By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Sharyland High coach Ron Adame sees encouraging signs in the 120 athletes showing up to spring practices, in the 55 middle school students expected to join the program this fall, and in the seven returning starters set to play in 2016.
Since the ISD split that gave way to Sharyland Pioneer, the Rattlers have worked tirelessly to regain their position among the Valley’s elite — a stretch from 2012-14 that included two undefeated regular seasons, three district titles and three trips to the regional quarterfinals.
They started with a relatively clean slate last year, with no returning linemen. Now the team has two returners in that position in David Cantu and Adolfo Treviño, who represent the growing number of experienced players starting for Sharyland once again.
“That brings stability,” Adame said. “Comparing these numbers to previous years, it’s pretty good.”
In all, the Rattlers have 30 returning lettermen, including two more starters than they had the previous season.
Receivers Edgar Alanis and Blake Klein are back, with Cantu and Treviño up front. And on the other side of the ball, they have defensive backs Omar Mendiola and Andres Tamez and defensive end Christian Salinas back for another year.
Fernie Perez, a running back and inside linebacker, has been promoted to be one of the team captains, and Abraham Cruz, Freddy Garcia and Macedonio Lopez are expected to provide some level of relief for him on the offensive side.
Practices run smoothly now, players say, and there’s sharper play between the returners, given their experience with one another last year.
“I’m really impressed,” Tamez said. “Everyone’s flying to the football, giving their best effort. Everyone’s together, communicating, from the secondary to the d-line.
“We’re all on the same page, and no one’s making big mistakes. And if we do, we fix it quickly.”
Treviño was part of the team last year that had graduated 47 seniors. He remembers people questioning where the team would finish, and it if it had enough pieces in place to remain competitive. It fueled their run to the second round of the playoffs last year, and it’s once again giving them confidence as it reloads.
After reaching a third round of the playoffs in 2014, the Rattlers proceeded to clinch their eighth consecutive playoff berth.
“Last year, we had a lot of doubters because we lost a lot of seniors,” Treviño said. “But this year, we’re getting a lot of starters back, which is helping us a lot. We have experience, so it’s allowing us to help some of the guys coming up on the varsity to get on the same page.”
With injuries heading into the spring, Adame has taken a cautious approach with certain players. Klein, for one, is working his way back from an ankle injury he sustained during their regional track and field tournament.
That has created opportunities for other some of the more inexperienced players to get reps at slot receiver, like Luis Escalera, who picked up the sport last year, and Luis Franco and Juan Zuniga.
QB BATTLE
Sharyland will have four players vying for the starting quarterback job.
Senior Alan Alvarez, junior Diego Vela and sophomore Edgar Longoria have taken their share of snaps during spring practices. Kale Cator, a senior, has not yet practiced this year as he recovers from injury.
Adame lauded Alvarez for his accuracy and understanding of the offense. Cator has garnered positive reviews for what Adame describes as “deceptive speed,” given Cator’s 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame.
Vela has played the position since middle school. And Longoria, who is gearing up for his first varsity season, is hailed a great athlete for his running and throwing capabilities. Longoria has mostly taken reps with the first team, however, as a slot receiver.
SECONDARY CLICKING
The defensive backfield for Sharyland has impressed during spring practices.
Tamez, the only returning starter in that part of the field, has provided a huge lift. Meanwhile, Escalera is battling with Omar Mendiola and Brandon Garcia at the safety position.
Escalera runs for the school’s 4×400 and 4×200 relay teams.
“His speed and ambition to learn and to please his coaches and his teammates, that’s the area of his play that you can’t help but notice,” Adame said.