It all started with an invitation – an offer for 6-year-old Luis Mendez to watch his uncle Alejandro Gil’s soccer match.
At these matches, Mendez could be spotted observing the movements of the game – the ball’s motion, tricks and passion that came with it.
It was through these matches that he developed a love for soccer, one that has persisted for the past 10 years of his life. And it was his uncle who taught him how to play, finesse and dedicate to this sport.
However, what started his high school sports career was not soccer but football.
At the start of his freshman year of high school, Mendez, now a Coppell High School junior, tried out for the boys football team and made the C team. Through football, he met boys soccer coach Stephen Morris, who was also coaching at Coppell Ninth Grade Center.
And right away, Morris noticed Mendez’s speed.
“Luis is fast, he’s smart and he brings a dynamic to the field,” Morris said. “We’re able to stretch the team out because of his pace. If we win a ball and he starts going up the field, we can get there really fast.”
Morris approached Mendez about joining the soccer team promptly after recognizing his potential. Mendez made the JV2 team that year.
But by the next season, he became one of the three sophomores who made the varsity soccer team, awarded District 6-6A Newcomer of the Year in the district and was top scorer within the team after scoring seven goals in the district games of the season.
“Luis has always been a hard worker,” junior forward J McGill said. “He’s always giving maximum effort, whether it’s at our practices or games.”
Similarly, Coppell track and field coach Eric Hill noticed his potential and recruited him to join the team. Since, the varsity team has won consecutive District 6-6A championships.
But Mendez’s athleticism grows much deeper.
From football and baseball to soccer and track, Mendez’s childhood was filled with a diverse array of sports. As time progressed, he continued to juggle these various sports through being a part of soccer clubs such as Coppell FC prior to joining the Dallas Texans, CHS boys soccer and track and field teams.
However, with these various commitments, the CHS coaches play a vital role in creating a manageable routine for Mendez.
“We said we’re not going to mess with you the day before a game,” Hill said. “He’s a hard worker so he’s doing a great job maintaining this schedule.”
Now a junior, Mendez continues to navigate the intricacies of the sports and the academic demand seamlessly.
“With being a student-athlete, being a student comes first, but you also have to perform, which he does inside and outside our classroom,” junior forward Bryson Patten said. “It’s something that sticks out to me because he’s teaching me how to balance both, too. During our Austin tournament, while others were messing around during our designated study hours, he was working.”
Even after suffering an injury in the calf for a month straight, Mendez would still sit on the sidelines during practice. It was no simple task for someone who is constantly moving.
“I would do nothing the whole day,” Mendez said. “It was kind of boring sitting there because I just wanted to go in and play.”
Being a part of two sports and school may be a hard task for many, but for Mendez, it has been a seamless dance as each discipline complements the other.
Through track, Mendez hones his speed, translating into a dynamic advantage on the soccer field. Simultaneously, soccer serves as a classroom for teamwork, refining his collaborative skills and enhancing the synergy between his athletic pursuits.
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