The Solorio boys' varsity soccer team is still basking in the excitement of winning their first ever state championship. But it's a victory they achieved without a key member of their squad, which makes their accomplishment bittersweet.
"We were so used to having him around, he was a big part of our lives," team captain Oscar Ramirez said.
Ramirez spoke about Christian Morales, his teammate who died in the summer of 2016 in a boating accident. The loss devastated the team.
"We didn't just see him on the field. We saw him around the school. He was like a brother to most of us," Ramirez said.
The school has paid tribute to Morales by painting a mural of him on one of the walls. The team honored his memory by having their best season ever, going on to play Gibault Catholic - a soccer powerhouse from downstate - for the Division 2A state championship. Solorio beat them decisively, 6 to 0.
"It was one of those where the score may have been what it was, but I was still looking at the clock like I don't believe it," Coach Adrian Calleros said.
And the champs were celebrated today with a special pep rally.
Still, Morales was on the minds of the team. Coach Calleros said he was one of a kind and the team has still not fully recovered from his loss.
"4.0 student, awesome kid. A kid that as a dad you would let date your daughter," Calleros said.