By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Rivera’s favorite sons of soccer received an enthusiastic pep rally attended by the school’s students and faculty Friday to show the newly crowned Class 6A state champions appreciation for a job well done.
The Raiders completed a 28-0 season and became Texas’ first 6A boys title winners in soccer with a 2-0 victory against Katy Cinco Ranch on April 18 in the UIL state tournament final at Georgetown.
With a student body some 2,300 strong filling the bleachers on both sides of the Rivera gym, there were spirited chants and cheers plus heartfelt applause greeting the Raiders players and coaches as they were introduced.
Among those chants was the ever popular “Yo si le voy, le voy a Rivera.”
A competition was staged between the classes to see whether the seniors, juniors, sophomores or freshmen were the loudest with their cheers, but in the end, it was declared a four-way tie because “There are no losers here (at Rivera).”
Rivera principal Aimee Garza-Limon addressed the team, saying, “One thing you demonstrated on the field every day was your class. You had faith, you competed and you won.”
Driven by a strong drumbeat, the pep band played some upbeat tunes with the Rivera cheerleaders and dance team each performing lively routines.
A number of students and faculty members wore black T-shirts commemorating the state titlist squad with “Undisputed Champions” printed on the front and on the back “One Team, One Dream, One Goal. April 18, State Champion, 28-0, The Perfect Season.”
Signs of support for the Raiders were scattered throughout the gym.
“This is different (than our other celebrations),” Rivera coach Salvador Garcia said. “This is our (school) family.
“We’ve been blessed since the very beginning of the season (in January) because of the way our players act on and off the field,” Garcia added. “Teachers, administrators, the faculty — everybody loves these guys because of the way they act. I’ve been getting a lot of compliments about how they are so humble, so down to earth and very accessible to everybody. That’s a big compliment, not only for what they do on the field, but off of it as well.
“This pep rally was great just to see how much fun the players were having. Everything that we went through and every single ounce of energy that we spent getting ready to do what we did, it was all worth it just to see the smiles on our players’ faces today. The guys wanted to make their school proud, and I think they did.”
Added senior Isidro “Chelin” Martinez, named 6A boys MVP at Georgetown, “It felt special to be there sitting down and hearing my name called and saying that I was MVP of the state. It was special because the people here today were there to support us (throughout the season) and they make you feel the pride that they have in the school. This was really an amazing moment.”
The good feelings will continue for the Raiders at 7 p.m. Tuesday as the City of Brownsville will hold a celebration for the team that is open to the public at Brownsville Sports Park. A 40-minute exhibition match between the Rivera seniors and a group of Brownsville ISD soccer coaches also is planned.
The $3 admission fee for the event will go toward buying state championship rings for the Raiders.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.