By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Santa Rosa middle linebacker Ethan De La Garza was one vote away from sharing the District 16-3A Division II defensive most valuable player award.
But as a unanimous all-district selection at his position, the senior certainly received recognition for his hard work as the team’s leading tackler.
“He came to work every day, always with a smile on his face,” Santa Rosa defensive coordinator Pablo De Los Santos said. “He took the coaching well. You’d correct him one time and that was it, that’s the kind of kid he was. He’s just a great kid who understands the game really well.”
De La Garza and four teammates will play football for Graceland University in the fall.
Graceland is a small private Christian university located 80 miles south of Des Moines, Iowa. The Yellowjackets compete in the NAIA’s Heart of America Conference.
De La Garza is eager for the opportunity to come in and turn around a struggling program, and said he has learned from the Graceland coaching staff that the base defensive scheme in which he will play is similar to what he has become accustomed to at Santa Rosa.
He added he aims to compete for a starting spot and aspires to lead the team in tackles.
“I learned a lot this past year from Coach De Los Santos,” De La Garza said. “I used to play defensive end, and he taught me how to play inside linebacker. But there’s still a lot for me to learn, so I’m excited to get the chance to learn a lot more (at Graceland).”
De La Garza said he and his teammates began their plan to attend Graceland via a group text, after weighing offers from Central Methodist University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
He will major in criminal justice at Graceland and pursue a career as a police officer. He also briefly weighed joining the military.
“But then this came up,” De La Garza said. “So I wasn’t going to let this (chance to play football in college) pass by.”
He is also a manager under Warriors baseball coach Tony Leal.
“I’m proud of him for sticking in there and taking a chance,” Leal said. “This is a big step for him.”