The beginning of the Toros legacy

Somerton High School is building their athletic foundation in their first year of varsity sports for years to come

SOMERTON, Ariz. — For decades, students in Somerton who wanted to compete in high school athletics had to represent neighboring communities.

Three years ago, that changed.

After building the foundation of an athletic program for two years, it was time to start varsity teams in year three of the schools inception for the coaches, athletes and community to call their own, marking a historic milestone for the city of roughly 15,000 residents.

For athletic director David Barrios, the significance extends far beyond wins and losses.

"When we look at varsity sports, we don't just look at another game or competition," Barrios said. "This is not only for the school. This is for the city. This is bigger than just a game happening at the gym or on the field."

Launching varsity athletics was never an overnight process. Somerton opened with a freshman class and gradually built toward fielding varsity teams as students advanced through the grade levels.

Barrios said the decision to begin varsity competition in the school's third year was made with input from the athletes themselves.

"So we started here with a freshman class, and as we're kind of going through that season, we're seeing how we're doing.... We decided by year three, I think that's a good time to start the team varsity sports," Barrios said. "I have a committee made of athletes, and overwhelmingly they said, 'Yes, we want a varsity team.'"

While the Toros are still working to establish themselves in the win column, coaches and athletes understand that building a successful program starts with laying a strong foundation.

Freshman wrestler Annette Preston embraced that responsibility from the beginning. Preston became the first female state champion in Somerton athletics history, but she views her accomplishment as part of something larger.

"You always start with the foundation," Preston said. "Being one of the first varsity wrestlers, especially for girls, means setting the pace and keeping that foundation strong."

Building a program from scratch comes with unique challenges. Unlike established schools with feeder programs and generations of athletes, Somerton's coaches are simultaneously teaching fundamentals while trying to compete against experienced opponents.

Football coach Junior Atherton said that reality requires patience.

"You're talking about competing against programs that already existed," Atherton said. "We're still spending a lot of time on fundamentals."

Yet the opportunity to build something new is exactly what attracted many of the school's coaches.

"What an awesome opportunity for a coach to be able to create their own program instead of taking the program over," aquatics coach Mark Van Voosrt said. "When you are starting your own program, you start your own procedures, you start your own recruiting, you develop relationships with families, you develop relationships with staff."

Baseball coach Miguel Porchas understands the significance of the moment as well as anyone.

A Somerton native, Porchas attended Cibola High School because Somerton did not have its own high school when he was growing up. Now, he has the chance to lead the school's first varsity baseball program.

"Somerton has always been in my blood," Porchas said. "A lot of people forget about Somerton. I wish I had this when I was growing up, when I was going to high school, and these kids have that opportunity, so I take a lot of pride in being the first varsity coach in school history for baseball."

That pride is shared throughout the athletic department.

Barrios sees the same qualities in today's athletes that he remembers from his own upbringing in the community.

"When I look at our athletes, I see my younger self in them, and I see the grit" Barrios said. "I see how they're raised, and I see the community members. When I speak to parents, I see the hard work that they put in, and how that hard work passes down to their students."

The Toros already have begun creating memories despite the youth of their programs.

Junior Abraham Ramirez said representing Somerton against schools from across Arizona has given athletes a sense of pride.

"I like being able to go out of the city and play other schools," Ramirez said. "Then people ask, 'You lost to Somerton? Where's Somerton at?' It's pretty cool."

Success has followed as well. Preston's state title highlighted a wrestling season that saw Somerton produce multiple state champions and a girls team runner-up finish.

Still, coaches believe the program's greatest accomplishments remain ahead.

Girls soccer coach Lisa Lerma said one of her primary goals has been teaching athletes how to compete regardless of the score.

"They learned how to compete. They did not give up in any single game, and that was my goal for them," Lerma said. "If you want to play at higher levels, you have to first have the mindset to push yourself even when the game is not going in your favor."

Barrios added how he believes the Toros are only beginning to tap into their potential.

"In a few years, look out for the Toros," he said. "We're going to keep building, getting ready and getting stronger and getting ready to succeed in all the sports that we have."

For Somerton, the journey is about more than athletic success. It is about creating a sense of identity and pride for a community that finally has a high school to call its own.

The records may not yet reflect the full story, but a legacy already is taking shape — one built on perseverance, community pride and the athletes who were willing to be first.

Years from now, future Toros teams may look back on these pioneers as the students who laid the foundation for everything that followed.