Refugio's Lara signs with UHV softball

University of Houston-Victoria softball coach Lindsey Ortiz today announced the signing of Refugio's Celeste Lara for the 2021-22 season.

A four-year, two-sport athlete, Lara had an outstanding career on the field and in the classroom for Refugio playing basketball and softball.

She served as her class president all four years, and was captain of her basketball team in 2020 and softball team in 2021. She was also a member of the 4-H Brushpoppers Club where she was an officer.

As a freshman she was named the district Newcomer of the Year and third team all-state outfielder by the Texas Sports Writers Association in softball. She was also academic all-district in basketball and softball. She also earned the Fighting Heart Award as tournament MVP at the Goliad softball tournament.

She was the district Utility Player of the Year as a sophomore and was named to the Advocate all-area team as a sophomore. She also earned the Academic Excellence Award and academic all-district in softball.

Working through the COVID pandemic she was named all-district honorable mention in basketball as a junior, was nominated for the Victoria Advocate Varsity Cup in softball and earned Academic Excellence.

She wrapped up her senior season with a number of accolades in basketball and softball. She was district honorable mention in basketball and nominated for the Victoria Advocate Varsity Cup in basketball.

On the softball field, she was the district offensive MVP and earned recognition on the All-South Texas softball honorable mention team and Advocate all-area honorable mention. She also was a participant in the Coastal Bend Coaches Association All-Star Team and earned academic all-district.

"UHV has everything to offer that I was looking for in a university – size, quality instruction, modern facilities, a competitive softball program, and the location is close enough to home that my family will be able to continue watching me play the sport I love," said Lara on making her commitment to UHV. "I know it's going to be a perfect fit for me."

Lara plans to study kinesiology allied health science while at UHV with a career ambition of becoming an occupational therapist.