Homegrown Serna Ready for Big 2016

By: Brian "Sound Byte" Jennings 

Who would’ve thought a 21 year old would be one of two players who have been in Burgundy and Blue the longest on the 2016 roster?  Dillon Serna is just that, along with Dillon Powers, and is ready to take the next step with his hometown club as the Rapids embark on another season following massive personnel changes once again.

However, through it all since 2013, Serna remains a Rapid beginning with his days at the Youth Academy starting in 2009.  “I feel like I’ve been here for so long but I’m only 21 years old-it’s kind of crazy,” says the former Horizon High School Hawk.

“I take a lot of pride in being the homegrown guy here. To be that example for the academy guys here who hopefully eventually sign with the first team one day.  It’s special to be here and be part of this team.  I’ve grown up watching this team my whole life pretty much.”

2016 is pivotal for Serna and he understands what he has and what steps need to be taken to further his career both here in Colorado as well as on the international stage.  “This off-season was definitely helpful for me to understand that this is my job and I don’t have anything else to worry about.  I need to be doing all the little things right.  We’re talking about my career here so it’s not anything to take lightly.”

This March the US U-23 National Team will be attempting to qualify for the Summer Olympics in Brazil with the winner of a two-game playoff versus Colombia getting the trip of a lifetime.  Serna has been a regular part of the American side leading up to this point and is certainly making that goal a priority going forward.  “One of the goals I want for myself is to be part of that game(s) with Columbia, and ultimately if we make it, to be part of the Olympics that’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Serna.

“(Rapids) are always supportive of me going-not to hold me back to play a game here to miss an opportunity with the National Team.  It’s always nice to be around and establish yourself, but I’m only going to be 21 one time and this is a once-in-a-lifetime to play in the Olympics so I’m not too worried about it-I’m going to be 100% committed to that.”

Should the Colorado native be at home all summer with the Rapids, then Serna explains there will also be a benefit to that situation.  He will be able to concentrate on what should be a season-long chance to prove his selection to the Rapids coaching staff day-in and day-out, admitting, “The biggest thing for me is the consistency”.

“Last year we had tons of opportunities, we had so many chances to put games away and score goals.  This year it’s just going to be about the focus when you’re in the final third to having more of that killer instinct to finish your chance. You might only get one or two chances a game and that could be the difference between 3 points and no points,” explains Serna knowing that the Rapids must also prove more stout at home if they want to make a playoff run.  “Especially at home, that’s one of the most important things we have to do is winning games here.” 

With the Rapids stuck on artificial turf to begin preseason, Serna has been held out of full training thus far so as not to aggravate a back issue.  However Dillon will be back in action now that the squad has moved the preseason operations to Tucson AZ this week.  One large part of that process is a renewed dedication to conditioning by the entire Rapids team which is what the coaches and squad have been focusing on this pre-season.  “Last year we kind of got away from some of the fitness aspects.  The year before we were one of the fittest teams in the league. We had the least amount of goals scored on us in the final 15 minutes and scored the most goals in the final 15 minutes,” explains Serna.  “This year we’re focusing on that a lot more and I think that’s going to pay off for sure.  We have the advantage and teams do get tired and burnt out towards the end of the second half and we have to use that to our advantage.”