Christina Romero attends Rio Rico High School and is a member of the AIA's Student SID Program. 

 

After a season marked by resilience, growth, and determination, Rio Rico’s boys soccer team clinched the 4A Gila Champion title with a 3-1 region record, and now heads into an AIA play-in game against Westview High School.

In a season filled with ups and downs, the Hawks’ consistency against region opponents helped them reach the top spot in the standings. Critical wins over teams such as Amphitheater, Sahuarita, and Pueblo highlighted Rio Rico’s dedication to have a chance to play in the postseason.

“We’ve all been working toward the same goal and we’ve really been able to come together as a team,” says senior Omar Ramirez, “That’s one of the main things that helped us win most of our games, and now being here and being known for winning region is a pretty big thing.”
(From left to right: Seniors Diego Ramirez, Santiago Renteria, and Omar Ramirez. Photo by Christina L Romero)

This play-in matchup against Westview marks the Hawks’ first encounter against the Knights this season, demanding determination and a focused mindset as the team prepares to take the field. 

“Now, it’s time to go big or go home,” says Santiago Renteria, senior team captain, “but we’ve grown as a team over these past few weeks to become the best versions of ourselves out there on the field.”

“I would say that we have the experience against other teams, we’ve played the number one, we’ve played the number two, but it’s different compared to Westview” says Hunter Thompson, junior team captain, “but we just need to go out and get the win.”

Heading into the high-stakes matchup, the team hopes to hold on to their confident approach and game-play that has brought them this far. However, beyond their team strategy, the Hawks are carrying a strong sense of purpose as they prepare to represent the school, community, and pride of Rio Rico High School.

“It’s about bringing that winning culture to Rio Rico and instilling that desire to be better and continue putting trophies on the board,” says Santiago Renteria, reflecting on the team's growth and goals, “It shows that the crazy delusions of wanting to be the best are definitely possible.”

Along with the strong sense of ambition, the players lean on their strong sense of trust and communication on the field. Just as with any sport, the players know that teamwork will be a game-changer in the high pressure moments.

“We’re all gonna have each other's backs,” says Omar Ramirez, “You need to remember to play your game, stay strong, don’t be scared of contact, and be the bigger person out there for the team.”

Aside from having a strong sense of unity and motivation, having a focus on execution is crucial, especially this far in the season.

“Here at this level, it's all about goals,” says Hunter Thompson, “If you don’t score, then you don’t win games. And that's all we need to do, be able to score and create those opportunities.”

Fired up and ready to win, the Hawks are taking the field to prove that Rio Rico doesn’t back down. Now, it's all or nothing – time to fly.

Team captain Santiago Renteria said it best:

“We’re not just some school down by the border. We’re here to fight.”