Manny Lira taps his black dress shoe against the concrete floor, like a drummer in a garage band.
He looks at the ceiling, opens his eyes wide and exhales.
He points at his wrist, where an imaginary watch shows a puzzling truth: He waited four years to graduate from high school. But he can't wait a second longer to shed his red gown and plant his foot into a soccer ball.
It's 7:15 p.m. at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Three blocks away at Morrison Stadium, music is blaring in preparation for the Class A state boys soccer final, scheduled to start in exactly one hour.
Soon Manny and his five senior teammates will be under the lights, competing for Omaha South in the school's first state championship game in any sport in 20 years.
But first first they must get to Morrison Stadium. First they must listen to speeches about journeys and goals and ideals.
Manny wants to enjoy the moment. He does. But he would rather beat Lincoln East.
A class officer takes the podium, recounts memories of “dreaded stairwells and delicious cafeteria food.” She thanks her parents. She reminds her classmates to notice life's beauty. She cries.
Manny Lira leans forward in his chair, fidgeting like a 8-year-old who missed recess. He's in the front row about 300 classmates are behind him and he already has soccer socks and spandex under his creased, black slacks. Time is ticking.
6:56 was “Pomp and Circumstance.”
7:10, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
7:21, the school choir.
7:26, the principal.
7:32, an Omaha Public Schools administrator.
“Graduates, I implore you to dream,” she says.
Lira can't take it anymore. He looks at his teammate, Billy Loera, and grumbles.
Roni Huerta saw this coming.
Several weeks ago, the South athletic director contacted the Nebraska School Activities Association and introduced a potential problem. The state championship game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. May 18. South High's graduation is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 18.
Some of these kids are the first in their family to earn a high school diploma. Some of these kids if forced to choose would choose the graduation ceremony, Huerta told the NSAA.
But really, she was only covering her bases. South had never won a state tournament soccer game, let alone a state championship game.
Then the Packers made state. Then they beat Elkhorn last week in a shootout. Then they beat their nemesis, Creighton Prep, in another shootout.
The NSAA moved the championship game back an hour, to 8:15 p.m.
Not late enough for Manny and Billy.
Finally, at 7:37, diplomas.
Manny smiles, hugs an administrator, grabs his diploma and walks off the stage at 7:40. He joins his teammates and hurries directly to a nearby locker room.
They quickly change into soccer cleats.
“I didn't know 30 people were going to talk,” Billy says. “Practice took 30 minutes.”
Red gown still on his back, Billy hurries to a Toyota van in the parking lot. Tie your shoes in the car. Six boys cram inside.
7:44.
Three minutes later, they jump out of the van at Morrison Stadium and start running through the crowd, setting feet on green turf, a place where the only clock they study is the game clock.
The game is tight. Momentum swings back and forth. Manny runs the offense at midfield. Billy makes critical saves. He collides with an opponent, gashing his lip and nose, bruising his cheek.
In overtime, Lincoln East lifts a shot over Billy's outstretched hands. He drops to the turf, head down.
East 3, South 2. Packer fans chant “Si, se puede.” (roughly, “Yes, it can be done.”) But the minutes tumble down. Manny and Billy can't stop the clock.
At 10:40 p.m., exactly three hours after diplomas, it's over. East wins 4-2.
Two teammates who grew up dribbling balls in the schoolyards of South Omaha, two classmates who sat shoulder to shoulder in cap and gown, Manny and Billy find each other and embrace.
Tonight they cry.
Tomorrow they sleep.
Contact the writer:
@Agate 10.9:649-1461, dirk.chatelain@owh.com
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