Gimenez's International Experience Paying Dividends
10/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 28, 2013
This article was originally published in the October 2013 edition of the Gold Rush.
By Jay Reddick, Gold Rush
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Even at age 21, Luca Gimenez brings a world of experience to Wake Forest soccer.
The senior midfielder/forward brings Brazilian skill, European speed and American sensibility every time he takes the field for the Deacons, and it has paid off with great success.
He was an All-ACC Tournament pick as a sophomore, a second-team all-conference selection as a junior, and with a goal and two assists in WFU's first two conference games of 2013, he could be on the way to more honors this season.
Gimenez was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He grew up around the game, playing for the club team Interclubes. He says now that soccer in Brazil required precision and a mind for the game.
"The speed of play is slower there (in Brazil) than here (in the United States)," Gimenez said. "It's more skillful, with a lot of individual work. Forwards don't have to defend as much, and play is a lot more tactical."
Of course, as a child, you're learning about more than just sports, you're learning about life. You're learning to dream.
Gimenez's dream was named Ronaldo. The Brazilian is still considered one of the greatest players ever, and his MVP performance in the 2002 World Cup only added to his burgeoning legend. Gimenez was 10 years old during that World Cup, and Ronaldo immediately became his favorite player.
"He played really fast," Gimenez said. "He was obviously a great goal-scorer, but he was also a physical attacker. He also set a good example; he wasn't the type to show off for the fans. I appreciated that, and wanted to be like him."
Many of Ronaldo's talents, unique to Brazilian players, were honed from playing against European opponents, so as Gimenez got older and had the opportunity to play in international events, he did so as well. He was the MVP of the Kerkyra Cup in Greece at age 15, and led his junior team to a second-place finish at the prestigious Helsinki Cup in Finland that same year. The European experience added more facets to his game.
"It was a huge difference," Gimenez said. "They would be more physical, focus on defense a lot more. It forces the Brazilian to change his style."
As he learned more, he began to understand his ultimate ambition - to complete his education in America, then take all he had learned and play for Major League Soccer.
"I knew I could adapt and play in any league," Gimenez said. "I saw how much MLS has grown - it's becoming a big league with big players. I came here with that mentality."
He attended South Kent School in Connecticut for his senior year of high school (earning all-state honors and adjusting to the American style of play) and then made the trip south to Wake Forest.
Gimenez's background gives him a leg up as a collegian and is sure to help him in his MLS quest, WFU coach Jay Vidovich said.
"A lot of people have eyes on him," Vidovich said. "He's clever. He's very capable 1v1 (one-on-one), with attacking skills that an American kid doesn't have. He's certainly different than the average player at that level."
Playing for Vidovich and the Deacons has made a huge difference in his game, but Gimenez also chose WFU for what it could give him beyond soccer -- a quality education. He'll graduate in December, a semester early, with a degree in Economics. To get there, he's currently taking 17.5 credit hours while his sport is in season, an impressively high number.
"I was able to come in every summer and take some classes," Gimenez said. "I'm taking five economics classes right now, but it's good when you can balance school and soccer."
Vidovich said he admires Gimenez's commitment to education and to the team. "He came here for both, with an opportunity to invest in his future, and he has done that," Vidovich said. "He's a bright kid, and he adapted to Wake Forest very well, especially for someone with English as a second language."
Gimenez's typical summer has included one session at WFU and some time at home in Brazil. Last summer, though, he stayed in Winston-Salem for both sessions - not just to get caught up on academics, but to make certain improvements for his final season with the Deacons.
"I was mainly focused on my individual game," Gimenez said. "Beating people 1v1, working with both feet. I did a lot of fitness work - most people don't see that if they were even just a little fitter, they'd be so much better."
As a senior, Gimenez has become a mentor to the younger players on the team. He said he's not shy about giving advice, but sometimes he'll just point to his favorite moment as a Deacon -- last year's takedown of No. 1 Maryland on Nov. 1. Gimenez scored the go-ahead goal in that game, but he said the team effort is what made it really special.
"That night, the whole team had a fantastic game, from the starters to the bench," Gimenez said. "It gave us confidence. I look at that and say, `We can do more than we think.' We can't be the No. 1 team tomorrow -- that's unrealistic, and we have a long way to go. But we can beat them. We're good enough right now to do that and to get better from there. That showed us who we can be by the end of this season."
Gimenez has set goals for himself, and he has achieved most of them. So who's to say he can't help the Deacons reach the pinnacle as a team?
