This shows how risky (sometimes misleading) it is to use Latinate abbreviations and phrases like per se. (Few people know or bother with the difference between e.g. and i.e..)
"As such" might work, since that's what per se means, but I'd want something more strongly calling for 'as such' before I'd use it. It's not exactly clear what you didn't make as such, or per se. You made a keen high school sports player.