After 45 years of knocking on the door of a TAPPS State Championship, St. Thomas Soccer finally kicked it down. 

“Historic is the right way to put it. I have used the term legendary for this team already,” Head Coach Kenny Martin ‘01 said. “Personally, as a coach and alum, I have been involved with St. Thomas soccer for over twenty years. I have witnessed some really good teams that have come up short for any number of reasons. This one means a lot.”

Under Coach Martin and his coaching staff, St. Thomas has seen one runner-up finish and three previous final fours. This year’s team, with a blend of high-end talent, depth, and resilience, broke through the first-place drought.

“We had several standout players,” Martin said. “I think we have a few of the best players in the state in Baker Day ‘26, Titi Labarthe ‘27, Ian Cartagena ‘27, and Sebastian Vargas ‘26. They each play their position so well and work so hard.”

From the beginning of the season, this group was poised to go far. By the time the playoffs arrived, their success was undeniable. Still, the message never changed.

“From the beginning of playoffs, we told them to think simple; we were just playing another game. No matter what happened, we still had more work to do,” Martin shared.

That mindset was tested in the state final in a way no team can fully prepare for. A controversial red card forced St. Thomas to play down a man for nearly an hour, turning an already high-pressure moment into a battle of endurance and discipline.

“If you saw the look on the boys’ faces, they were determined. That became more evident as the game wore on. They were having to dig really deep to make it through being down a man.”

Key performances fueled the title run, including a standout postseason from senior Baker Day.

“He had at least one goal or assist in 75 percent of our playoff games, including the game winner against Central Catholic.”

In goal, senior Caleb Soluren delivered pivotal saves, while Vargas anchored a defense that held firm under immense pressure.

When the final whistle blew, the decades of “almost” gave way to celebration, relief, and unabashed joy.

“It was just an amazing moment that none of us will forget,” Martin said. “Oh, and, of course, the rave that the kids had on the bus the entire ride home, none of them taking off their medals and all taking pictures with the trophy, that was priceless.”

The impact of the championship extended far beyond the final score. For alumni, former players, and decades of St. Thomas teams, it was a long-awaited breakthrough.

“I know it means a lot to everyone that played before these guys. I received many messages from other alums and former players that all felt relieved that this had finally happened.”

And for the program as a whole, the standard has not changed. St. Thomas Soccer continues to build on its legacy.

“St. Thomas has been so successful for a long period now. This will just cement us as a top private school program in the state,” Martin said. “Perhaps we have a few more titles in us.