Othello soccer off to hot start in first, and lone, GSL season
Miguel Ramirez fires a shot toward goal for Othello High School on Thursday afternoon in the 1-0 win over Pullman High School in Othello.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald
Othello's Anthony Ontiveros puts a shot toward goal from outside the box in the second half against Pullman High School on Thursday afternoon in Othello.
Anthony Ontiveros (6) celebrates with his teammates after putting away the penalty kick in the first half to give the Huskies the 1-0 lead against Pullman High School on Thursday in Othello.
Othello High School boys soccer has started the season red-hot in the Greater Spokane League, currently sitting in first place at 5-0 with just three regular season games left to play.
After missing out altogether last spring and playing in a completely new league this year, Othello head coach Bernie Garza talked about some of the factors that have helped his team find success.
Garza said his players are accustomed to playing the spring season before getting in some games in the summer. Last season, he said, the Huskies had a strong core and he felt like their performance in the preseason jamboree in Moses Lake showed their potential.
Unfortunately, that was the last action the team saw all spring. Garza said it’s helpful his program has a huge group of kids, typically between 60-80 players, coming out to play every season.
The bulk of his team this season is underclassmen, juniors and sophomores. Garza said he’s been coaching some of his current players a long time.
“The majority of juniors that we have I’ve coached that group of kids for years, I’ve coached them since they were 6,” Garza said.
Having his players already familiar with his coaching style and formation makes the transition a lot easier. Even on the first day of practice, this spring, Garza said, players jumped right into drills and he didn’t need to waste any extra time explaining things.
“You cut off all the extra spare time and they go right to it,” Garza said. “Like any sport, repetition builds success. If you do it long enough, you’re gonna get better at it.”
Garza said he has a good group of disciplined, focused athletes who are reaping the benefits of their work ethic.
“Alonzo Cruz, Jose Cortez, Fernando Pena, Brandon Garza, those four, they’re rock solid,” Garza said.
Luiz Cruz and Anthony Ontiveros have been the key leaders in the midfield for the Huskies this season, Garza said. Up front, he said the Huskies don’t really have a “go-to” player they’re hunting for on offense. Rather, he said it’s been a team approach, which can be a lot tougher for opposing teams to match up against.
Garza added the bulk of the varsity squad will be back next season when Othello returns to the Central Washington Athletic Conference. With other strong programs Toppenish High School and Quincy High School moving down from 2A, he said he expects the Huskies will be a leader to win the league most seasons.
“We can’t play the underdog role, we’re gonna be one of the frontrunners, leaders of the pack, and I don’t mind that,” Garza said.
For now, he has his sights on claiming a first place finish in the GSL in the Huskies’ lone season in the league. After Othello plays North Central High School on May 11, the top four GSL teams will face off with first place facing fourth and third and second place matching up.
Winners from those games on May 13 will meet up on Saturday, May 15, to decide the top spot in the GSL. Othello will take on Shadle Park on Thursday.
