It would be of no surprise to find a Dodge City High School boys’ soccer player at the top of the list for consideration of Player of the Year in the Western Athletic Conference.
After all, the Red Demons have dominated the WAC fall sport for nearly all of the past half-decade, winning three consecutive titles at the current time and six of the past seven. The only interruption came in 2018 when Liberal captured the crown.
So when the conference coaches announced their 2021 all-WAC team, it was Red Demon mid-fielder Irwin Macias who rose to the top of the list and was named Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
Macias’ overall statistics might not be the most daunting or impressive, but it is his overall play that led to his selection after helping the Demons to an unblemished 8-0 WAC mark, and eventually all the way to the Class 6A state quarterfinals before a surprising 2-1 loss to Wichita North ended what had been another stellar season, ending with a 17-1-1 record after winning the 6A state title a year ago.
Macias’ notched nine goals and added eight assists, but his contribution to the Demons’ success cannot be measured by those statistics alone.
“I was very surprised when Coach (Saul Hernandez) told me about the award,” Macias said in a telephone interview. “It is a reward for all the hard work last summer that paid off. I have some really good senior teammates that I thought might get it.”
With two consecutive unbeaten WAC seasons tucked away, the Demons have now won 23 straight league matches and in Hernandez’ seven seasons, they have posted an impressive 53-3-0 won-loss record in the league.
“Winning the WAC is always a goal, but it is just one of many for us,” Macias said of the Demons’ program which has produced two state championships, a third and a fourth during his current tenure. “We didn’t achieve our bigger goals in the playoffs, but we still had a very good season.”
Macias, who moved into the varsity lineup midway through his freshman season in 2019, began as a wing player, moving between the left and right sides at mid-field.
“The wing positions that I played I had obvious dropping responsibilities to help the defense,” Macias said. “I still drop some at mid-field, but not that much.”
Now settled in as the team’s mid-field attacker, Macias enjoyed the overall role he plays for the Demons.
“The decision-making requires you to be fast and we do a lot of that in practice,” Macias said. “I feel like I’ve got good use of both feet, but I’m a natural right-footed player.”
He works tirelessly on his scoring and it pays off in goals, assists and putting the ball in the hands of his other front-line attackers.
“I try to really shoot for the bottom corners of the net,” Macias said. “That’s where the goalkeepers have the most difficulty in stopping shots. If I aim for the top corner, it’s a beautiful goal but I really like to shoot straight on. The biggest improvement I need to make next year is shooting from beyond the 18 (yard line).”
With the DCHS program enjoying unparalleled success, Macias said he’s have the time of his life playing the sport he loves.
“It’s an honor to play here,” Macias said. “He’s (Hernandez) a good coach and he really helps us a lot.”
After the disappointing season-ending loss, Macias said it wouldn’t be long before he and his returning teammates begin working on things in the off-season.
“I think we’re going to have a pretty good team next year,” he said. “We’ve got some really good players returning, so I’m very excited.”
Macias drew high praise from his coach, too.
“Irwin’s vision is something that sets him apart on the field,” Hernandez said. “He can find players making runs towards the goal that can unlock stubborn defenses.”
The Demons’ coach said Macias was a great teammate, both on and off the field.
“Off the field, he is also a great kid who is humble and works hard. He is always smiling and has a good attitude towards everything he does, which makes him a great example for others to follow.”
One of the skill sets Hernandez appreciates most is the area in front of the net.
“He is a player who will dribble at a defense and create chaos in their 18-yard box,” Hernandez said. “He became a marked player, but he would always seem to find a way to get the ball to the right place. He is almost always the one that makes the biggest statement when the ball is at his feet.”
Macias was one of four Red Demons to be named to the all-WAC first team. He is joined by senior teammates Jose Holguin, Daniel Ruiz and Angel Lopez. Liberal had two on the elite squad in senior Angel Munoz and junior Emanuel Ortuno. Great Bend and Hays High each had a pair on the squad. Great Bend’s representatives were seniors Salvador Garcia and Jonathan Pasos while Hays players were junior Diego Muller and sophomore Brantlee Staab. Garden City’s lone player was senior Bryant Tamayo.
Hernandez was voted Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.
Following Dodge City in the WAC final standings was Garden City at 6-2-0, Great Bend at 2-5-1, Liberal at 2-6-0 and Hays High at 1-6-1.
2021 WAC Boys Soccer All-Conference Teams
| First Team | School | Year |
|---|---|---|
| *Irwin Macias | Dodge City High School | 11 |
| Jose Holguin | Dodge City High School | 12 |
| Daniel Ruiz | Dodge City High School | 12 |
| Angel Lopez | Dodge City High School | 12 |
| Angel Munoz | Liberal High School | 12 |
| Emanuel Ortuno | Liberal High School | 11 |
| Bryant Tamayo | Garden City High School | 12 |
| Salvador Garcia | Great Bend High Schol | 12 |
| Jonathan Pasos | Great Bend High Schol | 12 |
| Diego Muller | Hays High School | 11 |
| Brantlee Staab | Hays High School | 10 |
Coach of the Year: Saul Hernandez, Dodge City High School
| Second Team | School | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bryan Tonche | Dodge City High School | 12 |
| Aron Martinez | Dodge City High School | 10 |
| Suain Moncayo | Liberal High School | 9 |
| Giovanny Reyes | Liberal High School | 10 |
| Juan Sanchez | Great Bend High School | 12 |
| Carlos Batres | Great Bend High School | 12 |
| Kyzer Fox | Hays High School | 10 |
| Daniel Zamaripa | Garden City High School | 12 |
| Roger Benitez | Garden City High School | 12 |
| Erick Tamayo | Garden City High School | 11 |
| David Hernandez | Garden City High School | 11 |
