By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
Two Brownsville soccer players received one final accolade to cap off their coronavirus-shortened senior seasons.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial forward Mark Boswell and Porter defender Luis Romero were two of 18 boys to make the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches’ Region IV senior showcase team, compiled from all classifications and published Tuesday. The only other Rio Grande Valley soccer players to make the senior showcase roster were McAllen Memorial goalkeeper Gustavo Moreno and Sharyland High midfielder Jose Hernandez.
Though the senior showcase event was canceled due to COVID-19, Porter coach Jose Espitia said getting selected is an honor on its own. This statewide recognition adds to a second-team all-state honor for Boswell and an all-regional honorable mention for Romero.
“It’s always great when our program is represented with the selection of one of our players to such a showcase,” Chargers coach Alberto Vasquez said. “Mark has been recognized through the years as one of the top soccer players in the area. In the last four years that Mark has been in our program, we have acquired two district titles and reached the regional final three times.”
Vasquez said Boswell and the Chargers “had a great opportunity to make a serious run for a state title,” as they were the top-ranked team in the region before the coronavirus caused UIL to cancel spring sports before the soccer playoffs got started. But Boswell, a 2020 first-team All-Metro selection and 2019 All-Metro most valuable player, had a strong career nonetheless.
Romero, one of the key members of the TASCO Region IV second-ranked Cowboys, ended his career with a solid senior season that also earned him a spot on the All-Metro first team.
“I am very proud of Luis. He worked very hard and came back from a season-ending injury. He came back stronger than ever, and this (recognition) proves his character,” Espitia said. “Soccer has gotten very competitive in the RGV. For Luis to have been selected for the state all-star (showcase) is a great accomplishment. This couldn’t have happened without his faith, sacrifices, work ethic and, above all, his teammates.”