Alhambra Moor Takes on Rare Baseball Scholarship from San Jose

MICHELLE PAULINO
Staff Writer

It was in November of 2011 when senior Gary Acuna received the scholarship of his dreams. Left-handed and equipped with a strong curveball and what his coach Steve Gewecke describes as “great movement,” University of California colleges expressed interest since his sophomore year. After receiving a letter from UC Irvine around the end of the season that sophomore year, a door of opportunity beckoned.
“Thatʼs when I knew I had what it takes. I wanted to try harder from [that point forward],” Acuna said.
According to the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NSCSA) athletic recruiting profile, Acuna received numerous awards since his first season in high school, including Defensive Player of the Year.
Transferring to Alhambra for his sophomore year, he was chosen to play on the North San Gabriel Valley 16-18–year old Babe Ruth All Star Team.
Impressed by Acunaʼs skills, San Jose State University, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school, showed an interest in Acuna, and they offered him a scholarship to pitch for their team.
When asked about initial reactions to the scholarship, Acuna recounted, “I was shocked [and] relieved. I [finally] got that scholarship … I worked hard for it.”
Gewecke, who has been head baseball coach at AHS for 17 years, emphasized the tremendous prestige in pitching for the NCAA Division I requires.
“Itʼ s a great opportunity for [Acuna]. Guys donʼt get that chance very often [and the] odds for getting [the scholarship] are less than one percent,” Gewecke said.
It was through communication with coaches and a curiosity for committing to the sport that eventually led Acuna to apply for the scholarship. By taking initiative and undergoing challenging obstacles, Acuna succeeded.
When addressing advice for future athletes, Acuna accentuated that with determination and hard work one can accomplish what they want.
“Work hard because there is always stuff to work on,” Acuna said.
Acuna will pitch for San Jose State University in the fall while pursuing a major in business.