By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO — Last season was undoubtedly a banner year for the San Benito Greyhounds. Most fans will refer to it as the “Super Team” loaded with talent, a perfect district season; along with a playoff run most will remember for a long time.
For senior defensive end Nick Perez, he was all a part of it, but was only able to watch the historic season unfold from the sidelines.
Perez had high hopes entering his junior year, until September 8th 2017. It was the second game of the season at San Antonio East Central when Perez went down with an injury on the first play of the game.
Perez’s junior season was cut short due to a broken ankle with torn ligaments.
“It was painful to go through the injury, but I had so much support from my family, coaches and our training staff did a good job on helping me recover.” Perez said.
Although the recovery process was long and hard, it was never in question on if Perez would return, but a matter of when he would return.
“Nothing can take this sport away from me,” Perez said. “I love this game and it was never a doubt in my mind. It was not if I was going to play, I knew I was going to come back stronger, it was just a matter of when I would come back.”
In February, Perez was cleared and ready to continue his recovery.
“I just took it one step at a time,” said Perez. “I wanted to play already, I really did but I understood the process and took it day by day.”
Against Calallen in their season opener, it was an emotional return to the field that has given Perez so much.
“It was an emotional night for all of us,” Perez said. “We wanted to go out there and show people that we haven’t gone anywhere. As for myself, there was a lot of emotion, with it being my first game back and right now I’m doing everything I can to help my team.”
Since the injury, Perez has made a full recovery and has provided first year defensive coordinator Johnny Garza with another elite pass rusher alongside fellow senior AJ Garcia.
Garcia and Perez have provided a strong 1-2 punch with both collecting 12 sacks each this season.
“We all work together,” Perez said. “We make each other better as a unit. AJ is doing a great job, Nick Castaneda and Albert Mercado, all those guys do their job extremely well, I’m blessed to be a part of it.”