By ROY HESS | The Brownsville Herald
Jose “Chevy” Echevarria is truly an MVP for all seasons.
Last fall, he was a key member of the Lopez Lobos football team that went to the Class 5A playoffs. He also ran on Lopez’s relay teams at the Region IV-5A track & field meet just a few weeks ago.
In between, “Chevy” played a little soccer for the Lobos.
While it’s well-established that Echevarria is a multi-sport standout, soccer is his passion.
Give him a soccer ball, turn him loose on the field and magic happens.
The senior attacking midfielder/forward is a repeat selection as the most valuable player for The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Boys Soccer Team.
He also won the award in 2017 and was named MVP for the second straight time in District 32-5A this season.
“ It’s great (to win awards) because it means all the hard work you put into games and practices has paid off,” Echevarria said. “It feels great for your family, your girlfriend and everyone you love. It means a lot.”
During “Chevy’s” four years playing at Lopez, the Lobos have gone to the UIL state tournament two times (2016 and 2017) and won district titles twice (2016 and 2018). This season, Lopez won 32-5A with a 13-1 record and advanced three rounds in the 5A playoffs before ending with a 27-2-3 overall mark.
Echevarria was chosen as the All-Valley Sports Boys Soccer Player of the Year a year ago as a junior when he recorded 27 goals and 10 assists. As a senior, he recorded 32 goals and 25 assists.
“ Chevy” is the pure image of what a (soccer) player from Lopez looks like,” Lobos coach Amadeo Escandon said. “He is extremely dedicated, for I do not recall the last time he missed a practice. He’s also very passionate about the sport, for he eats and breathes ‘futbol,’ and to top it all off, God has blessed him with speed and soccer skills, which in our sport is a rare combination.
“ His ability to cut into defenses almost at will makes him a lethal forward/attacking midfielder,” Escandon added. “All these attributes propelled him to be the obvious choice for MVP.”
“ Chevy” hasn’t signed to play in college because he and three other soccer players from Brownsville are scheduled to travel to Spain in June to see if they can earn a spot on a professional team’s roster overseas. He said signing to play in college is always an option, but playing professionally in Europe would be the fulfillment of a dream.
Regardless of what may happen in the future, the multi-sport standout has cemented his reputation as one of the best to play soccer in Brownsville. He says he’ll always treasure his time playing for the Lobos.
“ It’s meant a lot (to play for Lopez),” Echevarria said. “My freshman year was a little bit of a struggle with my classes and things, but I got through it, started passing and from there just gave it everything I had, so it’s meant a lot to play for this school.
“ Probably the best feeling ever is to wear the jersey for the Lobos,” he added. “When you wear a Lopez shirt or a Porter shirt, you know you’re representing a whole community (in Southmost). It feels great to put on that shirt (for games) every Tuesday and Friday. I will always mean a lot to me.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess