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RANKINGS
EXTRA TIME: Previewing the 2025 UIL Soccer State Finals--Walnut Grove v. SA Southwest (Boys 5A-D1)
The stage is set for an exciting showdown in the UIL 5A-Division I State Final as Walnut Grove and San Antonio Southwest face off this Friday at 6:30 PM at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
Both teams have made history by reaching the state final for the first time, and now, they’ll battle for their first-ever state championship.
Walnut Grove enters the final with an imposing undefeated record of 24-0-2, having sealed their spot in the title match with a dominant 5-1 victory over Americas in the state semifinals last Friday.
The Wildcats’ run to the State Final Four marks the program’s first-ever appearance at this stage, and they are determined to cap off their historic year with a title.
Under the leadership of head coach Trent Kutch, Walnut Grove has relied on a potent offense and solid teamwork throughout the season.
Junior midfielder Mason Kutch (DePaul-commit) has been a standout, leading the charge with 36 goals and 20 assists. His skill and vision have been crucial to the team’s success in 2025.
Supporting him are seniors Ben Joyner (18 goals) and Christian Nardelli (11 goals), who bring additional firepower to the attack, while senior midfielder Carson Stiglets (10 assists) ensures the midfield runs smoothly and provides key distribution.
On the other side of the field, San Antonio Southwest is enjoying a remarkable season of their own.
The Dragons have gone 25-1 thus far, and they are coming off a 5-0 victory over Angleton in the state semifinals, a dominant performance that further solidified their place in the final.
Coached by Juan Romero, Southwest boasts a relentless offense, scoring an impressive 135 goals in just 26 games this season—an average of nearly five goals per match. This firepower is complemented by an equally efficient defense, which has allowed just 11 goals all year.
Southwest features a trio of prolific scorers: junior forward Caleb Barajas, senior forward Cesar Angel, and sophomore Alfredo Plascencia. Together, they’ve tormented opposing defenses all season.
In addition, defenders Sebastian Huerta (sophomore) and Valente Leon (senior midfielder) are vital to both the team’s defensive solidity and attacking transitions.
The emergence of freshman goalkeeper Emiliano Romo has also been a game-changer, as he has kept 13 clean sheets this season, providing a reliable last line of defense.
History will soon be made, as both Walnut Grove and SA Southwest contend for their first-ever title, in the UIL 5A-D1 Final, taking place Friday (6:30 PM) at Birkelbach Field.
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FULL TIME: 2025 TAPPS-D1 Soccer State Final Preview – Central Catholic vs. Parish Episcopal
Central Catholic returns to the TAPPS-D1 State Championship with an impressive 16-1-2 record, having dropped just one game all season.
The Buttons are no strangers to this stage, reaching the final for the third straight year and previously establishing a dynasty with four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2020.
However, they haven’t claimed the crown since and are eager to change that after dominant playoff victories over St. John XXIII (6-1), St. Pius X (8-7), and St. Thomas (2-1).
Guided by Coach Bartholomew Valerios, Central Catholic leans on its experienced core, including first-team all-state selections Andres Bacho (Sr. MF), Brandan Thomas (Sr. MF), Albert Arzola (Jr. D), and Jaime Heeren (Sr. GK).
Ranked No. 7 in Texas by MaxPreps, the Buttons enter as early favorites.
But Parish Episcopal won’t go down easily.
Coach Craig Savage’s squad just stunned defending champion John Paul II with a commanding 3-0 semifinal win, improving to 10-4-1.

After an early playoff exit last year, the Panthers have made a remarkable turnaround. Key contributors include second-team all-state honorees Gael Garza (Jr. F) and Brian Luna (Sr. D), along with standout midfielder Ryder Sherman (Jr.).
History is on the line when these teams clash at 9:30 AM in Round Rock—Central Catholic seeks to reclaim its championship pedigree, while Parish Episcopal looks for validation.

































