Dalton Academy’s Reynoso is bound for Argentina to play pro soccer

On November 10, a gofundme.com fundraiser was launched for Andy Reynoso, a senior at Dalton Academy, titled “Chance of a lifetime.”

Recently, Reynoso’s fellow students at Puma Nation bid him farewell as he sets off on his journey to seize this amazing opportunity.

As a standout soccer player for the Dalton Academy Pumas, Reynoso played a pivotal role in leading TDA to a state championship as a sophomore in 2022. However, his days with the Pumas are likely over.

That’s because Reynoso is taking his talent to the professional level in Argentina.

Two Argentine clubs, Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba and Independiente Rivadavia, both associated with leagues in the Argentine Football Association, have shown interest in recruiting Reynoso to play for them.

“I got the opportunity thanks to Dalton United, the local semi-pro team,” Reynoso explained. “There was a player there who played for the Argentinian third tier. He was watching me practice and play and told me that there was a big chance for me to go play at an international level.”

The offer initially sounded too good to be true for Reynoso and his parents.

“At first, they said no because they thought it was a scam,” Reynoso laughed.

The fundraiser’s goal was to raise $5,000 to cover Reynoso’s plane ticket to Argentina, living expenses, and a return ticket to attend his graduation in May. Reynoso, ranked third in his senior class with a 3.82 GPA, hit the fundraising target before his departure.

“I’m very grateful,” Reynoso said. “I’m thrilled to have such tremendous support. I never thought I would reach my goal. The entire community was willing to assist me.”

On Wednesday, Reynoso was honored with a grand send-off at the school. Students formed a line along the hallways, cheering as a percussion line and a group of cheerleaders led Reynoso through halls illuminated by blinking lights in the Puma colors of red and white.

Exiting the school, Reynoso posed for pictures with his family, coaches, teachers, and school administration.

Reynoso joined The Dalton Academy in its inaugural year in 2021-22 after completing his freshman year at Dalton High School.

During his tenure at The Dalton Academy, Reynoso was instrumental in the first-ever Puma soccer team’s success, culminating in the Class A Public state championship in May 2022. Named to the Region 7-A Division I first team as a junior, Reynoso was also included in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Class A DI All-State second team.

“I want to express my gratitude to coach Rury Alvarez and Asher Griffith for initiating the program,” Reynoso acknowledged. “They started from scratch and put in a tremendous amount of effort behind the scenes to prepare us physically and mentally. They taught me a lot, not just as coaches but as brothers and father figures. I will miss them greatly.”

Reynoso’s aspiration as a professional soccer player is to improve and eventually compete for a prestigious European club.

“I aim to showcase my abilities and what Dalton has taught me,” Reynoso expressed.

After that, Reynoso’s plan is to return to Dalton and give back to the community that supported him along the way.

“Assuming everything goes well and as per God’s plan, I want to return and give back to the community. I want to express my appreciation to everyone for their support that helped me get to where I am today,” Reynoso stated. “It wasn’t just me. Many friends, family, and coaches made sacrifices to enable my journey.”