Cougars honor teammate, school, themselves with state title

GREENSBORO — Mission Accomplished.

While that short but sweet epithet might sum up Southwestern Randolph’s 3-0 win over Newton-Conover for the 4-A state soccer title Friday night that the Cougars have pointed to for four years, it is woefully bereft of the details that make that outcome so meaningful in these parts:

— The promise of a group of middle school soccer players so powerful that it convinced SWR varsity soccer coach Jimmy Walker, contemplating another year or two of coaching, to stick around to see that group all the way through.

— A so-so freshman year of seven wins and an occasional beatdown, followed by a 22-win sophomore campaign and a deep playoff run.

— A shooting tragedy that took the life of one of the team’s key players, Pedro Ortiz, before the end of that second school year, which could have derailed many teams but instead strengthened the resolve of this group.

— A junior year dedicated to Ortiz that saw the team reach the title game but fall short in a 3-1 loss to Clinton.

— A year later, a senior campaign nearly derailed by Clinton again in the regional finals before a stunning 27-second, two-goal burst with less than 8 minutes remaining sent SWR back to the state finals.

Here, at last, one more chance to fulfill a promise of talent, of perseverance, of love and respect for a lost teammate. 

“A year ago we were going through the worst things ever, losing a brother, a teammate, a friend,” said Fernando Hernandez, the team’s leader, who took up a cause to make sure Ortiz was never forgotten in this group’s hopeful run to a championship. “The motivation it gave us. We all went to see him at the hospital and we all promised we’d get him a state championship ring. We were so close last year. We didn’t get it but we knew that was just a learning lesson and the next year we had it. 

“We always keep him around, keeping his legacy alive, keeping him alive. I went to his grave yesterday and I told him, ‘Don’t worry, bro, I’m going to get you that ring tomorrow. I’m going to bring it home.’ I kept my promise and I can’t wait to take it home to him.”

Even the crowd reminded all of that mission when, as time ran down with the outcome no longer in doubt, they began to chant on numerous occasions “Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!”

Hernandez was one of SWR’s three goal scorers, along with Kevin Garcia and Chris Betancourt, who staked SWR to a 3-0 halftime lead, which held up in the second half. Hernandez netted the third goal, which gave him 42 for the season and made him the third-highest career goal scorer in North Carolina high school soccer history with 165.

The goal, an assist and his usual leadership and calm presence on the pitch made him the MVP for the title game, finishing off a 26-1 season that will echo throughout history at Southwestern Randolph High School.

“This is the first male sports team to win state championship at Southwest,” Walker said. “I can’t wait to see that banner hanging in our gym. I told them this is legendary stuff now. You’re in rare air. And 10 years from now, when they honor us as a hall of fame team and they’re going to have their little kids with them, your name’s going to be up there forever, no one can take that away from you.”

As much as the game outcome, Walker was moved by the community support. The crowd was easily the largest of the day, with three-quarters of it pulling for the Cougars.

“The entire school came out and lined the driveway as we were leaving,” Walker said. “I stopped the bus and said you know what, let’s not hang our heads out the window, let’s everybody get out and give out high fives on both sides all the way down to the driveway and I’ll pick you up in a hundred yards. That was an amazing moment. I couldn’t hardly drive for the tears running down my face. The pride that guys have instilled in our community. 

“And then we went to the elementary school and all those kids were hanging on the fence, and made their own banners. What they have done tonight and during their careers is they have got little fans and those little fans are going to be tomorrow’s champions. They’ve got these little kids looking up to them and they have definitely put the program on the map and this school on the map.”

The community support wasn’t lost on the players, either.

“When we dropped down a goal to Clinton, we heard our side go quiet,” senior Brayden Tyl said of the regional final. “We’re watching film after the game and when we put one in, the camera was just static. It was so loud. It gives you that extra drive forward to bring it home for not just us, not just Pedro, but everybody, because they’re always backing us all up, even at our very low.”

The Cougars finished their state title campaign 27-1, their only loss to Western Alamance, a defending state title holder from last year. Newton-Conover finished 24-2-3, its only losses to SWR and Clinton.