As first follow nears, Segerstrom gamers have enjoyable at annual alumni recreation –

Segerstrom varsity and alumni gamers after Thursday’s alumni recreation. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Segerstrom High School’s soccer crew begins follow Monday with excessive hopes for the upcoming season.

Thursday night the Jaguars had some enjoyable earlier than the trials of the season start, internet hosting their annual alumni recreation, welcoming again former gamers. The varsity defeated the alumni 5 touchdowns to 4 in a flag soccer recreation consisting of two halves.

But the occasion was about greater than who gained the sport.

To see the slide present, click on on the primary picture:

“It was great, we had a bunch of guys come back and we had a little fun,” Coach Joseph Tagaloa stated after the sport. “We had kids come back from 2012 and 2015 and a couple guys who graduated in 2019 and 2021, it was fun to get these guys running around a little bit. I was excited that the guys came back and we had them tell some life stories and kind of motivate these younger guys as the season starts to approach us.”

Tagaloa has been holding the alumni recreation for about 10 years since he turned the Jaguars head coach.

“It’s been kind of on and off, sometimes we get a big turnout, we try to do it every year and we put it out there and hopefully guys show up, these guys came out so it was great. It was a good time,” Tagaloa stated.

The alumni was led within the first half by Aaron Morales at quarterback, Tagaloa stated.

“There were a total of five former MVPs playing for the alumni: Andrew Schouw, Nathan Tagaloa, Erik Martinez, Jalen Cervantes and Noah Tagaloa,” Coach Tagaloa stated. “Two offensive gamers of the 12 months, Frankie Gonzalez and Nicholas Cervantes additionally performed alongside three defensive gamers of the 12 months Julian Mendoza, Mokey Leuma and Cristian Carmona.

“Other alumni included Jason Salazar, Julian Diaz, Alan Tovar, Diego Hernandez, Diego Bautista and Daniel Sanchez. We also had a guest coaching appearance by Coach Olin Jurado. All in all it was great to see these guys get out there and compete as well as taking the time to speak to our guys after the game. I am very grateful to have such great guys come back and stay connected with our program. I’m sure next year we will get another bunch of our amazing alumni to come back and play.”

Jaguars senior Ayden Morales was among the many varsity gamers who appeared to benefit from the expertise. Players had been handled to pizza after the sport.

“It was fun getting to play with old teammates and old alumni who were here and getting to see the way they used to play and getting to learn new things, how they played and their mindset when they played,” stated Morales, who is predicted to be one of many crew’s prime offensive threats as a working again. “It was reallly fun to come all together as one and just enjoy each other.”

After the sport, all of the alumni gamers shared some recommendation for the varsity gamers.

Their recommendation:

“Just to keep in touch after high school, especially for the seniors, keep a positive mindset and keep a clear view of what you’re trying to achieve and what you want to achieve when you’re older in life after high school and in college,” Morales stated. “They also told us, in high school, keep the grades good, keep the mindset high, keep the communication high with your teammates, your fans, your family and keep that clear mind in everything you do.”

Morales and his teammates open the season on Friday, Aug. 22 with a non-league street recreation vs. Palm Springs. Segerstrom was 8-4 total final season and completed second within the Kappa League with a 4-1 report, advancing into the second spherical of the CIF playoffs.

“We will start Monday with our helmets and start to get acclimated for full go,” Tagaloa stated. “We have confirmed by this low season that we’re going to be a crew that’s constructed for achievement. We had a number of guys graduate, we had a number of individuals step up and assume a management function they usually have actually proven they’ll compete at a excessive degree.

“I’m excited to see the place we’re at, clearly, these seven on seven issues are enjoyable however on the finish of the day it’s going to return right down to what occurs when we’ve got our pads. We will start the method of going full gear starting subsequent week, I’m very excited to see what we are able to do that 12 months.

“We return multiple guys in key positions who had experience last year, maybe didn’t start the whole season but who got a lot of playing time and we have two really good running backs (Ayden Morales and Joshua Garcia) that are waiting for their opportunity to have a breakout year, so we’re excited for them. Both those guys are very athletic and they look to make some big plays for us this season.”

Morales, who additionally performs outdoors linebacker, is a “returning first team All-Kappa League defender and has worked diligently this off-season to increase his speed and overall athletic ability,” Tagaloa stated.

Another key participant is center linebacker/tight finish Jullian Hernandez, who Tagaloa stated, “is the anchor to our defense who is a force against the run and has great instincts vs. the passing game. He is a returning first team All-Kappa League defender as well.”

The Jaguars are additionally trying to outdoors linebacker/working again Roman Saucedo for an enormous season.

“He made the move to our strong side outside linebacker and is looking to have similar success to last season,” Tagaloa stated. “By the end of the year, Roman was playing at a very high level flying around.”

Tagaloa expects Gabriel Vergara to maneuver in because the primary receiver and defensive again after a strong junior season.

“Gabriel is going from a role player to a two-way starter and should be a determining factor in our team’s overall success,” Tagaloa stated.

In addition, Jorge Briseno is returning at left guard to anchor the offensive line.

“This season he is going to be taking his physicality and motor to the defensive side of the ball,” Tagaloa stated.

The Jaguars have some depth on the road.

“Josh Preciado and Vicente Rivera, defensive tackle, both played on our defensive line and solidified our run defense,” Tagaloa stated. “This season they each look to place stress on the quarterback and produce an lively cross rush.

“Noah Lopez and Alejandro Duarte, offensive tackles, are both coming back from injury that kept them out of the starting lineup last season, but should be dominant this season on our offensive line.”

Top newcomers embody Joshua Garcia, a free security and runnng again who Tagaloa stated, “has great instincts and is always making plays whether he is coming down hill to make a tackle or flying around in the secondary making a play on the ball.”

Two different new gamers are additionally anticipated to contribute.

“Vincent Armijo, defensive back, is going to look to shut down all receivers that come his way,” Tagaloa stated. “He likes to compete and can by no means be out labored.

“Isaiah Gomez, offensive guard and defensive tackle, is athletic and moves really well on both sides of the ball. His pass rush capabilities allow him to play both inside at defensive tackle or outside at defensive end.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com