By Brian Argabright
It was quite the year for the Del Rio Rams soccer team.
The team earned a share of the District 30-6A Championship. They then made history by becoming the first Rams soccer team to reach the third round of the playoffs.
Fifteen players earned all-district honors. Oh, and the city presented the team with a certificate of recognition and a key to the city Tuesday during the City Council meeting.
Not bad for a team that had to start its district schedule late due to precautions against COVID-19.
Three Rams earned individual honors in District 30-6A for their efforts during the season.
Leading that group was senior forward Angel Aldrete, as he was named the District 30-6A Offensive Player of the year. Aldrete had eight goals and nine assists to lead the Rams in both categories. He was far from the team’s only prolific scorer, but he was its top playmaker and his work did not go unnoticed by the other coaches in the district.
Senior midfielder Daniel Garcia was named the District 30-6A Midfielder of the Year. While he didn’t have the numbers of other midfielders, Garcia’s best work was how he directed Del Rio’s attack and got the Rams into the best positions possible to contribute to the team’s overall success. He had one goal in district play, but his vision helped set up plenty more.
Senior defender Noe Trujillo was named the District 30-6A Defensive Player of the Year. Trujillo was one of those rare players who often had to shadow the opposing team’s top players, but still was skilled enough to contribute on the attack. He was second on the Rams with six goals. He was also named to the all-district all-academic team.
Five Rams were named to the all-district first team. They were senior defender Christian Perez, senior goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Garza, senior midfielder Emmanuel Vela, senior midfielder Luis Estrada, and junior defender Roberto Garza.
Perez had one goal but was part of a stingy Rams defense that helped the team win down the stretch and earn a share of the district title.
Garza was the team’s top goalkeeper and was as solid as they came in the second half of the season as he stood tall in the face of a grueling end of season schedule.
Vela was tied for third on the team in goals with Estrada as both players had five goals and each had one assist.
Garza was another of the Rams’ solid defenders and a bit of a mauler at midfield, able to outmuscle opposing players off the ball.
Earning all-district second team honors were senior midfielder Austin Ramirez, senior defender Donny Lewis, sophomore midfielders Antonio Rodriguez and Cesar Piña, and freshman forward Ely Losoya.
Ramirez was another key game manager for the Rams while Lewis was just as adept at scoring as he was keeping opposing players from scoring.
Rodriguez and Piña continued to learn their roles and should be heavy contributors next season.
Losoya has already shown flashes of being Del Rio’s next big scoring threat, notching three goals and three assists, which was second on the team, during district play.
All-district honorable mention recognitions went to junior goalkeeper Julian Rivera, junior midfielder Nick Lozano and freshman midfielder Hector Trujillo. Expect big things from this trio next season.
Ramirez and Noe Trujillo were also selected to both the all-district all-academic team as well as the all-state all-academic team. Ramirez was ranked eighth in his class while Trujillo was ranked 23rd.
As for the local honors, many of those all-district honorees received awards from their own coaches and peers as well.
Estrada and Perez were named Most Spirited.
Garza was named Most Improved.
Losoya was named Newcomer of the Year.
Noe Trujillo was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Vela was named Offensive Player of the year.
Aldrete was named the Rams’ Most Valuable Player.
