Medina’s hat trick produces historic Wildcat win
COLLEGE STATION — No matter what happened or who walked out victorious, Saturday afternoon was a good day for Houston ISD.
Three years ago, Wisdom (then called Lee) became the district’s first school to reach the UIL state soccer tournament. The Generals didn’t come of nowhere. They had been to five regional finals, including 2013, before finally breaking through. Saturday was different. Wheatley beat 6-2 Washington in the Class 4A Region III championship game at A&M Consolidated. Neither team had ever been past the third round of the playoffs.
Washington didn’t even qualify a year ago and missed four times since 2011. And while Wheatley hasn’t missed in nine years, its best showing was reaching sectionals in 2013.
And the all-HISD regional meant the district was guaranteed a state participant next week. The Wildcats will play in the 4A semifinals Wednesday at Georgetown’s Birkelbach Field.
“This is historic for HISD,” said district athletic director Marmion Dambrino, stopping briefly as Washington players walked over and thanked her for not only her support but the new uniforms the Eagles wore this season.
“It’s historic for both schools. It’s historic for the district. And these kids — what a great season.”
The state pairings will be released Sunday. Bridgeport (Region I), Kilgore (II) and Progreso (IV) round out the 4A boys field. The two semifinal winners will meet at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
After a back-and-forth first half, one which saw Wheatley jump out early only to have an own goal allow Washington to tie it at 2-all just before halftime, the Wildcats pulled away in the final 20 minutes.
Keni Medina, who scored twice in a four-minute stretch in the first half, completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute. Jesus Cortina, after assisting on Medina’s second goal, scored two of his own.
And German Medina, whose wayward header became the own goal, scored just as the clock hit zero.
“The boys played with heart and play for each other,” Wheatley coach Obi Nwabueze said. “We tell each other before every game that it’s not going to be our last.”
That started the celebration, but it wasn’t just the Wheatley. The Eagles were emotional in defeat ,but both teams celebrated the other during the trophy presentation and posed together for pictures.
Washington players and coaches told the victorious Wildcats and their fans to finish what both teams started and bring a state championship back to Houston.
Through a translator, Keni Medina said the moment could set up something bigger for the district. With both teams making deep playoff this season, he said he expects the same next year as well.
First comes the state tournament and the chance for Wheatley to keep rewriting the history books.
“Special people come together for a mission, a purpose,” Newbueze said. “I see this team as that kind of group.
“We did this for Fifth Ward. We did this for the community. We did this for ourselves.”