State Gazette Male Rookie of the Year for Dyersburg High School: Dyersburg Trojan Erick Olvera

Dyersburg Trojan Erick Olvera

JASON PEEVYHOUSE

jpeevyhouse@stategazette.com

Coming in and making an impact on a team which was one win away from returning to the TSSAA Class AA State Tournament for the first time in three years, Dyersburg freshman Erick Olvera accomplished a lot during his first year at the high school level and has been named the State Gazette Male Rookie of the Year for Dyersburg High School.

Olvera was also able to secure a postseason award as the Trojan freshman was named to the District 13AA All-Tournament Team.

Dyersburg Head Coach Musa Manneh said Olvera was one of the most important players to come to the team this season.

“Very rarely do you basically saddle a freshman with a lot of responsibility,” Manneh explained. “But, he played the centerback position. This meant, if someone was going to go to our goal, they had to go through Erick.

“This position is so important. But, he did fantastic.”

Manneh added there was never a doubt as to whether Olvera would get the start during a game.

“If he couldn’t go, we were worried,” Manneh recalled. “If other teams brought pace and his two centerback partners were not the quickest, but Erick had the pace.

“Yes, he had some challenges as a freshman, but everybody does. Was he an important player? You bet. He was such an important player to what we’re doing.”

Manneh said he was pleased with Olvera’s freshman season on the pitch.

“To have him in our team for the next three years, I’m thrilled,” the Trojan head coach admitted. “He was easily a top five player on our team – as a freshman.”

After losing a talented scorer from the 2023 team as well as a couple key losses from this year’s team, having another three years with Olvera can help offset some of those.

“He’s one of those returning players that you look to,” Manneh explained. “Elian Gonzalez is there and Erick is almost an all-around player.

“A lot of kids look up to him and we understand that.”

Manneh added Olvera is a unique player.

“He’s blessed with pace and he loves the game,” Manneh said. “Easily, he is a fantastic soccer player. To have him on our team, I am so thrilled.”

There’s also the element of versatility, which Manneh explained.

“He’s a plug and play player,” the Trojan head coach said. “You can play him in any position.

“I felt like I could get the biggest bang for our buck if we put him in the center of our defense and he would effect our game.”

Manneh quickly added “and effect he did.”

“He had an awesome season,” Dyersburg’s head coach said.

Watching Olvera over the season, Manneh said the freshman grew in decision making.

“In the beginning, he would make some decisions quickly and then he would make a mistake,” Manneh recalled. “Just watching him grow as he learned from those decisions he made, toward the end of the season, we knew we could rely on him.

“And, he really helped us out. The few times that he couldn’t go, I’m just going to be honest, I was worried. He really impacted our season.”