Coast Union’s Mireles earns all-CVL football mention

Senior Alexis Mireles is Coast Union’s top seed in the tennis program and one of the few Broncos to qualify for CIF tennis playoffs in recent years. He is also a very good football player, as indicated by his honorable mention status on the All-Coast Valley League team for his efforts on Coast’s 2015 team.

The Broncos won three of their four games in the CVL this past season.

Mireles began the season as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, but after suffering an ankle injury (and recovering enough to continue playing) he was switched to wide receiver, and junior Jack MacKinnon was asked to step in as signal-caller.

By any measure, Mireles made the most of his new position on the team. He caught a touchdown pass against Shandon; he caught four passes against Valley Christian Academy (including two for touchdowns); he snagged a touchdown from MacKinnon at Maricopa; and in a losing effort against a very tough Cuyama Valley team in Coast’s homecoming game, Mireles caught two TD passes from MacKinnon.

Recalling that final loss against the Bears from Cuyama Valley, “It was definitely a tough loss, a bummer, but we played our hearts out, our best. I was surprised at how quick they were, and yet they were strong.”

Notwithstanding the loss in the championship game, Mireles said, “It was a great experience, and I’d go back and do it any day and I wouldn’t change any decision I made. I loved every second about it.”

Even playing the big schools, and taking beatings in lopsided games early in the season, was “still fun because you still go out there and play football. Being out there and playing football with all my friends; you really get close and you can’t get that from any other sport.”

And that includes tennis, which Mireles is gearing up for by practicing several days a week in preparation for this coming spring. On the tennis court, when he wins, “I get the glory, but if I lose it’s my fault and I have no one else to blame.”

VCA win a highlight

Mireles said the win over Valley Christian Academy, which came on a last-minute 37-yard field goal by Roberto Quintero, “was the best game of my career. It was a great feeling” seeing that field goal barely make it over the crossbar for the third win in the CVL.

“That game was very emotional and physical, and when it came down to the end getting that win was awesome because it meant we had a chance for the championship.”

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Coast Union’s Mireles earns all-CVL football mention."