Return of ‘El Capitan’: After ankle injury, Ramirez ready to return to soccer field

Manteca High senior Omar Ramirez (right) returns after missing most of his junior season with an ankle injury. (Moises Ramos/The Tower)

By MATEO ESPARZA
The Tower

Omar Ramirez struggles off the bus with his big black boot protecting a torn ligament in his ankle. The Manteca High defender slowly but surely inches to his desired location. He finally arrives at the sidelines with his team.

His face says so many words.

Ramirez is excited to watch his thrilling new soccer team with its new coach, James Burns. However, at the same time, he is absolutely devastated like a fan watching his team lose a big game. He has to watch 80 minutes of the game he loves without ever seeing the pitch.

Manteca High senior Omar Ramirez prints T-shirts in Mrs. Fast’s business class. (Joseph Atalig/The Tower)

Game after game, slow limp and slow limp, the matches and months keep rolling on. All the while, his teammates grow stronger, having a blast playing the sport without him.

In his junior season, Ramirez suffered an injury to the ligaments in his ankle. This injury ended his season and forced him to watch Manteca High finish fourth in the Valley Oak League and clinch its first playoff appearance in a decade. Now going into his senior season, Ramirez has one last chance to put the finishing touch on his high school career.

His return coincides with Manteca’s need for senior leadership.

“I will have to work more on my skills and get back to where I was,” Ramirez said, “and for my individual play being able to play more effectively and being a good captain for my team.”

Ramirez has been a role model for the Manteca High soccer team since his sophomore season as he was the captain and was voted by his peers to be summer captain of the 2024 season. The way he presents himself on and off the field has a great impact on the underclassmen. His best friend and goalkeeper Leo Garcia recognizes Omar’s role as a leader.

“He is a team player,” Garcia said. “He makes sure all of us are on point during practice and this next year I think he will take on the captain role pretty good.”

Manteca’s varsity team lost its four senior captains a season ago and are in dire need of senior leadership. Ramirez will help fill those shoes.

At the start of the 2023 season, Ramirez and the Buffaloes were going into the season-opening Hughson High Black and Gold Tournament to show off their new culture. The weekend after the tournament, Ramirez hurt his ankle. His injury was significant, and he began to lose confidence and skills.

However, he didn’t lose any heart or desire to play soccer. He came to every practice and didn’t miss a game. He tried playing late in the season, but his ankle still wasn’t ready. He must bounce back from his injury and work hard to find a spot on this team let alone start and return to his captain role.

“I was devastated because I was so excited to go into this being ready having a new coach,” Ramirez said. “Starting something new and making an impact on the team. But with the injury it took me out and mental game went down from there.”

With his senior season starting in a few months, how will “El Capitan” perform?