By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Harlingen High senior Jacob Garza is accustomed to playing whatever role is asked of him.
The dual-sport star and four-year varsity letterman in soccer also was the Cardinals’ starting placekicker on the football team, a position he had held since his sophomore year.
For the third time in as many seasons, he is The Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Boys Soccer Utility Player of the Year.
“This year didn’t really turn out the way we wanted,” Garza said. “But we gave it all we had. There were some tough teams in our district that were tough to beat and tough to finish on, but it was a great season overall.”
Harlingen High coach Johnny Guillen said he knew as soon as he took over the Cardinals’ program that Garza was going to be an important part of the team’s future. He named Garza as a captain and never looked back.
“He was a good player, but he was a great leader,” Guillen said. “He has a great head on his shoulders, and he’s going to do great things in college.”
The Ranger College signee was still undecided about his college choice at the beginning of the year, but Guillen and the renowned Cardinals strength and conditioning coaches helped him focus on building strength and adding muscle to help boost his prospects of playing at the next level.
Garza also credited the football coaching staff for improving his conditioning and endurance to make for a smoother transition from one sport to the other following the short break before the start of the soccer season.
Guillen praised Garza’s weight room work ethic and his ability to translate that extra effort into on-field results, scoring seven goals during his final season with the Cardinals.
“I do remember some games (in previous seasons) where I would be tired before the game was over,” Garza said. “I would still finish it, of course, and push myself. … I think the conditioning helped me to play more without any cramps or muscle strains, and it helped me to finish the season strong.”
From manning the back line on defense to helping facilitate the flow of the offense as a center midfielder to attacking as a forward, Garza did it all.
“I played a lot of defense in the beginning of the year,” Garza said. “I really love playing anywhere, I don’t mind what position I play. … Pretty much wherever my coaches would put me, I just play and I execute and give it all I’ve got.”
During the first round of District 32-6A play against San Benito on Jan 31, Garza scored the deciding goal with 10 minutes remaining in the second half of a 2-1 victory.
“I think that was a game where we played to our full potential,” Garza said.
Garza’s younger brother, Joseph, a sophomore, started alongside him this season, an opportunity Jacob called “a blessing.”
“He’s starting to improve a lot,” Jacob said. “A lot of the younger guys improved, and they’ll be good next year.”
Jacob said he wants to be remembered as someone who was selfless and an example for his teammates.
Guillen echoed those sentiments, calling Jacob “a player who would do anything for the team.”
“I think what I did gave my teammates confidence that they could do the same thing,” Jacob said. “It takes heart, but if you can learn how to do it, you can play (anywhere). I never complained to my coach, and I was always excited to be out there playing the sport that I love.”