ROY HESS | Staff Writer
Harlingen South’s Mellory Grannum played at an MVP level as a forward, as a midfielder and as a defender for the Lady Hawks’ 23-4 soccer team that advanced five rounds in the Class 6A playoffs this season.
Grannum, a senior, is one of those players who stands out wherever she is positioned on the field.
She is the top choice as MVP on the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Girls Soccer Team.
“Mellory played every position, and she did well regardless of where she played,” Lady Hawks coach Omar Pedroza said. “For example, you put her at forward and she was one of the best in the Valley. It was the same thing if she was in the midfield or playing defense.
“We took advantage of that,” Pedroza added. “It was almost automatic when we went ahead late in a game that she would go back and play defense. The team knew (we wanted her to do that). She was a huge contributor for our team. It’s pretty hard to be a strong player like she is at so many positions.”
The South coach said it’s been a number of years since the Lady Hawks had a multi-talented player like Grannum.
“The last one I remember doing that (at South) was Lindsey Gramley, and that was many years ago,” Pedroza said. “She was one of the few who could do it.”
Grannum, whose younger sister Caroline was a junior on the team in 2019, didn’t play soccer her freshman year but was a starter her next three seasons for the Lady Hawks.
“I feel that the team this season was one of the best I’ve played on,” said Grannum, who has signed a scholarship agreement to play soccer at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio next school year. “I feel the way we came out and trained every day as teammates was a big factor. Just the way we were as a team (was important). We were one big family, and I think that contributed a lot to how we ended the season (qualifying for the Region IV-6A Tournament).”
Regarding her ability to play all over the field, Grannum said, “It’s really different playing different positions. As a defensive player, you just have to be more alert and cautious (defending the goal). As a forward, it’s about striking the ball and wanting to score for the team.
“Every position is played differently, but I enjoy all of them the same,” she added.
It’s been an eventful three years playing for the Lady Hawks, Grannum said. She actually is graduating from Med High in the Mid-Valley, but she is zoned to South for athletics.
“I feel honored to be able to play,” Grannum said. “At first, I was a little nervous to join the team (as a sophomore) because I wasn’t actually going to school at Harlingen South. I wasn’t sure how I would fit in. But even at the first practice, everybody was so welcoming. They all just treated me like family, and that really meant a lot. I just feel really blessed to be on the team.”
Grannum was one of three overall MVP selections in 32-6A this season.
“It feels really good (to receive these awards) only because my hard work and dedication to the sport has paid off,” she said. “I’m just very blessed.
“We complemented each other well on this team,” Grannum added. “Each one of us had something to contribute, and that’s what made this team such an outstanding team. I’ve been playing with some of these girls since I was little. We’ve all just seen each other grow. It’s been really nice to see how we’ve developed as soccer players. It’s great to see how far we’ve come.”
