By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Anthony Cuellar is going from one successful soccer program to another at the next level.
The standout central defender for the Porter Cowboys signed an athletic scholarship agreement Thursday to play soccer for Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
A signing ceremony was held at the Porter weight room with family, classmates, coaches and Brownsville ISD personnel in attendance.
Cuellar, a four-year starter and recipient of all-district and All-Metro honors, becomes the 44th college signee for Porter coach Jose Espitia, who just completed his 10th season guiding the Cowboys.
“I’m really happy for Anthony,” said Epitia, who directed the Cowboys to the Class 5A state title in 2016. “Anthony dedicated four years to our soccer team here at Porter. He was a very important part of our state championship team as a junior and also an important player for us the year before (in 2015) when we made it to the regional semifinals.
“We’re just very happy for him,” Espitia added. “We always encourage our players to do well with their grades (so they can be eligible for a scholarship). We know they can take care of business on the field, so the main thing (to focus on) is their grades. Anthony was able to do well with his grades and now he’s very excited and motivated to play soccer in college.”
Cuellar began his starting role for the Cowboys at fullback as a freshman and it wasn’t long before he moved inside to central defender to become an anchor for the team at that position.
“Porter has a lot of (soccer) history and we’ve always made it to the playoffs — (including) regionals and state — so I’m glad I got to be part of this team,” said Cuellar, who plans to study criminal justice in college. “This is a family. I have my own ring (for winning state as a junior). I feel great having played soccer here.
“Now I’m going over there to focus on my studies and soccer,” he added. “It’s always been like that for me — first comes school then sports.”
Cuellar will be joined on the soccer team at OLLU by former Porter teammate Reyes Saldivar, who just competed two years of playing at Laredo Community College and will be transferring to the San Antonio school.
The OLLU men’s soccer team won the Red River Athletic Conference title last season with a 6-0-3 record and finished 10-3-3 overall. The Saints compete in NAIA Division I.
“I think Anthony will do very well within our group,” OLLU coach Shane Hurley said. “He’s one of our top recruits for the coming (school) year. He’s a sound defender in the back. He’s really clean in his (ball) distribution and he’s versatile in how he plays. He has good vision and good leadership. We’ll probably move him around a little (and try him at different positions).”
Cuellar is eager for the next step of his soccer career to begin.
“I know it’s going to be harder and everything (at OLLU), but I can’t wait to step on the field and play college soccer,” he said. “I can’t wait to start my four years over there.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess