CBS12 Athlete of the Week- Suncoast's Guilianna Johnston

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Suncoast high school in Riviera Beach is known for high educational standards, with hard work in the classroom opening doors to elite colleges and International opportunities.

Guilianna Johnston is not only pulling that off with her school work, but doubling up on those opportunities with her amazing talents on the Suncoast soccer field. Johnston is this week's CBS12's athlete of the week.

"I just a very competitive person," says Johnston. "So I think (in my) senior season I've got to go out with a bang, and just bring it all this year."

That's exactly what Johnston has done in her senior season at Suncoast. Scoring 24 goals and 9 assists in 9 games. She's hoping to break her own county record of 63 set in her sophomore season.

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"She's always had that natural talent," says Suncoast Head Coach Terry Robinson. "When she doesn't score she gets mad. A lot of people think she scores goals against chump sides or whatever. She scores goals against everybody."

Johnston is proud to have helped put Suncoast Soccer on the map, winning the District Title for three straight years. Pretty great for a school also known for it's top notch students.

"All the girls on the team, they're going through really hard academic work," says Johsnton. "We all kind of help each other. Even before games we'll study together and help each other out. The bond on and off the field with our team has been amazing."

"Even when she wasn't the captain in years before," reflects Robinson. "She always says her piece. She speaks up."

Johnston knows how to make herself known, creating her own website when the pandemic threw a wrentch into the recruiting process, providing a highlight reel with some of her more jaw-dropping club team goals. The Puerto Rico 20U National team took notice, inviting her to their workouts as they get ready for the World Cup. She qualifies because of her mother's Puerto Rican heritage.

"They recruit from all over the country, all over the world" says a proud Johnston. "So just being able to see how different players play, and playing with them, I think it's definetely going to make me a better player. And just getting to experience a new team is awesome."

That's just the tip of the iceberg as far as her future goes. Johnson has also accepted an offer to play soccer at Rice University, hoping to work towards a career in kinesiology. But not before she and her Suncoast teammates take care of one more piece of business. The goal to win it all.

"We're still undefeated this season," says Johnston. "If we put in the hard work, all of us at practice, every day, and really want it, I think that we're going to get it."