Paulina Prieto Cerame, a 2012 graduate of Palmer Trinity School (PTS), will compete with Puerto Rico’s volleyball team this summer at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Prieto Cerame and her team defeated Kenya to qualify for its first Olympic Games.
Prieto Cerame also played volleyball while at PTS and was a varsity player as early as the seventh grade. She is the second PTS alumna to participate on an Olympic team, the first being Ciara Michel who played volleyball for Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.
“Paulina is a born competitor. She has both natural talent and a tremendous work ethic that has helped her get where she is in this sport,” said William Gonzalez, Prieto’s former coach at PTS. “Overall she combines those qualities that make her a good student, athlete, friend and leader.”
During her time at PTS, Prieto Cerame’s team took the Miami-Dade District 16 Championship five years in a row and the Regional Championship in 2008. She was lettered and was a three-year team captain, a three-time All Miami-Dade County First Team selectee and a two-time Miami Herald Player of the Year.
In addition, she was named a Top 50 recruit as a junior and was a member of the USA Youth National Team which competed in the World Championships in Ankara, Turkey and placed ninth. Prieto Cerame ranked No. 7 in her class by PrepVolleyball.com, and received “La Copa Dorada” as one of the 70 most outstanding Hispanic athletes in Florida.
“Representing my country and going to the Olympics is a dream come true. I feel so blessed. I’ve have had some amazing experiences and have met so many wonderful people through volleyball,” Prieto Cerame said after qualifying.
