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Avila named co-offensive MVP

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Published 5 years ago
Last updated 5 years ago
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Avila named co-offensive MVP

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Nine named to all-district teams, 12 earn academic all-district nod

Sealy junior Xavier Olvera battles with a Splendora attacker during the second half of the Tigers fourth-round playoff game against the Wildcats at Cy Park High School April 6. Olvera was one of Sealy’s two first-team all-district honorees.  
Tiger senior Angel Guerrero lines up a kick during the second half of the April 6 regional semifinal game against Splendora at Cy Park High School. Guerrero was one of Sealy’s four second-team all-district honorees.  
Sealy sophomore Tanner Ellis (10) celebrates the game-opening score with teammates Amador Lopez (12), Rodolpho Olivarez (3) and Ricky Avila (far right) during the Tigers’ regional semifinal playoff game against Splendora April 6 at Cy Park High School. Ellis was one of Sealy’s four second-team all-district honorees.  
Sealy senior Ricky Avila battles for a ball with a Splendora defender during the Tigers’ regional semifinal playoff game at Cy Park High School April 6. Avila was named the District 20 co-offensive MVP. PHOTOS BY COLE McNANNA  
Tiger sophomore Amador Lopez celebrates his first-half score in the regional semifinal playoff game against Splendora at Cy Park High School April 6. Lopez was one of Sealy’s two first-team all-district honorees.  

After the deepest postseason run in program history, the Sealy Tiger soccer team was well represented on all-district teams and was honored with the co-offensive MVP, two first-team selections, four second-team nods and three honorable mentions. In addition, 12 were honored with academic all-district distinction for their work in the classroom.

The Tigers secured the second seed in District 20-4A by only losing twice to first-place Royal and splitting with Bellville where Sealy won the tiebreaker on aggregate in the second meeting. Sealy earned playoff wins over Smithville (5-2), La Vega (2-1) and Salado (3-1) before it fell to Splendora (3-2) in the final minutes of the regional semifinal.

Still, a host of contributors helped the team go farther in the playoffs than any previous team had been and they were recognized by other District 20 coaches in the all-district selections.

Senior Ricky Avila was named the co-offensive MVP after he led the offense at the striker position alongside sophomore Amador Lopez, who was named to the first-team all-district. The other first-team honoree was junior Xavier Olvera, who was a stalwart in the defensive end.

Angel Guerrero, the senior leader of the defense, earned secondteam all-district honors alongside seniors Abraham Palencia and Leandro Santos and sophomore Tanner Ellis. Palencia also provided bunches of goals for the Tigers offensively and both Santos and Ellis contributed on both sides of the ball.

Sophomores Rodolfo Olivares and William Forrester, as well as freshman Maximo Requena, represented Sealy as honorable mentions and will provide a spark for Tiger teams down the road.

12 student-athletes also got the job done in the classroom and were honored with academic all-district distinction. Those earning academic all-district included seniors Adrian Arriaga and Palencia, juniors Nicholas Reichardt, Ramiro Fuentes, Julius Aguilar and Olvera, sophomores Jovanni Guerrero, Austin Moyle, Lopez, Ellis and Forrester and freshman Requena.

Sealy’s 2020 soccer season was cut short due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic with two games left in the regular season. The Tigers were fighting for playoff position but ultimately were unable to compete in any postseason play last season.

Next year, Sealy will return to District 20 for the second year of the biennial realignment of the University Interscholastic League.