By ROY HESS | Staff Writer
When her volleyball team needed her, Frida Rangel was there.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial won district championships in 2016 and 2017, and when the 2018 season came around, the Lady Chargers had graduated just about everyone who had played on those title-winning teams of the previous two years.
The Lady Chargers returned only two seniors this season, and Frida Rangel was one of them.
For her role in stepping up to lead her team in 2018, particularly at the net, Rangel is The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year.
The All-Metro area includes Brownsville, Los Fresnos and Port Isabel.
“First of all, Frida really helped us by stepping up and playing middle blocker for us,” Lady Chargers coach Lisa Mares said. “The previous year she had played outside hitter. Not only was she outstanding as a power hitter, but she was a defensive threat with her blocking.
“Frida and Pam (Sanchez) were my only two seniors, and they led the team not only physically, but emotionally as well,” Mares added. “This team was a family, and our two seniors were like mothers and best friends to each of the younger girls. I’ve never seen so many underclassmen cry for them like I did this year (when our season ended). Both of them made a huge impact to our team. They are beautiful people inside and out.”
The Lady Chargers finished 31-15 overall and placed second in District 32-5A with a 12-2 mark. They came on strong at the end of the regular season to defeat previously unbeaten 32-5A champion Edcouch-Elsa before advancing two rounds in the playoffs.
Rangel was selected first-team all-district. She led the Lady Chargers with 258 kills and 79 blocks. She also had 22 aces.
“Being on this team has been one of the best parts of my high school years,” said Rangel, who was a member of the varsity for two seasons. “It’s awesome to be with a group of girls who all have the same heart for playing volleyball. They’re going to be my friends for life, and the coaches who have coached me these past four years will be, too.”
Rangel said she realized coming into this season that she and Sanchez, a first-team All-Metro selection, were going to be counted upon as leaders for the team.
“I knew it was going to be challenging after losing the girls we had last year (to graduation),” Rangel said. “We knew we had to rebuild the team, and I think it worked out great for us. We tried to help out the younger girls as much as we could, and I think we did a pretty good job.”
When asked what it means to her to win awards such as All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year, Rangel said, “It means a lot after the tough season and all the work that it took. Even though we didn’t win district, we still worked very hard. It feels great to be recognized for all the hard work. I’m proud of what we accomplished.
“I’d like to thank Coach Mares,” Rangel added. “She pushed us (to improve) from the very beginning. Because of her, it was a lot of fun this season.
“I think the future of this program is going to be a good one. The girls coming up have an amazing attitude. I think they’re going to do great.”