By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — San Benito’s Axel Rivera is known among his coaches and peers for his diligence and discipline.
Running, shooting and dogged pursuit of the ball and his marks helped the junior elevate his game this season, scoring six goals while becoming one of District 32-6A’s fiercest defenders.
The three-year varsity letterman is the Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Defensive Player of the Year.
“It was an amazing feeling (to earn the All-STAR award),” Rivera said. “It’s an honor, it’s been my goal since freshman year. Being able to accomplish this goal has really meant a lot to me.”
Rivera credited his teammates who manned the back line alongside him, including fellow junior Gustavo Solis and Ricardo Sanchez.
“Our defense had a really strong connection,” Rivera said. “Gustavo played in front of me, and he and I were a perfect combination. I had my full trust in him and he trusted me. For him to be in front of me, that made me feel safer.”
Sanchez is young, Rivera said, but the sophomore earned the faith of Rivera and his veteran teammates. As a result, the great season the Greyhounds and coach William Huerta envisioned materialized on the field in front of them.
“Axel is a hard-working athlete, he plays football, he plays soccer,” Huerta said. “It’s all the hard work he’s put in, and I think (the All-STAR award is well-deserved. He put in the work in the classroom and on the field.”
A late push from the Greyhounds helped them qualify for the playoffs, culminating in a 3-1 defeat of district champion Los Fresnos.
“We knew that playing together we could cause some real damage,” Rivera said.
Two of San Benito’s best defensive performances came against Brownsville Rivera in the form of a pair of 1-0 shutouts. The first win against the Raiders took place Feb. 12, as Axel Rivera scored on a pivotal free kick to seal a double overtime victory for the Greyhounds.
In those victories, and throughout the year, Axel Rivera stepped up his play and was an important mentor for San Benito’s younger players.
“He’s technically another coach on the field for us,” Huerta said. “He’ll relay from the midfield to the forwards as far as where they should be and what to expect. You could see him out there coaching the other kids, and they looked up to Axel because of his knowledge of the game and his skills.”
Huerta and Co. will be eager for Rivera to get his chance to be one of the senior leaders who will carry the torch forward in 2021 — they plan to clinch a playoff berth to honor this year’s squad, which didn’t have the chance to play out their postseason due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
“I really am looking forward to next year with these guys,” Huerta said. “We have to replace this year’s seniors that are leaving. But it’s something we look forward to doing, just as long as they continue to believe in what they do and believing in themselves. They can be a good team that will come out and compete with anybody that they face.”