Athlete of the Week: Jose Caballero

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Jose Caballero was recently named the South Texas Youth Soccer Male Scholar Athlete of the Year for his excellence on and off the pitch.

It is usually an award typically handed out to those outside of the Rio Grande Valley.

“I really appreciate that I got this award because I worked hard on several hours of dedication to achieve this award and future awards," Caballero said. "This award is usually given to those outside the Valley such as Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. Usually, the RGV is not appreciated in those types of cities. So that's why I truly am proud of myself getting that award.”

Caballero's trainer says he has all the traits to be a successful player.

“His discipline, his hard work, his relentless pursuit for the ball. He's always aggressive when he needs to be and he's always cool, calm, and collected when he has the ball so he knows how to manage the ball well," said Andreas Macias, Caballero's trainer.

The Rivera Raider knows the hardships of trying to stand out in the RGV which is why he spends his free time mentoring the youth.

“When I was little, there was a player that was from the RGV that helped me become the person and player that I am today. Hopefully, I impacted these young soccer players as well as he impacted me,” Caballero said.

Caballero hopes to keep making an impact at the collegiate level when he suits up for Kansas Wesleyan University.

“Going in as a freshman, my main goal of course is to be a starter to get more playing time and to become a better soccer soccer player and a better person," he said.

Off the field, Caballero hopes to get his doctorate in physical therapy.