Working for a title
One particular loss was far more than enough for Fernando Castro and the Russellville boys soccer crew.
An April 1 reduction to Siloam Springs felt like a cruel April Fool’s joke, ending what was a 10- start to the time.
Russellville would go undefeated around the upcoming two months, with a 3-3 tie against Van Buren remaining the lone blemish.
Castro led the way for the Cyclones with 39 objectives and 10 helps, and was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Castro was joined in the All-Arkansas Preps honors by goalkeeper Noe Jimenez, a second-crew choice, and sophomores KyJuan Martinez and Arius Garcia, equally options for the all-underclassmen team.
The Cyclones had 4 shutouts in the Class 5A state match, amassing a 15- objective differential on their way to the point out title. In the last, they defeated Van Buren and 2021 All-Arkansas Preps participant of the 12 months Pedro Rodriguez.
It was a number of months later on when doing work on a ground for his father Israel’s dwelling reworking business enterprise that Castro to start with read he experienced earned the participant of the year award. A state of shock overtook him as he was advised.
Castro has been helping his father rework households since shortly after moving to Arkansas in the sixth quality. He stated it has supplied him plenty of life classes, and also a couple of items to keep above his good friends and teammates — like understanding how to operate the distinct devices all around the get the job done site.
“Some of my pals would come ask to operate with us and then when they go there wouldn’t know how to do a solitary point,” Castro reported.
Castro used the spring of 2020 planning for his big shot. He was established to be a starter for the Cyclones, owning gotten just a style of what taking part in on varsity felt like the season right before. He spent most of his freshman period observing from the bench as the varsity squad, like 2019-20 Gatorade point out participant of the yr Dylan Rice, won the state championship.
But when covid-19 strike, Castro experienced to put his desire of starting up for the Cyclones on keep.
In the very first time again, Castro said he considered it as a rebuilding calendar year. In its place, Russellville exceeded those expectations and produced it to the point out title sport in opposition to Van Buren. They shed the match 2-1, but Castro claimed it gave he and his teammates the assurance they could win a title of their individual.
“When we missing that activity, everybody transformed,” Castro said. “We advised every single other we would be back again in the very same scenario. We were likely to be again and acquire it.”
Primary the way to Russellville’s state championship this period was Coach Jared Fuller, Castro reported.
“He is a actually major essential. He’s taught me a bunch because my freshman yr,” Castro stated. “If he wasn’t a part of our staff, then we would not have a prosperous time more than the previous two decades.”