scorer and I think he has a very promising future ahead of him.” 

With a strong dynamic on and off the field, Leibovich and Garcia have both assisted one another in multiple goals this season. 

“Playing with the people I’ve been playing with for a long time helps me a lot because we understand each other. It’s better for us, so we can make plays and read the game,” Garcia said. 

Garcia grew up loving soccer and surrounding himself with mentors who drove him to continue playing. 

“Ronaldo is my main motivator since I’ve seen him play ever since I was little and I have seen him accomplish so many things. Since I’m a striker, I mostly motivate myself from Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Viktor Gyökeres, Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, Lautaro Martinez, Ollie Watkins and so on,” Garcia said. 

Off the field, Garcia holds his father as his biggest motivator. 

“What motivates me the most is my dad. After a bad game, I always think about him first, how he is going to feel about my performance. He is the one that put me into this life and all the equipment he’s bought me, I just want him to see me succeed and achieve my dream,” Garcia said. 

In the future, Garcia has dreams of entering a professional level league. 

“My dream is to make it professionally and play at the top level leagues, such as in England, Spain, Italy, or France. Since I’m barely starting though, it doesn’t matter what club I get into, I will try my best and try to get signed into a better team,” Garcia said. 

Garcia has scored 33 goals and four assists in his junior year season so far.  

“My hopes for this season and next year is to just focus on districts, get ready for a good game, bring the trophy home and lead my team to a good season,” Garcia said. 

Garcia’s best performance this season was the matchup against Wellington, scoring four of the five goals. Garcia is credited by his coaches for his 

“Erick is a very proud, well, mannered, intelligent young man with enormous resilience and tenacity in the most amazing ways on and off the field,” Barry Lagos, head varsity boys soccer coach, said. 

Outside of soccer, Garcia spends his spare time surrounded by those closest to him.  

“I just like to hangout with my friends and family, I love to go fishing, so I go out a lot,” Garcia said.

Garcia credits his supporters as those surrounding him, in and out of school.  

“I want to thank all the people that support me, my parents, brother, students, teachers, administration, parents, coaches and even my own teammates. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. I get motivated by these people all the time to keep on going and to never give up on my dreams,” Garcia said. 

Gabrielle Gavrilovic, Jupiter High counselor, has developed mentorship for Garcia since his freshman year.

“It makes me feel proud and happy that Erick is accomplishing his goals. I hope Erick becomes a professional soccer player and I hope to be sitting along the sidelines watching him play in the top leagues of Europe one day,” Gavrilovic said.

Garcia has been inspiring other players for nearly 12 years, educating himself on all aspects of knowledge on the field. 

“Soccer is not an easy sport and requires dedication,”Garcia said. “I just want to say to the little kids who want to chase a dream of becoming a professional footballer, don’t stop in what you are doing, give football the time and dedication it needs in order to become a good player.”