HOUSTON – “It’s actually been a tradition at Dobie High School for a while,” said senior Edwin Saldivar.
And it's a tradition like no other.
“It was a funny inner joke but now I guess we’re sharing it with everybody,” said Dobie soccer coach Justo Manrique.
The team is sharing with everybody as they make history at Dobie High School.
‘Everybody in the school knows that they're blond. They’re bleached blond. So everybody knows they are in playoff (mode),” Manrique said.
Each team member has bleached blond hair, a sign of unity on their trip through the playoffs.
“If we didn’t think we would go far, we wouldn’t do it for, like, one game or two games,” said Dobie defender Alejandro Flores said. “They all know who we are, because of the hair, especially because of the hair.”
“It just shows our commitment and pride that we have for this school and this jersey,” Saldivar said.
Over the years, the Longhorns soccer team has had lots of success and plenty of playoff runs, but none quite as successful as this one, which has them on their first trip to the state tournament.
“It’s been a roller coaster. We’ve had our hard times and our good times, like, we’re in right now,” Saldivar added. “It seems like something you could never achieve and now we’re in this moment right now.”
They hope their good times continue for two more wins at the state tournament to deliver the program's first state title.
The school held a pep rally for the team members Thursday before they left for their semifinal game in Georgetown on Friday.
Dobie will face Arlington Sam Houston High School at 5 p.m. on Friday.