By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
For as many redeeming qualities Bridgeport’s state championship boys soccer program has earned over the last four years, stability was not one of them.
This program advanced to the postseason in each of them. It averaged nearly 18 wins per season. The Bulls played at least three playoff matches in the previous two prior to the 2026 season.
Yet the Class of 2026 saw four different head coaches come through this program. While they won and celebrated, there was always that “yeah…but” element.
You could appreciate the hesitancy when 32-year-old Brandon Medrano introduced himself to this group along with the rest of the program in the spring of 2025.
The six-year varsity assistant from Western Hills out of Fort Worth had just replaced George Velten who had to retire after the 2025 season due to health problems. This was Medrano’s first opportunity to be a head coach.
Talent wasn’t Bridgeport’s problem. Trust was.
“This was a situation where I wasn’t going to fix what wasn’t broken,’’ Medrano said. “I told [Athletic Director] Aaron Cupp and the community I was not here to turn the program upside down. I just wanted to polish up what I thought we lacked the season before. Nothing really changed.’’
Medrano’s polishing skills could become a blueprint for other new coaches to follow. The Bulls finished on April 9 what they were denied in 2025. Bridgeport captured the Class 4A Division II state championship. It topped Brookshire Royal, 5-2, in overtime at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown.
“I think I set the bar a little too high,’’ Medrano said with a laugh.
New head coaches have a disadvantage when they come to a program stacked with hardened veterans. They don’t know the inner workings of a program.
They only know what they have been told and what they’ve read in the weeks leading up their interview, being hired and driving up to the high school for the first time. Naturally, they are filled with uncertainty. That’s called butterflies.
However, Medrano had the background. He played at Weatherford High School, in college between McMurry University in Abilene and Ranger Junior College and then played professionally in the minor leagues.
What Medrano didn’t have was the knowledge of running a program. He studied faithfully at Western Hills under Matthew Collins whom he considered his mentor and supported his pursuit of that first job.
“I don’t know if anyone’s ready,’’ Medrano said. “But I knew I wanted the opportunity to see if I could do it.’’
On-the-job training included Medrano working to earn the respect and confidence from three program mainstays: senior forward/midfielder Xxavier Garza, senior forward/midfielder David Duran and junior forward/striker Jared Contreras.
It didn’t take long for Medrano to appreciate the skill. That needed the tweaks but not an overhaul. He focused on the game’s mental side.
He reminded them that their success as regional champions and state semifinalists was not luck. Their play dictated their 2025 playoff run.
What Medrano wanted to do was convince them they could push those accomplishments and be state champions.
The “yeah…but” was telling them he would be invested in them despite the revolving door of head coaches.
“Gaining the trust of the seniors was key,’’ Medrano said. “If I had the seniors, the others would follow.’’
Words carry no value unless the team sees what investment means. While Bridgeport earned a share of the District 4-4A title with Decatur, a team get together at Medrano’s house near Brock before the first playoff game against Canyon Randall changed the tenor.
The daily drive from Brock to Bridgeport is nearly one hour each way. Light traffic may shave a few minutes. But when the players arrived at his house, Medrano said they expressed surprise but appreciation for him to make the effort.
He also joined the playoff tradition for any boys playoff team to die the hair blonde. Medrano got highlights.
“I told them I was doing this for them,’’ Medrano said. “They are great players. But at this time of year, are they going to play for each other, play for the community, play for the crest on the front of their jersey.’’
Did they ever. The Bulls marched through the Region I bracket against Randall, San Elizario, Ferris and Brownwood with little resistance. Bridgeport allowed only one goal – to Randall – and shutout the remaining three.
The angst before playing Dallas Pinkston in the semifinals deserved a moment of reflection. This is where the Bulls run ended last spring, a 3-nil shutout against Gainesville.
“I just told them they have a blueprint to get to state,’’ Medrano said. “Then they played a perfect second half.’’
Tied, 1-1, early in the second half, the Bulls scored twice within 11 minutes to produce a 3-1 win over the Vikings and earn a berth in the state finals against Royal.
In any run to a championship, there is adversity. In the state championship, Royal’s Falcons featured a better record at 28-1-1. They had just won an emotional semifinal on penalty kicks over Corpus Christi London.
The Falcons led the Bulls, 2-1, at halftime. That trust established showed no signs of panic or frustration. To hear Medrano tell it, the players could not wait to return to the field.
Within the first 10 minutes, Bridgeport tied the match, 2-2, and kept it at draw status until the overtime. Medrano credited cross country work in the fall keeping this team fresh at the end. There would be no drama for penalty kicks. The Bulls scored three times between the two 10-minute overtime periods and then celebrated. Contreras, Garza and Duran led the way. The trio combined for five goals and two assists.
“With great power comes great responsibility,’’ Medrano said. “They had a good attitude. The want to get better is contagious.’’
As for 2027, the majority of the roster returns. Medrano expects to return as well. That would also be another championship for this program. The hardware doesn’t need to validate it.