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Snyder junior Christian Escobedo (left) watched as sophomore Jorge Olivarez (6) and junior Jax Collier (14) celebrated a goal during a match this past season. All three players were named first team all-district in the District 4-4A awards, alongside Jose Villa Tobar. -
Snyder sophomore Zairah Cabrera prepared to take a shot during an 11-0 win over Sweetwater earlier this season. Cabrera was named the District 4-4A co-Offensive MVP.
The Snyder High School soccer teams are well represented in the District 4-4A awards, with 20 players named to all-district teams.
The abrupt end to the 2020 season meant the boys’ team didn’t get to compete for the outright district title, and the coaches agreed that Snyder and San Angelo Lake View would share the district championship.
“Any season you can end district champions, whether it’s outright or co-champions, you treat that as a good year,” first-year head coach Johnnie Martinez said. “You can’t worry about the what ifs. You take what you know you got and what we know is we got a district title.”
The Tigers finished the season 10-14-1 and landed 12 players on all-district teams.
Sophomore forward Jorge Olivarez was named to the first team, alongside junior midfielder Christian Escobedo, sophomore midfielder Jose Villa and junior defender Jax Collier. Juniors Daniel Esparza and Martin Castellon and sophomore Edgar Gomez were all named to the second team.
Sophomores Carlos Vargas, Kevin Miranda, Garrett Hough, Manuel Brione and senior Miguel Chavez were each honorable mentions.
Martinez said the honors indicate the talent the young program possesses.
“I think it is a sign of where this program is going,” he said. “Just about every starter was represented in some way and we even had some bench players represented. It is a sign that we are headed in the right direction as a program. We had four guys make the first team, but you’d love to have more. You’d love to have some guys win individual awards. It gives us that chip on our shoulder for next year.”
Another positive sign for the future is the youth on the team. Of its 12 all-district players, 11 will be back in 2021, leaving Martinez excited for what’s to come.
“That is a big part of how this year went for us,” he said. “We knew we had a team that was made up of a lot of juniors and a lot of sophomores. There is a lot of potential for next year and even for the year after that. We feel good about the fact that we have a lot of young players that will still have the opportunity to show what is to come over the next few years.”
Eight Lady Tigers were named to all-district teams.
For the second year in a row, sophomore Zairah Cabrera appeared on the individual awards list. She was named co-Offensive MVP.
Sophomores Chloe Sosa and Emma Vasques and juniors Kimberly Cortes and Carmen Ornelas all earned first team honors.
Junior Chelsea Luna, sophomore Yazmin Martinez and senior Adriana Murillo were all named to the second team and head coach Max Cruz was named co-Coach of the Year in his first season.
The majority of the Lady Tigers’ all-district players will be back for next season, leaving the team in a good spot going forward.
District 4-4A Boy’s Soccer awards
District Most Valuable Player: Daniel Ramos, San Angelo Lake View
Offensive Most Valuable Player: Isac Villareal, Lubbock Estacado
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Joshua Torres, San Angelo Lake View
Newcomer of the year: Jadon Reddic, Sweetwater
Goalie of the year: Ernesto Chavez, Sweetwater
Coach of the year: Kyle Jones, San Angelo Lake View
First Team forwards
1. Jorge Olivarez, Snyder
2. Isaiah Sanchez, San Angelo Lake View
First Team midfielders
1. Christian Escobedo, Snyder
2. Jose Villa Tobar, Snyder
3. Freddy Ntazika, Lubbock Estacado
4. Jonathan Gallegos, Sweetwater
5. Ricky Ramirez, San Angelo Lake View
First Team defenders
1. Jaxson Collier, Snyder
2. Andrew Ramirez, Lubbock Estacado
3. Jimmy Bolanos, Lubbock Estacado
4. Bryson Buckley, Sweetwater
5. Adrian Flores, San Angelo Lake View
Second Team forwards
1. Daniel Esparza, Snyder
2. Hector Cruz, Lubbock Estacado
3. Jackson Dodd, Sweetwater
Second Team midfielders
1. Edgar Gomez, Snyder
2. Ulises Villareal, Lubbock Estacado
3. Blake Scott, Sweetwater
4. Ryan Alvarez, Sweetwater
Second Team defenders
1. Mark Sang, Lubbock Estacado
2. Alexis Ledesma, San Angelo Lake View
3. Martin Castellon, Snyder
4. Wyatt McCoy, Sweetwater
Honorable Mentions
Jorge Sanchez, San Angelo Lake VIew; Luis Negrette, San Angelo Lake View; Jv Antu, San Angelo Lake View; Christian Gatlin, San Angelo Lake View; Gregory Paty, Sweetwater; Michael McDonald, Sweetwater; Margarito Jiminez, Sweetwater; Ely Barrera, Sweetwater; Jose Carlos, Sweetwater; Jaime Mata, Lubbock Estacado; Carlos Vargas, Snyder; Kevin Miranda, Snyder; Garrett Hough, Snyder; Miguel Chavez, Snyder; Manuel Briones, Snyder.