Pete Moye’
Sports Button

Some coaches are just in it for the trophies. However, for Cerritos men’s head soccer coach, Benny Artiaga, Tuesday’s game was a tribute to former Cerritos College soccer players, Carlos Ornelas and Eddie Valencia.

With Artiaga putting it together, a fundraiser was held during the game to gather donations for both of the grieving families. Artiaga mentioned that the season has been dedicated to the two players and their families.

Artiaga addressed his team stating, “Take the events of today; carry them with you deep in your hearts. I hope you can see through this show of love and support that you will always be held in high regard here at Cerritos. Not because you’re nationally ranked or good soccer players, but because you are fine young men starting the most important stages of your life.”

Family, friends, as well as players from other athletic Cerritos College teams showed up to the memorial in support of the grieving families. The same Cerritos College soccer jerseys that Ornelas and Valencia once wore were framed and handed to the parents of both students at the beginning of the game, along with flowers.

White doves were released during halftime, followed with balloons after the game. Family, friends, as well as spectators all joined in as one for the significant releasing of the balloons.

The fundraiser consisted of tacos, refreshing beverages, as well as the selling of the balloons. After the game everyone was invited to join the family and friends at DP’s Pizza Pub.

Twenty-five percent of all proceeds were donated to the families of both Valencia and Ornelas.

Kimberly Morris, women’s basketball player for Cerritos College, mentioned that she had recently talked to the third person in the car accident, Briant Reyes. “He’s pretty much mad just at himself about the whole situation. It feels like everyone is blaming him,” Morris said.

Jessica Dorado, who also knows Reyes, says that he is very upset and emotional and does not wish to talk about the events that happened the day of the accident. He is now out of the hospital and attending Kansas Wesleyan University.

Many of Ornelas’ friends and family showed up to the game wearing a memorial shirt that his close friends and family had made in his remembrance. On the back of the shirt is his nickname, “Ponch”, as well as his old high school soccer jersey number, 123.

Christine Campos, a current Cerritos College student and best friend to Ornelas since 6th grade, wore her memorial shirt to the game. When discussing the impact of Ornelas’ death, Campos says, “It changed my life honestly. I felt like part of me left with him because I saw him on a day to day basis.”

The brothers to both Ornelas and Valencia paid a tribute to their older brothers by wearing smaller versions of the Cerritos College soccer jerseys with their old numbers on them. Valencia’s younger brother, Bryan, has been so grateful to Cerritos College that he states, “I feel like in the future I’m going to help the staff out when it have another one of these things to help and I’m going to come and help them like [the team] helped my brother and Carlos.”

For what the memorial means to him, Valencia’s younger brother, Kevin, says, “I’m just happy because they did it for my brother and it means that they cared about him and they just miss him.” For both the younger brothers, their fondest memories with Valencia and Ornelas was practicing and playing soccer.

Ornelas’ parents Teresa and Alfonso watched the game and remembered all the memories they had with their son. They remembered his love for soccer and his first time kicking the ball around when he was just 4 years old. When talking about Ornelas’ decision to transfer and play soccer for Kansas Wesleyan University, Ornelas’ mother said, “I was very proud of him going to a university. Carlos kept me proud his whole 21 years of life.”

Next to the Ornelas family, sat the Valencia family, with Valencia’s ashes on a chair next to his father, Adolfo. He said his fondest memory of his son was when he would attend his soccer games because he always put a lot of effort in his games and always gave it his all. His advice to students going out of state for school? “Just to watch out use your seat belt, follow the rules and give it your best. Just be careful because I don’t wish this situation upon anyone.”