The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Rio Mesa High senior led area players in scoring this season with 21 goals and also had five assists. Macarena racked up those statistics the first year he started playing forward, and wound up just two goals shy of the school record set by Jerry Ponce in 2009.
Macarena was shifted to the new position over the summer while playing for his club team, the Camarillo Eagles. Once school started, Macarena told Rio Mesa coach Brandon Fuchs he wanted to play the same position for the Spartans.
“I told Fuchs when I got back from the summer this year I feel like playing striker. I feel I got the position down. I can do a lot for you up there.’ ” Macarena said.