Shamrocks pursuing gold in 2022, aiming to deliver dwelling one other state title

September 2, 2022

Yuma Catholic seeking to be topped state champions for first time since 2014

YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) – In a program that units the bar excessive, with expectations by means of the roof every season – eight years might really feel like an eternity with out lifting the trophy within the closing recreation.

Properly, that’s the feeling inside one of the vital prestigious and tradition-based soccer packages within the desert southwest – all a part of the “Shamrock Method” contained in the partitions of Yuma Catholic Excessive Faculty.

However it’s a flip of a brand new leaf for the Shamrocks in 2022. A refocused aim of not reliving the previous.

“It is time to make our personal legacy,” mentioned Junior Jaxson Jones. “Final 12 months and 12 months’s earlier than that I heard individuals would at all times attempt to experience on the final 12 months’s staff. This 12 months, we’re attempting to deal with our personal factor. Have our personal objectives and be our personal individuals.”

Whereas it is a new aim and a brand new imaginative and prescient, it nonetheless doesn’t stray away from this system’s wealthy historical past – one which has been topped state champions 3 times within the final decade (2011, 2013, 2014).

In order this group straps the helmets again on, eyes are on the prize and the main target has shifted again to the final word aim of stepping on the championship door as soon as once more.

The 2021 season resulted in heartbreaking vogue – scoring solely three factors within the 3A state title recreation, as they watched their opponent Snowflake have a good time.

Solely three factors for a staff that averaged 44 factors per recreation all year long.

That additionally marking the second straight, and three out of 4 years shedding within the title recreation.

Quickly after that devastating loss in November, this system additionally needed to say goodbye to key items of the puzzle on each side of the ball, in the end leaving that fireside burning inside to get again and win huge for the complete Shamrock neighborhood.

“Whether or not it is one level or no matter, both method we misplaced,” mentioned Senior quarterback Richard Stallworth. “I’ve to place it in these Juniors’ heads that perhaps they do not have one other probability to go to the state title. Perhaps that is our final 12 months. Both method, I’ve a foul style in my mouth proper now and I need to return in there.”

So now that bitter style is aimed to show candy only one 12 months later.

“We’ve received three state titles, and we’ve performed in seven. We’ve misplaced a few shut ones right here just lately, so we all know what the system is,” mentioned Head Coach Rhett Stallworth. “It simply comes all the way down to execution and being attentive to the little issues. The little particulars add up.”

And people little particulars shall be heightened much more after this system was lifted to a better degree of competitors, from 3A to 4A. But it is the dedication and following the Yuma Catholic method that may nonetheless push them to the mountaintop.

“It’s a dedication. It’s not straightforward,” added Rhett Stallworth. “Lots of people need to be part of it however they’ve to know the method and you’ll’t skip the road. We do put a number of stress on them however it’s nothing they will’t deal with as a result of they got here up within the system that method.”

And it’s a system that has been mastered. 

All beginning beneath middle with the dynamic father-son, head coach-quarterback tandem between Rhett and Richard stallworth. 

Richard posting historic numbers within the 2021 season with 4,863 passing yards and 67 touchdowns – now on his strategy to surpassing prestigious firm in class historical past.

Coming into the 2022 season just below 2,000 yards away from breaking the college report and 22 passing touchdowns from the state report. 

However after shedding three beginning receivers, it’s the management and a household mentality that holds an immense weight within the quarterback’s senior 12 months.

“I’m positively going to have my head ahead and put this staff earlier than me,” mentioned Stallworth. “Irrespective of if a man’s down, we’re not going to go away a person behind. I positively discovered that household comes first earlier than something, and these guys are actually my household.”

That shamrock household representing an unbreakable bond. one which acts as a key ingredient to this system’s success. 

“Household. We’re all a household right here and all of us prefer to work collectively,” mentioned Senior Jarred Marquez. “All of us assist one another out and wherever we’d like the assistance, we bought one another’s again.”

Nonetheless, it’s a bond that should create its personal particular mark, all in hopes of re-entering the head of highschool soccer in Arizona.

“Being part of this household is one thing that I’m going to cherish endlessly,” added Stallworth. “Whenever you go away and also you don’t get to go well with up with the fellows, you’re gonna be unhappy and want you had these days again.”

After a spherical of conditioning to finish observe on a sizzling August day, Rhett STallworth supplied an important message to the staff – one which he hopes to resonate with each the returners and younger faces.

“You can’t be afraid to fail out right here. We gotta fail out right here so we do not fail in video games. So when the primary time you do get pushed, you do not crumble… All of it comes all the way down to who educated more durable? Who’s mentally more durable? Who’s executing what they had been taught to do? Who’s extra disciplined? And that is at all times been us. You may’t observe the coat tails of the staff’s which have been earlier than you. That is your staff and your time proper now. You seniors you don’t get one other probability. You aren’t getting subsequent 12 months. So take this 12 months and run with it.”

In order the Rocks take the sphere of their dwelling opener in opposition to Benjamin Franklin, they’ve the message: to jot down their very own Shamrock story. 

See also  Pac-12 Ladies's Soccer Weekly Rundown - Oct. 12, 2022