DOWNEY - The Warren High School boys' C.I.F. Division II championship soccer team's season came to an end last week with a loss to La Costa Canyon 2-1 at La Costa Canyon in the quarterfinal round of the Southertn California Regional Championship.This last loss has left Bear senior soccer captain Brandon Herrerias at a loss for words. Herrerias is proud of his teammates and what they have overcome and accomplished this season after a tough start. Brandon is a former P.E. student of mine at East Middle School, with whom I have kept in touch.

I asked Brandon a few questions about Warren's championship season and what this means to him, his teammates and Warren High School. First, I asked what it feels like to be a C.I.F. champion. He responded, "it's like hearing that you earned an A on a final exam that you've studied restless nights for and that it has taken us to another level of playing soccer." I then asked him besides winning the actual title itself, what the "high point" of the season was. Brandon responded by saying "it was the process of becoming a family on the pitch and letting go of our egos for the season."

Next, I asked him what the low point of the season was. Brandon answered that by saying "it was during the pre-season when we had such high expectations for ourselves but had to settle the differences amongst ourselves." I then asked Brandon what the turning point of the season was. Herrerias answered by saying, "it was the home loss to Lynwood right before the Paramount game." He continued by saying that "if we didn't beat Paramount in our next game, we would not of made the C.I.F. playoffs."

I then asked Brandon if it had sunk in yet that he had played his last game for Warren. He said, "on the bus ride home from La Costa Canyon it started to hit me that I had played my last game at Warren with my teammates." I then asked him what the future of Warren soccer looks like. Brandon responded by saying "there are quality underclassmen returning next year and they will be poised to defend our Division II title."

The last question I asked Brandon was about his future. Brandon said that he plans to play in college and hopefully "someday will be playing on a flat screen for all Downey soccer fans to watch." Congratulations to Brandon, his teammates and Coach Miguel Pena for an exciting, championship season.

********** Published: March 14, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 48