Senior and captain of the varsity soccer team Rintaro Hirota has been named St. Mary’s Athlete of the Week after delivering one of the most dominant and clutch performances in recent school history, leading the Titans to their first Kanto Plains Championship in six years.
His biggest moment came against BST, when St. Mary’s were down 0-3 at halftime. Rintaro took over the game, scoring five goals in just 25 minutes to lead a stunning comeback win. He later scored another goal against BST in the tournament, once again stepping up when the team needed him most.
Rintaro was just as important on defense, helping organize what Coach Chan described as an “impregnable defense” in two matches against ASIJ. As captain, he constantly guided the team, and led the team with great leadership across three crucial games that led to the championship win.
Whether scoring goals, locking down defensively, or leading under pressure, Rintaro carried the team when it mattered most and played a key role in ending the six year championship drought, making him a clear choice for Athlete of the Week.
