Coach Miguel Camarena wasn’t concerned with winning league Coach of the Year following the McNary High School boys soccer season.
He was focused on celebrating his players’ victories, which included clinching a fourth Central Valley Conference championship in a row.
He was named as conference coach of the year on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
“To me, it’s not important,” the coach said of his own award. “To me, it was more important for them to have the championship. That’s what’s important to me.”
He’s also celebrating one of his star players, Fernando Zepeda, who was named league Player of the Year. Zepeda is the fourth McNary player in a row to win the honor.
“I told myself at the beginning of the year that I wanted to win Player of the Year this year,” Zepeda said. “I locked in, and it happened. I’m happy for it.”
The conference includes McNary, McKay, Sprague, South Salem, North Salem, and West Salem.
Camarena said Zepeda’s versatility earned the award. Typically a striker, the senior moved into the midfield position to fill a hole in the team’s offense.
Camerena explained that the position requires speed and field awareness, as a midfielder plays both sides of the field.
“He was literally box to box, attacking and defending,” the coach said. “He scored six, seven goals in the season and nine assists.”
Zepeda didn’t find it difficult to make the change. A soccer player since he was 4, he said it only took a few games before he was comfortable in his new position.
During the offseason, Zepeda plays club soccer to stay fresh. At every practice, even as a McNary freshman, the coach said that Zepeda pushed himself.
“As soon as he came [to McNary], he was the first one to arrive and the last one to leave,” Camarena said. “He’s a quiet, but a natural leader. The kids follow him because of how he acts.”
The senior scored over 20 goals during his career at McNary. One of his favorite memories playing as a Celt was during his freshman year when he scored three goals in a game against West Salem.
Zepeda credited some of his success to his coach.
“The way he brings us up as a team is really good,” he said. “Before a game or before practices, the speeches he gives just motivate us a lot.”
Camarena said the only thing that’s missing from the boys soccer program is a state title. This year, the Celts made it to the first round of the playoffs and lost 2-1 to Willamette.
“Every year is a challenge when we lose really good players,” Camarena said. “We will continue to work with future kids to keep being the top 10 program that we’ve been for years.”
According to Camarena, McNary has won 45 games and scored 186 goals in the last four years. The team has only one conference loss since 2022. He said that Zepeda is the fourth McNary player in a row to win ‘All-Conference Player of the Year.’
Zepeda will go on to play soccer at Corban University in Salem. He is excited to share the field with his teammates from club soccer and wants to win a league championship at the university.
Ten other Celts were honored for their performance in the 2025-26 season. They include:
First Team All-Conference
- Senior Derick Cuello, Midfield
- Senior Israel Orta, Defense
- Junior Alessandro Totti Perez, Midfield
- Junior Josue Chavez, Goalkeeper
Second Team All-Conference
- Senior Ryder Allen, Forward
- Senior Emilio Arvizu, Defense
- Senior Isaac Gaitan, Midfield
Honorable Mention
- Senior Joey Elston, Defense
- Junior Daniel Garcia, Midfield
- Sophomore Gerardo Calvillo, Defense
News tip? Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected]
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