In an intense match with Verrado Vipers against Youngker High on January 15, 2025, Verrado High School won with a score of 5-1.
Their Coach this season is currently Coach Randy Watkins who is the Head Coach for the Soccer Team and Cesar Dominguez who is the Assistant Coach. Throughout this year’s season, the Boys Varsity Team is on a 3-win streak this season, along with a #1 Ranking according to AZPreps. They are also ranked 19 for Arizona Conference 5A as well. They also have 1 win in Region play and are placed #2 in the 5A Dessert West Region. Throughout the season, they have played against Centennial, and Buckeye Union and have won all those games with scores of 1-0, 3-1, and 5-1. Their upcoming home games are on the 21st of January against Desert Edge the 23rd of January against La Joya Community at 6 PM, and the 6th of February against North Canyon at 6 PM which is the last game for the season.
Before the game, I had the opportunity to talk with Watkins. “The Varsity team is in excellent form, coming off a strong performance last week.” During the interview, he mentioned, “Andre-Galindo, Aiden Eppley, and Grant Weniger all scored in the win against Buckeye Union. George Watkins secured a dramatic late winner in their victory over Centennial.” Watkins states that the JV team is eager to maintain their undefeated streak in tonight’s matchup.
Throughout the game, Senor, #1 Grant Weniger who plays Midfield, Sophomore, #8 Lukas Nicolis who plays forward, and our Senior Goalkeeper Matias Del Moral were on their top game ensuring our victory. Both Weniger and Nicolis and their teammates made great goals throughout the game. Del Moral kept himself locked in, ensuring that Youngker never scored a goal and did a great job with his Goalkeeping. Overall, this game represented that we will eventually move to the State Championships we still have a chance that our school will represent us with another trophy this year with our ongoing winning streak of 3 games.
Verrado Vipers Dominate Youngker in a 5-1 Victory!
On January 15, 2025, Verrado High School’s Boys Varsity Soccer team took on Youngker High in an electric match that left fans buzzing with excitement. The Vipers delivered a commanding 5-1 victory, showing why they’re the team to beat this season.
Leading the charge for the Vipers are Head Coach Randy Watkins and Assistant Coach Cesar Dominguez, who’ve been instrumental in guiding the team to a stellar 3-game winning streak. According to AZPreps, the Vipers are currently ranked #1 in the 5A Desert West Region and an impressive #19 statewide in the Arizona 5A Conference. The team has also earned a Region win and holds the #2 spot in the region, making their road to the State Championships look more promising with every game.
So far this season, the Vipers have racked up wins against Centennial (1-0), Buckeye Union (3-1), and now Youngker (5-1), proving their dominance on the field. And the best part? There’s still more action ahead! The Vipers’ upcoming home games are scheduled for January 21 against Desert Edge, January 23 against La Joya Community, and February 6 against North Canyon. All games kick off at 6 PM, so make sure to come out and show your support for this incredible team!
Before the game, I caught up with Coach Watkins, who was confident in the team’s momentum. “The Varsity team is in excellent form, coming off a strong performance last week,” he said. He highlighted some standout moments from the season, including goals by Andre Galindo, Aiden Eppley, and Grant Weniger in their win over Buckeye Union, and a clutch late-game winner by George Watkins against Centennial. Watkins also gave a shoutout to the JV team, who are eager to keep their undefeated streak alive.
As for the Youngker game, it was all about teamwork and execution. Senior midfielder Grant Weniger (#1) and sophomore forward Lukas Nicolis (#8) were unstoppable on offense, each netting key goals. Meanwhile, senior goalkeeper Matias Del Moral was a wall in the net, shutting down Youngker’s attempts and keeping the scoreboard in Verrado’s favor. It was a full team effort, and the energy on the field was contagious!
With a 3-game winning streak and all the pieces falling into place, it feels like this team is destined for greatness. If they keep playing like this, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll see Verrado lift another State Championship trophy this year. Mark your calendars and get ready to cheer on the Vipers as they continue their quest for glory—this season is far from over, and it’s only getting better!
