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Inside the meteoric rise of the Valor College Prep boys soccer team





Valor’s Ismail Mustafa (5) and Overton’s Gabriel Lares (right) battle to get ball control during their 1-1 draw on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Valor’s Ismail Mustafa (5) and Overton’s Gabriel Lares (right) battle to get ball control during their 1-1 draw on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

It didn’t take long for Valor College Prep to develop a competitive boys soccer team.

The South Nashville charter school qualified for the TSSAA Class A state tournament last spring in its first full season as a varsity program – before the players had a chance to get a grasp on what that meant.

Head coach Paul Elkins and his assistant Jeremy Summitt, who never advanced that far during their high school playing careers, might’ve appreciated the experience the most.

“We tried to explain to them, ‘Guys, this is so cool, you’re getting to play in the state tournament,’” Elkins said. “We didn’t necessarily play our best (in a 2-0 quarterfinal loss to Merrol Hyde). I think part of that was our inexperience. We weren’t ready for that big of a moment.”

The Wildcats have since gotten up to speed.

Valor opened in 2018 with an inaugural group of 225 freshmen. Those students, including seven members of the soccer team, will be among the school’s first graduates later this month.

Valor forward Daniel Jimenez (4) heads a ball toward the Overton goal as Jhon Moreno (2) and David Samano (14) defend.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Valor forward Daniel Jimenez (4) heads a ball toward the Overton goal as Jhon Moreno (2) and David Samano (14) defend.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Despite moving up to Class AA for 2022, the Wildcats (10-4-4) and their first group of seniors earned the top seed for the District 10-AA tournament. Their resume includes wins over Brentwood Academy, Hillsboro, Hume-Fogg, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet and Spring Hill.

“Last season no one really knew who we were,” junior defender Jad Rahme said. “We had the underdog mentality throughout the season. We’re keeping that idea and trying to not get ahead of ourselves with how many wins we’re getting or how the results are going.”

Valor started off with a junior varsity schedule in 2019, then COVID-19 cut the team’s season down to just one game in 2020.

By the time last year rolled around, the Wildcats had enough roster depth to make a run. They went 15-3-1 and outscored their opponents 88-16 for the season, including a 1-0 win against nearby Antioch, the eventual District 11-AAA champion.

“We beat a lot of really good teams that no one thought we ever would compete with,” Rahme said. “That felt really good. It was something to build off.”

Overton's Wesley Mendoza (10) dribbles away from Valor's De’Von Colclough during action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton’s Wesley Mendoza (10) dribbles away from Valor’s De’Von Colclough during action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Team chemistry has come quickly, Elkins said. It helps that most of Valor’s players grew up around the sport.

“There’s not one kid on the team who’s not out for the team,” Elkins said. “The kids want our team to be successful, and they want each other to be successful. I don’t have chemistry issues with this group. They pull for each other. It’s fun to work with them.”

Soccer is a common denominator for the Valor players who hail from various ethnic groups.

The team is reflective of the school and the diverse neighborhoods that surround it off Nolensville Pike. Seventy percent of Valor students identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC), according to its website.

Rahme and senior defender Ismail Mustafa were among several Valor players who observed the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in April. They didn’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, even on gamedays.

Overton's Phin Messner (23) jumps with Valor's Davis Garrett (17) to play the ball during their match on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton’s Phin Messner (23) jumps with Valor’s Davis Garrett (17) to play the ball during their match on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

“We’re very diverse, but at the end of the day, we all love soccer,” Mustafa said. “That’s what matters most.”

The Wildcats will rely on that connection when they begin their second postseason trip next week. It’s also a chance for the first Valor seniors to leave their mark on the ascending program.

“This is the final year for us to make something happen,” Mustafa said. “We’re the founding class, and we’re really proud of that. This is the start of Valor’s history. We’ll be able to look back as the ones who started it.”

Overton defenders Tomas Vargas (5) and Robert Moreno (4) watch as Valor’s Michael Lopez tries to control the ball during their match on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton defenders Tomas Vargas (5) and Robert Moreno (4) watch as Valor’s Michael Lopez tries to control the ball during their match on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Valor players celebrate with Ryan Sparks, who scored in the second half to break a scoreless tie at Overton.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Valor players celebrate with Ryan Sparks, who scored in the second half to break a scoreless tie at Overton.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton’s Wesley Mendoza (10) and Valor’s Japheth Padilla (3) try to play a bouncing ball during match action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton’s Wesley Mendoza (10) and Valor’s Japheth Padilla (3) try to play a bouncing ball during match action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton's Yiver Melo (left) and Valor's Michael Lopez (right) wait on the ball to come down during action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton’s Yiver Melo (left) and Valor’s Michael Lopez (right) wait on the ball to come down during action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Valor defender Daniel Jimenez (4) and Overton's Jhon Moreno (2) collide during their match at Overton.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Valor defender Daniel Jimenez (4) and Overton’s Jhon Moreno (2) collide during their match at Overton.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton's David Samano (left) plays the ball in front of Valor's Michael Lopez (9) during second-half action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

Overton’s David Samano (left) plays the ball in front of Valor’s Michael Lopez (9) during second-half action on Wednesday.Phil Stauder / Main Street Nashville

 

 

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