In the dawn of a new Dubs soccer era coming upon us, the coaches have looked to capitalize on a “golden era” of talent. At this point, being the midway mark of the season, that’s exactly what the team has done with a 6A State Playoff berth already being clinched and an astounding 10-1-1 record being posted. Among the star-studded lineup emerges a superstar into the captaincy in Servando “Junior” Moreno. The junior right-back is a newbie as a captain, as he has just received the title this year. However, he has done nothing less than rising up to the occasion and being such a strong leader for the team as they have embarked on this historic run.
From young, Moreno has been in love with the game and can never get enough of “that” feeling when he steps on that pitch. It stems from his family, as their avid watching and playing of the beautiful game trickled down to Junior when he was just a little kid. Specifically, Moreno vividly remembers the countless times watching his older brother dominate on the field and it served as major inspiration for him. Fast forward to the present day and he looks to be just like his brother, following in his footsteps and taking a stroll down the path to greatness. “I’m in love with this sport now, and I have nobody to thank quite like my brother,” said Moreno, reminiscing.
As for the present day, Moreno has risen into stardom and been a pivotal leader for the team this year. In tremendous all-time form that has the boys at a current 10-1-1 record, Moreno has been one of the most integral players on the pitch like always, leading the team to a season focused on chasing the light that is the state championship. For Junior himself, he is incredibly proud of the boys so far, highlighting the resilience and sheer determination they have shown in every aspect of the game. “This season has been a great bounce back year,” Junior said, “I’ve enjoyed playing alongside the guys and our chemistry is unmatched.”
The most obvious overarching goal for the year is to win it at the big dance for the first time in school history, a feat that the program has been close to a few times in the past but a hump the Dubs have never quite been able to get over. However, Junior describes this season as having a different aura to it. The sound of the 2024 Dubs team seems to have a ring to it, one that defines North Atlanta culture and one that wants to make the whole school proud and bring home the gold. “I know all these boys have the same common goal: to win the championship”, Junior said, “And honestly the real goal is to go back-to-back.”
Before the lofty goals come to fruition, however, the Warriors look to the region title to first be wrapped up. Within the coming weeks, the boys have a few tough games on the schedule, with one more game in the region to solidify the title. Coming up next: a dance with the cross-town rivals Lovett Lions where Junior and the squad seek revenge from last season’s unfortunate defeat.
