The 1st Annual MaxPreps Girls' Soccer Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard visited Monte Vista High School in Danville, California on Friday, April 27 2012! This is the first Tour honoring girls' soccer teams and the Mustangs were 1 of only 6 teams to be awarded the coveted "Minuteman" trophy and the championship rafter banner to remember this great championship and nationally ranked season for years to come.
The setting was a student-led school rally in the Gymnasium. Now I have personally attended hundreds of school rallies, but honestly, I believe this was the best one I have ever seen. There was a "Neon" theme so the students wore whatever "1980's" neon clothing they could find in their parent's closet. And when the lights went off in the gym and the black lights turned on, everyone was glowing in shades of neon colors. The energy in the gymnasium was impressive and strong, and the school spirit was high.
When Mike Wilkes, from MaxPreps, explained the honor the Mustang soccer team was about to receive, the students roared with approval for their friends. Mike did a great job explaining the Tour of Champions and then he introduced Staff Sergeant Mauricio Tijero from the California Army National Guard. Staff Sergeant Tijero was all business as he explained the similarities between being a championship team and a member of the Army National Guard. The students showed respect for this man of valor. And they were impressed that SSG Tijero was also a graduate of Monte Vista High School.
SSG Tijero called the team up and then presented the official Army National Guard national ranking trophy to coach Brett LeQuesne for finishing ranked No. 7 in the country from over 15,000 teams. The coach was soft spoken and humble. Clearly, he wanted the attention to be on his players. "Being honored by MaxPreps and the Army National Guard is huge," said Monte Vista head coach Brett LeQuesne. "Locally we seemed to fly under the radar all season, so the national recognition is huge. It is a great honor and privilege for our program as a whole and for the school."
As the team exited the stage, the rally continued with loud music, great skits and dancing, and genuine fun for all. What a great day for Monte Vista High School and their team, the Army National Guard, and MaxPreps. It was truly a day to remember.
