Soccer star Clark Borjon wins Golden Boot trophy4 min read

The awards keep coming in for Scorpions senior Clark Borjon. On Thursday, April 23, the footballerreceived the Golden Boot award in front of his teammates and classmates.

“It felt great and, to be honest, it is something that I have always wanted to achieve,” Borjon said. “I worked entire years for this, included staying after school every day until 9 p.m. by myself and now this is the reward that I get.”

Last season, Borjon led the Scorpions soccer team with 20 goals, which was also good for first in the 2A Central.

“Jake Weber came up to me and said that we should give out a golden boot award to Clark and make it an annual award,” Sedona soccer coach Sam Blom said. “Whoever scores the most goals next season, girl or boy, will come home with the boot.”

The boot was made at Weber Properties, as Weber wanted to make a trophy that inspired younger players.

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Borjon led the 2A Central with 46 points and was the only player to eclipse the 40-point mark this season.

Borjon’s also finished third in the conference in assists with six.

During his senior year, Borjon recorded a hat trick on four separate occasions and had two four-goal matches.

On Dec. 15, 2018, Borjon accumulated nine points after scoring four goals and dishing out an assist in Sedona’s 5-3 win over Kingman.

With graduation coming soon, Borjon already has his postgrad plans made up.

“After I graduate, I am returning to Mexico and achieving my dream of becoming a professional soccer player,” Borjon said. “I have a lot more opportunities in Mexico because a lot of important people already know me there.”

“Sadly, in this country, I cannot get as many opportunities as I could in Mexico just because I wasn’t born here.”

Borjon also earned 3A Metro North Player of the Year this season.

“I couldn’t say my senior year was anything more than perfect,” Borjon said. “I achieved all the goals I wanted to achieve, broke a few records and also had the honor of experiencing it with incredible people.”

“Sarah Frey, Liz Corral and Sierra Sanders were a few people I wanted to mention because I would not have achieved this without their help,” he added.

Borjon’s friends and teammates helped him push through for a phenomenal senior campaign.

“Those three girls have been very supportive and each of them means the world to me,” Borjon said. “They would cheer me up every time that I did not believe in myself and always made sure I pushed through.”

“Each of them inspired me and I am thankful that they are a part of my life,” he continued.

Borjon learned just how powerful he is when he sets his mind to it.

“I learned that you can achieve anything you want in life if you have go out and work for it,” Borjon said. “If during my freshman year, you would had told me that I was going to make history on this high school, I wouldn’t believe you, but look now.”

Borjon’s success has also caught the attention of the younger local footballers.

“I am the first person ever at this high school that achieved the golden boot, it feels great to inspire the little kids,” Borjon said. “It feels great when they come at me and they tell me that I’m their example to follow and that they want to be like me when they grow up.”

“I’m so happy because everywhere I went I represented this high school in the best way possible,” Borjon said. “There is not a better feeling than knowing that you gave it your all and have no regrets about anything.”

“I hope this is just the beginning and I can one day become a professional soccer player,” Borjon said. “My dream is to inspire kids to follow their soccer dreams, and also show the world that humility is something that will make everyone a better person and will also improve the world.

Borjon’s last year at Sedona Red Rock High taught him many lifelong lessons.

“Be humble and let your talent speak instead of you,” Borjon said.

For Blom, Clark will be remembered for his passion towards the game and willingness
to do whatever it takes.

“If we were winning late in a game, Clark would ask to switch to sweeper to help us preserve the win,” Blom said. “When we needed a goal, we could always count on him to get up a great shot at the net.”

Ivan Leonard

Ivan Leonard III was born in Florida and grew up in Illinois before graduating from the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he wrote for the Arizona Daily Wildcat. Leonard covers sports activites and recreation in Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde and the Verde Valley.

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Ivan Leonard III was born in Florida and grew up in Illinois before graduating from the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he wrote for the Arizona Daily Wildcat. Leonard covers sports activites and recreation in Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde and the Verde Valley.