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West Valley City Journal

Cyprus senior signs letter of intent to play for Weber State

Dec 04, 2022 11:50AM ● By Greg James

By Greg James | [email protected]

Cyprus senior Sammy Gallegos has not had Skittles candies in nearly two years. Her softball coaches told her determination to quit eating junk food would help her accomplish her goals and she vowed to give it up. She recently accomplished one of her goals and signed to play collegiate softball at Weber State University.

“Skittles was my bag, I would not share them,” Gallegos said. “I really appreciate this experience (of getting the opportunity to play after high school).”

“This is huge, I think this is the biggest signing we have ever had here at Cyprus and in our program,” Cyprus High School softball head coach Whitley “Woo” Haimin said. “To be able to send someone to a super successful D1 program is exciting and for Sammy, she is about to open another chapter of her life.”

Coaches, teammates, friends, and family gathered to celebrate Gallegos signing her letter of intent to play softball.

“I knew she was going to make it someday,” former coach Sven Nelson said. “We had a championship on the line against me. I told my other coaches we needed to walk her and she hit a line drive to right-center for a walk-off win. I have always known she was going to make it.”

Gallegos started playing softball when she was 8 years old. She won a national championship in 2021. On her travel team, she developed the nickname “Utah” because she traveled to California every weekend to learn the game from the best in the country. Her high school experience was different than her travel team. It helped her become a leader on the field.

“She has been playing on one of the top teams in California throughout high school. She leaves every weekend to practice and play there and then is back Monday morning for school. She values her education. A lot of kids would not handle that commitment,” Haimin said.

Last season Gallegos belted 13 home runs to lead the Pirates. She also hit .482 and had 49 RBI. Last season the Pirates defeated Kearns and Westlake in the state playoffs before losing two straight in the championship bracket.

Her new team, Weber State, went 16-1 in Big Sky Conference and captured the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament last season. She plans on studying psychology.

“I have been training at Weber State since I was 12 years old,” Gallegos said. “I love this school and I am excited to be a Wildcat. I missed a lot of high school events. We went back and forth. I nagged my teachers to get my work, and I made it.”

Her dad, Sonny Gallegos, took her to California and found a way for her to keep involved in the sport.

“We started her as a pitcher,” Sonny said. “Then we found that she was so athletic that infield was going to be better for her.”

She has made the sacrifice to be in California every weekend for three straight seasons.

“I am most proud of her grades. She sacrificed the Friday football games and dances. I did not want to push her, but she dragged me along. I knew I had to do what I could do to give her support,” Sonny said. “She had offers from some big schools and she took the best offer that fit her.”

Her coach said she is a hard worker.

“Her signing is a product of all the hard work she has put in. Nothing was ever handed to her and she loved the grind. She made several sacrifices to get to this point and it was not easy,” Harmin said. “We love Sammy, and she is a great player and leader. Weber State is going to be a good fit for her.”

“I am excited to be a Wildcat,” Gallegos said.