In his third varsity season, senior forward Diego Munoz embraced his role as captain for Bloom, understanding the need for a change. Determined to cultivate a positive mindset, Munoz focused on improving his interactions with teammates and his self-perception. He revealed, “I needed to fix my mentality because I always used to put my head down. Now, if I put my head down, my teammates help me rise it up. I started believing in myself because everybody else believes in me so much.”
Munoz’s confidence was evident as he contributed to Bloom’s productive season, scoring a goal and providing two assists during a 6-2 victory over crosstown rival Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights. Erik Hernandez added two goals for Bloom (6-6-2), and Nate Renteria, Sergio Pompa, and Angel Mendez each scored. Marian Catholic’s Issac Mendoza and Alex Montalvo netted goals, with Edgar Bravo boasting 14 saves.
Munoz equalized the match with a 20-yard shot from the left, making it 1-1 in the 35th minute—his eighth goal of the season. He commented, “We just had to get something going. I saw a chance to take the shot and was happy it went in.” Bloom’s second-half surge included two more goals from Hernandez.
Reflecting on his slow start, Hernandez stated, “I think I was really disappointing in the first half, but all that matters is that we kept it going and we believed in ourselves and we picked it up in the second half.” Hernandez expressed admiration for Munoz’s leadership, noting, “Diego brings special leadership to the team. He really shows why he should have the captain’s armband. The captain’s armband is not for show.”
Munoz recognized the captain’s role as a motivating force, pushing him to remain positive. He explained, “When I got the captain band, they told me I was going to have a lot of responsibility with the team. At first, I was wondering what I needed to fix. When I realized it, I fixed it and I feel more complete as a player.”
Bloom coach Zack Radtke praised Munoz’s growth, saying, “He’s definitely grown up. His maturity and his play on the field have both gone up. Even in practice, you see the maturity and the things he does for his teammates as a captain.”
Munoz joined Bloom’s varsity as a sophomore, striving to live up to his brother Christian’s legacy, who holds the program record for career goals. Munoz concluded, “I realized over the years that I don’t need to be anybody else. I can just be myself and show my skills on the field.”