One was an offensive specialist and one was a defensive star, but at the end of the day it was too close to call, so Celebration’s Chris Vargas-Hernandez and Gateway’s Jose Calderon are 2023-24’s Osceola News Gazette Boys Soccer Co-Players of the Year.
Vargas, a senior, was simple one of the top goaltenders in the state. In 16 games he allowed just 10 goals overall and recorded nine shutouts. He led the Storm to the Orange Belt Conference championship, a district title and a run to the regional finals, where they fell to eventual state champion Boca Raton in a 1-0 game.
“There’s no question in my mind that Chris is more than deserving honors,” Celebration assistant coach and Athletics Director Chad Boudreaux said. “We played one of the hardest schedules in the state and he recorded nine shutouts, including against state juggernauts Montverde and Palm Beach Central (in the regional quarterfinal).”
In two years as a starter, Vargas led Celebration to 26 wins, two OBC titles, two district titles and two appearances in the region finals and recording 19 shutouts in the process.
Vargas said his senior season was perhaps his most rewarding.
“We had a great team my junior year, but we lost a lot of players to graduation and I don’t think many people thought we would be very good last year,” Vargas said. “We sort of got off to a rough start, but once we got used to playing with each other things started coming together for us. By the end of the season, we were playing really good soccer.”
Vargas said his dad, who was a fairly prominent player in Columbia, introduced him to the sport but pushed him to play midfield or forward. He always fought back wanting to play goalie.
“You probably have to be a little bit crazy to be a goalie and you have to have a strong mindset,” he said. “But it is also a position I just love playing. You are the last defense from keeping the other team from scoring and there’s the pressure of not wanting to let you teammates down. “
Calderon, voted Orange Belt Conference Player of the Year by county coaches, led the Panthers to a 14-5-1 record that included a regional playoff victory. He tallied 15 goals and three assists. He had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over Cypress Creek in a regional quarterfinal win.
“The season was very good, and I achieved my personal goals of being my team’s leading scorer, player of the year and MVP,” Calderon said. “Team-wise, we would have liked to have won OBC (third place) and districts (runner-up) but overall it was a satisfying year.”
Calderon came to the United States from Venezuela in 2017 as his family sought political freedom. He said it was difficult at first, but he quickly assimilated. He grew up playing soccer and it is his first love, but he was recruited by Panthers track coach Tane Crossley to run the 400 meters and he ended up placing eighth at the FHSAA 3A state championships this past spring.
Although he would love to compete in both sports at the next level, he believes track may be his best chance.
“At this moment I believe that track is my future, since the results are individual and reflect your greatest effort,” Calderon said. “I look forward to playing both my senior year and see where it leads.”
Gateway’s Sagar Patel, who led the Panthers to a 26-9-2 record over the last two years including 14 wins this season, is our pick for Coach of the Year.
2023-24 Osceola News Gazette
Boys’ All-County Soccer
Forwards
Jose Calderon, Gateway
Rony Terma, St. Cloud
Reinaldo Villalon, Tohopekaliga
Yadiel Hernandez, Harmony
Midfielders
Kitamvba Lubulu, Harmony
Joseph Ramirez, Gateway
Anyelo Castellano, Celebration
Fernando Martinez, St. Cloud
Jose Hernandez, Celebration
Antonio Quintana, Tohopekaliga
Yadiel Monterroza, Liberty
Sebastian Gutierrez, Osceola
Defense
Jason Cambell, Osceola
Wesley Joseph, Poinciana
Marcelo Rodrigues, Celebration
Luis Rivero, Gateway
Goalkeepers
Chris Vargas, Celebration
Jason Barrientos, Tohopekaliga
