Boys Soccer Notebook: Palestine’s Mario Escalante takes weekly honor

Published 12:17 pm Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Palestine’s Mario Escalante has earned Tyler Morning Telegraph Boys Soccer Player of the Week honors for games played Jan. 6-11.

Escalante had six goals in the Wildcats’ wins over Crockett (5-0), Mabank (5-0) and Athens (7-2).

In other outstanding performances in the area last week (nominated by coaches):

Tyler Legacy’s Carson Spillman had three assists from his left back position in a 5-3 win over TASCO Region II No. 4 West Mesquite.

Bishop Gorman’s Ricky Pineda had three goals for the Crusaders.

Palestine’s Ismael Gonzales had four goals and two assists in wins over Crockett, Mabank and Athens. Colt James and Matt Wortham anchored a defense that allowed just two goals in three matches.

In the Lethal Soccer Regional Rankings, Tyler Legacy No. 12 and Longview No. 18 in Class 6A Region II; Mount Pleasant No. 11, Nacogdoches No. 18, Jacksonville No. 21 and Lufkin No. 23 in Class 5A Region II; and Kilgore No. 2, Palestine No. 3, Pine Tree No. 10, Chapel Hill No. 13, Center No. 16, Pleasant Grove No. 17, Hudson No. 18, Sabine No. 19, Lindale No. 20, Athens No. 22, Pittsburg No. 24 and Paris No. 25 in Class 4A Region II.

Coaches are asked to send in their nominations to bogden@tylerpaper.com or sports@tylerpaper.com by 11 a.m. each Tuesday.