“ We’ re not just a football program, or a volleyball program or a basketball program. We’ re Greenville Lions Athletics.”
technique on the field, it’ s also about reshaping the mindset of the team after a stretch of tough seasons.
“ We have talent,” Castillo said.“ Were just going to have to overcome some things like breaking the mental deal of there hasn’ t been a lot of success lately. The notion that anytime something goes bad, we have to avoid the mindset of this is just how it is. Also when we do have success we have to be able to handle it correctly and not get to high on ourselves.”
To get a jumpstart on building this new culture, Castillo said that the team has already been at work through the spring and summer seasons, participating in activities such as strength and conditioning as well as skills workouts, 7on7 leagues and the line units recently competed in the state lineman challenge at Hardin Simmons University in June.
During that time, Castillo has also been able to start the processing of getting to know his new players and staff.
“ It’ s been a period of adjustment for everybody,” Castillo said.“ They’ re learning me and I’ m learning them and trying to build trust. We have buy in from the kids and they’ re excited.”
The players have also had time to learn new coaches that Castillo brought over from Somerset with him. Those coaches are coach Kristopher Barcenez who is
“ We’ re not just a football program, or a volleyball program or a basketball program. We’ re Greenville Lions Athletics.”
— Christopher Castillo
the team’ s new offensive coordinator as well as coach Reynaldo Cortez, the new quarterbacks coach.
Castillo described the team coming into this season as younger and talented. However, the new coach will be looking for his upperclassmen veterans to lead the way and form the team’ s identity.
Some names from that senior group are Zayden Armstrong Teeters, Edward Fluellen and Levi Davenport.
Teeters made his presence known as a linebacker last season with 52 total tackles and 4.5 tackles-for-a-loss while also rushing for 251 yards and three touchdowns as a running back. Fluellen served as a running back,
GREENVILLE LIONS
12 END ZONE | 2026