Senior Chloe Cabrera committed to the University of Pacific to compete in D1 softball, she said.
The recruiting process is very stressful, and making decisions was difficult, Cabrera said. Her family and coaches helped her make decisions, she added.
“I had also gotten an offer from Loyola Marymount University, which is in LA,” Cabrera said. “I really liked both schools, but it came down to how much which school wanted me more, and the University of Pacific in Stockton is a lot closer to home, and I can still come home if I need to.”
Going to softball camps was important because coaches from colleges would come and watch her play, Cabrera said. There’s pressure because players have to showcase themselves, talk with coaches, and build a relationship with them, she added.
“The camps really helped me, as I got an idea of which school I wanted to go to,” Cabrera said. “The camps also made me meet a lot of people, made me grow as a person, and learn how to play under pressure.”
The four coaches definitely played a big role in developing her as a player and bringing in different perspectives and different coaching styles, Cabrera said. She will miss representing MHS and also her teammates, she added.
“I will miss the underclassmen, Coach D (Deana Querubin), and the school,” Cabrera said. “I will keep visiting the school during breaks and spend time with the team and Coach D.”
Playing at MHS taught players how to work with people of all ages, Cabrera said. High school sports also teach players to have good endurance and mental strength, she added.
“In college, I’ll be an underclassman at first, working with older people, and then as I get older, I’ll be working with newer and younger people, so communication is really important,” Cabrera said. “This not only helps me be a good teammate, but also supports my peers and helps coach them, along with myself at times, and gives good advice, especially as a team captain and upperclassman at MHS.”
Being a college athlete is not easy at all, as it’s more vigorous, and balancing academics can be hard, Cabrera said. A few weeks ago, she went to her college and met all of her future teammates, she added.
“I went on an official visit, and they had a bunch of activities for us; also, it was a way of team bonding,” Cabrera said. “It was an overnight stay, so we stayed in dorms, and this made me close to a few teammates, and honestly, playing division one means team spirit needs to be really good.”
Cabrera is talented and has an athletic build, varsity softball head coach l Deana Querubin said.
“I first met Chloe in her freshman year when she was playing volleyball for me,” Querubin said. “I saw her during conditioning, and when I saw her, I knew she was an athlete because you could just see how she was physically built.”
Cabrera is self-determined, and she carries herself, Querubin said. She has achieved so much through her hard work, she added.
“She has grown so much since her freshman year, and Chloe has had the mindset of a leader and Chloe has the mindset of stepping up and being a leader by helping others become better,” Querubin said. “Last year was a challenging season, and Chloe definitely tried her best to keep the team spirit up, and she really makes a difference wherever she goes.”
Playing for a college is way different than playing for a high school team, Querubin said. With the help of her coaches, Chloe made her decision to go to a college that was best for her, she added.
“You feel honored to play at the college level, but it’s also very challenging,” Querubin said. “The dynamics are different, practice is different, and it’s almost like stepping into a new environment.”
Chloe is an excellent example of what players can achieve if they work hard, Querubin said.
“You have to honor and respect the people like Chloe that make it because they busted their butt to get there,” Querubin said. “It’s not like it just happened overnight. It’s a whole process from when she started playing all the way till now.”
A correction was made on Nov. 18, 2025: An earlier version of this article contained an error. The reporter misquoted and misinterpreted the words of varsity softball Coach Deana Querubin. The last two paragraphs of the story incorrectly stated:
“Students should be privileged to have such a supportive school, family, and teammates, Querubin said. Chloe utilized whatever she got, and she worked really hard for this, she added.
‘Chloe is one of those few students who might not be naturally talented, but her hard work and determination got her to this,’ Querubin said. ‘I’m sure that her hard work will make her reach new heights in softball.’”
Ms. Querubin never said these words.
