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SPORTS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | MARCH 20, 2022
TheMesaTribune.com @EVTNow /EVTNow
Mountain View star aims for lasting legacy BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
cent of his passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns. t doesn’t take long for Willy Roberts to As a junior, he passed for 900 yards and recall his favorite memories at Moun- seven touchdowns. He began his senior season as the starter but gave up those tain View to this point. Roberts was a sophomore quarterback duties to sophomore Jack Germaine midon the varsity roster for the Toro football way through the season. Germaine, the team. Brandon Nieto had just exited, and son of new head coach Joe Germaine, sat Roberts was thrown into the mix against half the season due to transfer rules. With Germaine under center, it alMountain Pointe trailing 21-10. The Pride lowed Roberts to return to his first love: had no answers for him as he quickly led linebacker. He had 55 total tackles, inthe Toros back from the large deficit to cluding 2.5 sacks, for a Toro defense that take the lead and ultimately, the win. wreaked havoc on opponents. That was just the start of Roberts’ imRoberts helped lead Mountain View pact at Mountain View. A year later, he to an 8-2 regular season record on the helped lead his team to a win over rival gridiron and an appearance in the first Red Mountain. That win began to cement round of the 6A playoffs. When the Toros his legacy as someone who dedicates were upset in the postseason, he didn’t himself to making Mountain View athtake time to sulk. He immediately began letics better as a hole. He now hopes to training for his return to the diamond, further solidify that in his final season on just like he has every season. the diamond. “Willy is a really special kid,” Mountain “It was a lot of fun,” Roberts said of View baseball coach Jesus Arzaga said. both memories. “I just love being with “I’ve always admired his passion for both my guys. Whether it be in football pracsports. Doing two sports isn’t easy but tice or going from there to baseball. We he works really hard on both ends of the are all close.” field and if you ask any of his teammates, Roberts played four games as quarterit really shows.” back that season, completing 61.7 perArzaga raved about Roberts’ leadership qualities and how it translates from his time as a quarterback and linebacker to baseball. Younger players look up to him and the other two senior leaders — BYU commit Ezra McNaughton and South Mountain commit Sam Christiansen. The trio have their own leadership styles. Roberts can be vocal Roberts’ best memory on the football field include leading at times. McNaughton Mountain View to a come-from-behind win as a sophomore tends to lead by his play at quarterback and beating rival Red Mountain his junior year. on the field and ChrisNow, he hopes to make more memories on the diamond betiansen a combination fore he graduates in May. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff) of the two. All three have
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Mountain View senior Willy Roberts has made an impact in both football and baseball since his sophomore year. Now, he hopes to leave a lasting legacy centered around hard work, dedication and a love for the Toros. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff) helped Mountain View up to this point in the season, especially when facing a deficit or in a close game. While he tends to enjoy his first moment of fame leading the Mountain View football team back from a deficit two years ago, Roberts has also had his fair share of memorable moments at the plate. In his first game of the season against Desert Vista he hit a grand slam that helped the Toros win 7-1. Against Queen Creek on Monday, March 14, he trimmed the Bulldogs’ lead to two with a two-run shot to right field. It was his third home run of the season. He also has 10 RBI on the year. “He reminds me a lot of me in terms of the energy he brings to the table,” Arzaga said. “He’s just a really passionate person and it shows with his body language. He continues to work hard and when you have that passion and that drive, it’s so easy for him to get a good game.” Roberts’ goal to leave a lasting legacy on the entire Mountain View athletics department with his hard work and overall love for the school has started to catch the attention of those outside the school.
After falling to Queen Creek, a fan of the Bulldogs shook his hand and complimented him on his game and the way he carried himself. “It meant a lot for mentors and adults to come up to me and show respect,” Roberts said. “I try to show respect to adults and try to look like a hard-working player. So it means a lot when people I respect come up to me.” Roberts hopes to earn an opportunity to play football, baseball or both at the next level. But his immediate plans after high school include serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For now, however, he plans to enjoy the last few months he has as a Toro while continuing to make an impact “I’ve enjoyed every second of my high school career. I knew what I wanted to do, and I think I’ve left my mark,” Roberts said. “I just want to leave behind a legacy of hard work and success. I’ve been in the weight room since I was a little kid and I want people to see that hard work can really pay off if you dedicate yourself to it. “I want us to become the campus of champions like we once were.”
