Presbyterian Pan American School’s boys soccer team won the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state tournament held at Baylor University on November 13-14. This is the third consecutive state title for the Eagles and the fifth in school history. For the third year in a row - fifth in school history - Presbyterian Pan-American School’s boys soccer team have captured the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools fall state championship. The Eagles secured this season’s top prize during a tournament held November 13-14 at Baylor University.

On this year’s team are seniors Roberto Garza (midfielder), Hugo Aguilar (defense), Advento Trevino (defense), Fernando Montemayor (defense), Israel Gomez (midfielder), Saddam Bello (midfielder), Edmundo Castrellon (defense), juniors Erick Luna (midfielder), Arturo Zapatero (midfielder), Anuar Vargas (defense), Antonio Santos (forward), Christian Ortiz (forward), Arnaldo Rodriguez (defense), Daniel Gonzalez (forward), Raul Zavala (goalkeeper), Hector Villegas (goalkeeper), sophomore Jesus Alcocer (defense) and freshmen Kim Nam (forward) and Josue Rodriguez (midfielder). Managers for the team are Eduardo Garcia and Jean Pierzo.

The Eagle’s road to the state crown began with a bye in the bi-district round. Pan-Am then defeated Spring of The Woodlands Preparatory School (8-2) in area, conquered Arlington Burton Adventist (3-0) at the regional tier, edged Sherman Texoma Christian School (3-2) in the semifinals and then ran over Brownsville Livingway (6-1) to win the state title.

“I give all credit to the kids, they are so talented and work extremely hard in trying to accomplish this every year,” Head Coach Jimmy Grant said. “Winning state three years in a row was our goal and they really deserve this.”

Grant and his group knew defending their back to back state crowns would be no easy task this season.

“We started out at the beginning of the season knowing we had a lot of games to play (16) and our whole goal was to make it to the final four and we accomplished that,” he said. “The kids have really worked hard from the beginning of the season all the way to the end.”

Prior to the state tournament, the Eagles went 13-1 in their division. Their lone loss ignited them to toughen up.

“We did lose one game, which hurt, and we realized we were not in as good of shape so we started running more after that loss,” Grant said. “The kids got in better shape and they are the key to the success at Pan-American School. They all have good fundamentals, excellent skills, play real good soccer and have fun doing it.”

The accolades, however, do not end there. Gomez and Trevino made the first all-state team, Ortiz was named to the second all-state roster and Zavala received Honorable Mention. All four boys also made the first alldistrict team. Ortiz scored the district’s most goals during the season with 31; six in the playoffs. Gomez placed third in goals scored during district play with 15; six in the postseason. Garza finished fourth in district in goals scored with 9; eight in the playoffs.

Garza and Aguilar were voted into the second alldistrict team. Receiving Honorable Mention were Luna, Santos, Montemayor, Vargas and Villegas.