ALL-NWADG BOYS SOCCER NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Christian Marroquin
SCHOOL: Siloam Springs
CLASS: Sophomore
HEIGHT: 5-9
THE SCOOP: Marroquin led the Panthers with 20 goals and 12 assists. … He scored four goals in the Class 6A state tournament, including a goal and an assist in the Panthers’ 4-0 win over Mountain Home in the state finals. … He scored at least one goal in 17 of the Panthers’ 27 games. He had three multiple-goal games. … He was an all-state selection in Class 6A.
DID YOU KNOW: After every game, win or lose and before shaking anyone’s hand, Marroquin — a devout Christian — falls to his knees in prayer. “I try to use every game as an opportunity to witness,” Marroquin said. “When I step on the field, people should know who I represent, who I believe in. I just like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to play such a beautiful sport, regardless of the final score.” QUOTABLE: “It mean a lot because no one gave us a chance,” Marroquin said of winning the 6A state championship. “No one believed in us because of how many seniors we graduated last year. It was hard taking that huge (scoring) responsibility as a sophomore. My freshman year, I didn’t play a second in the final and after that game I promised myself I was going to go back someday to the Razorback Field as a starter and win state, and I did.
“But it’s all because of my teammates. They were always there. That’s what makes this season so amazing, because of how hard it was to win the championship.”