Proia signs with USF
Renato Proia was on the field for some of the more thrilling games at Mariner High over the past four years. The senior also witnessed his share as a spectator.
When Proia wasn’t making his own impact in three sports – soccer, football and track – he supported many of his fellow classmates, usually as one of the more vocal members of the student body.
“I’ve always liked checking out the other teams,” said Proia, “and just enjoying high school.”
It’s Proia’s own athletic ability and hard work in the classroom that’s paved the way for the next chapter. He signed a Division I soccer scholarship with the University of South Florida Friday in Mariner’s cafeteria.
Renato is the fourth family member to graduate from Mariner, joining older sisters Kristina and Angela, and brother Bryan. Kristina and his parents, Mike and Cindy, were present for Friday’s signing.
Proia had several scholarship offers, but always wanted to attend USF. Sister Angela graduated from the school and teaches in the Tampa area.
For the Tritons, Proia made his biggest impact on the soccer field, where he was a four-year starter at goalkeeper. He set the school’s all-time record with 16 shutouts and was instrumental in leading the Tritons to three straight regional appearances.
“Overall, in the past four years, he probably made the single biggest impact on our team,” Mariner coach Martin Cardenas said. “He was able to come in and play right away (as a freshman), and mentally he was a confident keeper.”
At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Proia combines size with the athleticism and instincts needed to excel at his position. Another key criteria is being cool under pressure.
He displayed that attribute several times, including his junior year when he led the Tritons to a district championship win over Cape Coral, making clutch stops in the penalty kick shootout.
Another pressure-packed situation came this season in an epic 2-1 victory over Barron Collier in the district semifinals. Proia again stood tall, allowing teammates the opportunity to win on a penalty kick.
Despite all the memorable soccer games, Proia said he was even more proud of the way the team came together.
“We built a family and became close on and off the field,” he said.
In addition to soccer, Proia was a thrower on the track & field team and spent three years on the gridiron. He delivered a game-winning field goal in a triple-overtime victory over North Port as a junior and booted a career-long punt of 73 yards.
As a senior, he showed his versatility, playing offensive line as well as his usual punting and placekicking duties.