By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
A full day of soccer is scheduled beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday as the 8th annual East-West All-Star Senior Showcase presented by the Rio Grande Valley Soccer Coaches Organization takes place at Donna’s Bennie LaPrade Stadium.
For the second straight year, there will be four games instead of two, starting with the sub-Class 6A girls match at 9 a.m. and followed by the 6A girls contest at approximately 10:45 a.m. The sub-6A boys game is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. and will be followed by the 6A boys match at 2:45 p.m.
The event was expanded from two to four games last year when the Showcase was played at Edinburg’s Cats Stadium. Organizers say it gives the athletes participating more playing time and allows college recruiters a better chance to evaluate players.
For many, it’s a last chance to play the game on an organized team. For others, it might lead to an opportunity to play at the next level as several college coaches have attended the event in the past.
“First of all, it’s an honor (to coach an all-star team), and at the same time I’m amazed at all the talent being put together in just one place,” said Pace coach Jesus O. Villarreal, who is guiding the sub-6A East girls squad along with Rio Hondo coach Karen Ramirez. “I can see how well-coached these girls are coming in from different (coaching) philosophies, and I’m seeing that the Valley has much talent to offer in girls soccer.
“Last but not least, it’s an opportunity to coach my (senior) girls from Pace one more time before they make their decisions about college,” Villarreal added.
Sharyland High coach Aaron Clemons, who is directing the sub-6A West girls team along with Edinburg Vela coach Hugo Leal, has similar sentiments.
“It’s wonderful to get an opportunity to coach my senior players one more time,” Clemons said. “I also enjoy meeting and coaching all the girls that have played against us all year. They always tell me that I am different than what they expected.”
One year ago, the matches were played in Classes 5A and 4A for boys and girls. This year, with the emergence of 6A, there are games for 6A and sub-6A teams.
For the first time last year, the 5A boys match ended in a 1-1 tie, leaving the West boys with a 4-2-1 advantage in the highest level of competition in the overall series. The West girls scored a late goal to win their 5A match 1-0 last year, which gave them a 6-1 lead in the overall series.
In last year’s inaugural 4A matches, the West boys won 3-0 and the East girls triumphed 4-0.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. Saturday, a special presentation by the RGVSCO will be made to Donna High assistant soccer coach Juan Carlos “J.C.” Martinez, who undergoes dialysis three times weekly and has incurred mounting medical bills. Due to health reasons, Martinez was unable to help coach the Redskins for much of the past season or perform his job with the school district. He is currently on unpaid leave.
Martinez assisted then-coach Trey Zamora when the Redskins advanced to the regional tournament in San Antonio in the early 1990s. To date, that has been the school’s most successful season in soccer. Martinez has coached on Redskins teams more than 20 years.
Donations to benefit Martinez will be sought during Saturday’s Showcase. Also, an account accepting donations for Martinez has been set up at PlainsCapital Bank.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.
Rio Grande Valley Soccer Coaches Organization 8th annual East-West All-Star Showcase rosters
Saturday, May 9
Bennie LaPrade Stadium, Donna
Note: Regardless of school’s classification, some players were divided evenly among the rosters
Class 6A East girls
Lulu Gutierrez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Claudia Blanco, Lyford
Brandi Ramirez, Harlingen High
Justine Ramos, Weslaco High
Jacqueline Trevino, Brownsville Veterans
Krystal Cepeda, Harlingen High
Ruayda Bouls, Harlingen South
Jazmine Cortez, Weslaco High
Cristina Alvarez, Lyford
Caitlyn Hagens, Harlingen High
Juanita Maldonado, Weslaco East
Samantha Serino, Los Fresnos
Deciree Deciga, Harlingen High
Coaches: Patricia Hernandez, Los Fresnos; Adriel Martinez, Weslaco East
Class 6A West girls
Ruby Iracheta, McAllen High
Allysa Salinas, PSJA North
Alex Morroquin, PSJA North
Arlen Munoz, PSJA North
Rubi Rivas, Mission High
Marbella Cabrera, McAllen High
Jennifer Gonzalez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
Angie Briones, Mission High
Jessica Coronado, McAllen Memorial
Alyssa Adriano, McAllen Memorial
Ana Maldonado, La Joya Palmview
Maria Quintanilla, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
Sarah Rodriguez, McAllen Rowe
Leslie Flores, McAllen Memorial
Anna Rios Edinburg North
Coaches: John Martinez, McAllen Rowe; Oscar Ruiz, Mission High
Class 6A East boys
Jesus Balderas, Weslaco East
Hector Martinez, Weslaco East
Japhet Vargas, Harlingen High
Jesus Garcia, La Feria
Flavio Diaz, San Benito
Adrian Vasquez, Harlingen High
Marco Garcia, Weslaco High
Eli Alegria, La Feria
Leo Martinez, Brownsville Lopez
Marcos Lozano, Raymondville
Edgar Flores, Raymondville
German Cavazos, Weslaco High
Adrian Castillos, Raymondville
Jesus Moreno, Raymondville
Arturo Salazar, Brownsville Lopez
Martin Ornelas, Los Fresnos
Gabriel Ruiz, La Feria
Luis Costilla, Monte Alto
Marco Santana, Raymondville
Juan Castillo, Monte Alto
Damian Hernandez, Weslaco High
Coaches: Magdiel Lopez, Harlingen High; Julian Robles, Harlingen South
Class 6A West boys
Uriel Verdin, La Joya High
Luis Arellano, Mission High
Jacob Garza, La Joya Palmview
Omar Puente, Edinburg Economedes
Margarito Carpio, PSJA North
Andrew Villarreal, McAllen Rowe
Leonel Rivas, Edinburg North
Isaac Galvan, La Joya High
Diego Sanchez, Edinburg North
David Segura, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
Gustavo Cornejo, PSJA North
Jorge Rodriguez, McAllen High
Sergio Rocha, Mission High
Luis Leija, Mission High
Luis Sanchez, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
Cristian Villegas, McAllen Rowe
Lazaro Hernandez, La Joya Palmview
Edson Diaz, PSJA Memorial
Adolfo Martinez, La Joya High
Jonathan Aguilera, PSJA North
Juan Rodriguez, PSJA North
Javier Coronado, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
Alan Morales, La Joya Palmview
Jose Valle, Edinburg Economedes
Coaches: Eugenio Milla, La Joya High; Elias Moran, Edinburg North
Classes 4A-5A East girls
Roster not available
Coaches: Jesus O. Villarreal, Brownsville Pace; Karen Ramirez, Rio Hondo
Classes 4A-5A West girls
Myra Ybarra, Edinburg Vela
Sommer Van Hook, Edinburg Vela
Eden Herrera, PSJA High
Marla Garcia, PSJA High
Lizeth Serna, Mission Veterans
Alannah Chavez, Edinburg Vela
Mireya Zarazua, Grulla
Alejandra Sandoval, Hidalgo
Bryanna Montano, Edinburg Vela
Kassandra Barrera, PSJA High
Samantha Pena, Sharyland High
Barbara Cantu, Sharyland High
Jasmine Cruz, Hidalgo
Jackie Gonzalez, Hidalgo
Jennifer Castillo, Hidalgo
Ana Cecy Garcia, Sharyland High
Nikki Gonzalez, Sharyland High
Ana Karen Gonzalez, Valley View
Zaide Garcia, Valley View
Coaches: Aaron Clemons, Sharyland High; Hugo Leal, Edinburg Vela
Classes 4A-5A East boys
Elias de la Rosa, Donna High
Vicente Calderon, Donna North
Obed Rangel, Edcouch-Elsa
Luis Sepulbeda, Brownsville Pace
Heriberto Gomez, Progreso
Rodrigo Salinas, Brownsville St. Joseph
Andres Trejo, Progreso
Rodrigo Delgado, Donna High
Jonathan Gallardo, Donna North
Ricardo Ramos, Donna High
Eduardo Escobar, Donna High
Emmanuel Juarez, Donna North
Carlos Sanchez, Brownsville St. Joseph
Aziel Cruz, Edcouch-Elsa
Ezequiel Morales, Brownsville Pace
Jose Blanco, Progreso
Francisco, Silva, Progreso
Osvaldo Canales, Brownsville Pace
Luis Nacienceno, Edcouch-Elsa
Jose Padilla, Mercedes
Coaches: Mario A. Zamora, Brownsville Pace; Margarito Jimenez, Progreso
Classes 4A-5A West boys
Marco Alanis, Sharyland High
Luis Villarreal, Hidalgo
Santos Alvarez, Edinburg Vela
Hilario Bermudez, Hidalgo
Tristan Flores, Edinburg Vela
Mario Perez, PSJA Southwest
Julio Barrera, Grulla
Eric Izaguirre, Sharyland High
Brandon Longoria, Sharyland High
Michael Martin, PSJA Southwest
Ricardo Ramos, Sharyland Pioneer
Luis Escudero, PSJA Southwest
Victor Cantu, Hidalgo
Jose Carrillo, Grulla
Javier Gonzalez, team N/A
Jesus Ibarra, Rio Grande City
Uriel Garcia, PSJA Southwest
Sergio Arciniega, Sharyland Pioneer
Adair Dominguez, PSJA High
Ivan Castillo, Grulla
Coaches: Jesus Palomin, PSJA Southwest; Americo Cortez, Edinburg Vela