Rury Alvarez hears the nice talk and feels the pats on the back. He notices how the faces of students at Dalton Academy light up when any of his soccer players walk down a hall.
There’s been much talk of making history if the Pumas could win a GHSA Class A public school state championship in their first year of existence.
To be honest – and Alvarez is unabashedly so – the former Dalton State College player doesn’t need to be told how special his team is. The past few months have taken care of that for the Dalton Academy coach, and the special part has little to do with soccer.
Sure, after Friday’s 2-1 home win over Georgia Military College Prep, which was secured by Christian Cuna’s goal with 11 minutes to play, the Pumas will take a 17-2 record into Tuesday night’s final at Mercer University in Macon with a shot at going from nothing to champions in a few weeks. Win or lose, though, Alvarez considers that game and the possible title to be a small part of the team’s story.
“No matter what happens tonight, we have already won and done things nobody thought possible,” Alvarez said prior to Friday’s semifinal.