Soccer fever has taken over Sam Houston High School in Arlington, where the boys soccer team is on a historic run that’s put the state title within reach.
Wednesday was just another day for the team, or at least that’s how they tried to look at it as they prepare for the biggest game of their lives.
“It feels amazing,” said Samuel Huerta, a senior at Sam Houston High School and one of team’s captains. “Words can’t describe it. It’s unbelievable.”
After winning their regional final on penalty kicks, the Texans punched their ticket to the UIL state semi-finals for the first time in school history. Now, just two games stand between them and the ultimate prize.
“We can’t stop now,” said Oscar Castillo, a senior at Sam Houston High School and another of the team’s captains. “We just want more. We’re hungry. We’re not settling for anything. We want that state title.”
Head coach Joey Rodriguez says that appetite, their hard work on and off the field, and their belief in one another is what has carried them to where they are. Where people might have written them off a few years ago, simply because of where they went to school, now they’re earning respect.
“We’ve got a lot of really good things going on at Sam Houston,” said Rodriguez. “And it’s great to see that now we’re getting a lot more publicity for these kids. Because these kids deserve it.”
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The team has also received a lot of attention at school.
“The support from the school is crazy,” said Castillo. “I walked into my first period class and they were clapping for me. It felt really good.”
While he wants his players to enjoy the accolades, Rodriguez says the most important thing to do now is get focused for the game and not let pressure get the best of them.
“The past couple practices have been really good,” said Rodriguez. “So I think it’s just a matter of getting down there, executing and seeing what happens.”
What they hope happens is they’ll get to add a big trophy to their case.
Sam Houston plays in the UIL state semi-finals on Friday.
