Rocori community comes together for boys soccer star in car accident

COLD SPRING, Minn. — Rocori boys soccer junior midfielder Juan Cortez, who was involved in a serious car accident the morning of Nov. 1, remains in critical condition.

Karla Velasco, the sister-in-law of Cortez’s mother, Viridiana Media Acosta, organized a GoFundMe that raised over $21,000 in less than 24 hours.

“Once we found out the response from the Rocori area, not just within the soccer family, but within the school district and the whole community here, it has been amazing,” Rocori head coach Chris Stavros said. “I’ve been sent messages from other schools, players, teams and clubs. Everyone here in Central Minnesota has been amazing. Their donations, their generosity and just their compassion.”

More: GoFundMe in support of Tech boys soccer player Aaron Dorboryan

In the GoFundMe, Velasco states that Cortez is receiving treatment two hours away from home and the funds raised will help his parents with food, transportation and a rental car.

“As a soccer family, we know we are stronger when we stand together, especially when one of our own is facing a difficult challenge,” the team account stated in the post. “We are asking everyone to keep Juan and his family in your thoughts and prayers and, if possible, consider making a donation to help them during this time. No donation is too small. Every contribution, share, and prayer means something.”

Cortez was one of the leading goalscorers for the Spartans this past season and has become a relied contributor on the pitch since Stavros met the talented soccer star when he was in fourth grade.

“He loves playing soccer,” Stavros said. “Anyone who has seen him on the field can see his skill; when he puts on his Rocori jersey he knows he is representing something special with his teammates. Everyone around here knows him, but what makes Juan special goes beyond what he does on the soccer field. He’s someone his teammates care about and a great young man who has his whole life in front of him.”

With how much time coaches and their teams spend together during the season, the bonds that guy built transcend from a player on roster and grow into a family. Cortez epitomized just that for Stavros and Rocori soccer.

“[The accident] reminds us that soccer isn’t the whole world,” Stavros said. “His teammates are all thinking of him; he’s family.”

You can reach St. Cloud Times sports reporter David Jacobs and send story ideas and tips to djacobs@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @By_DavidJacobs, and on Instagram @ByDavidJacobs.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Rocori community comes together for boys soccer star in car accident