Thank You for Building the Best Supporters Group in MLS
2020 was a big year for Los Verdes and soccer in Austin. As we reflect on the first year of our existence, we wanted to take a moment to thank the members who are working to build the best supporters group in all of Major League Soccer. In our Slack, we asked members to share their gratitude about the contributions of others. We were overwhelmed by the responses and the support that the community provided to each other. The responses are below, along with the faces of those who were recognized. Ultimately, supporters groups are all about people. People coming together to support the club they love and make a strong community on game day and beyond.
I’d like to thank Greg Henry and the Hopsquad team for being such good partners throughout the year. From the Zapatista launch to the watch parties to opening early for us to watch matches, y’all have been such a part of the Los Verdes community. - Jeremiah Bentley
Thanks to Joel Corral, Jesse Sosa, Jonathan Davis and many others for your artistic contributions that make this group so unique! - Natalie Czimskey
I want to thank the Murga for being the heartbeat powering our passion, and the UT soccer program for giving us the opportunity to sing chant and dance during a soccer game. - Marc Tost
I want to thank all the LV members...you guys have been my savior in such a crappy year of work...you have no idea. I can’t wait for the day when we can all hang out again! - Sarah Beauchamp
Beyond grateful for each and every one of you! The spirit of family and community always guides us to be the best version of ourselves. Los Verdes is a testament of what can be accomplished when our hearts are in the right place. - Gabriel Mendoza
I'm so thankful for everyone who has been involved in Los Verdes for bringing so many moments of joy in a year where those have been hard to find. I especially want to thank our unbelievably talented creatives for happily sharing their gifts and keeping us looking professional. I thank our official representatives on the Starting XI for their tirelessness and devotion to our mission, and for modeling restraint in the face of unrelenting provocation. I want to thank Gabriela Navarro, Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira and Marc Tost for bringing 100% pure passion every day. I need those frequent reminders to breathe and balance my tendencies toward logic and strategy. And I want to thank Carlos Jimenez for always laughing at my jokes no matter how stupid or poorly timed they are. - Brian Mangum
Thankful for everyone in Los Verdes the passion and the commitment to the game and to our community is inspiring just being a part of this special group helped me grow as a person and become a better human overall. Shoutout to Gaby Navarro for being a great presidenta to Brian Mangum for always coming clutch with them chicharito jokes to Taylor Rudolph even tho he bullies me cause of FIFA he is an awesome dude to be around. Also Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira and Mateo Clarke for always giving the best to help la Murga get to where it needs to be. And at last the clika Juan Corona, Jay Torres, Rick Richter, Dallas Teston, Kirk Mangum, Brandon Pederson, Zach Christodoulides, Serge Gonzalez, Edgar Viramontes, Derek Ensign, Katie Ensign, Roma Desai, Juan Morinelli thank you with out every single one of y’all this year would have sucked big time from practicing to be great Capos to hanging out having a few beers to footgolf to watch parties. I really appreciate you all and am sorry if I forgot anyone but just know that if you are a part of Los Verdes y’all hold a special place in my heart and I cant wait to go to battle with all of y’all LISTO VERDES - Carlos Jimenez
I’d like to thank Alex Rubio, Lynae Carroll, Mark Alexin, Blair Alexin, Elias Posada and Joe Rocha for the incredible photos and videos you’ve put together this year. You made us look super legit from the beginning and your skills continue to amaze me! I also want to thank Aaron Cook and Megan Cook for literally opening up their home to store our merch and figuring out how to ship 1700 (!!) orders in the midst of a pandemic.
Shoutout to Pedro Berlanga for the best internet content that continues to revolutionize my life.
Shoutout to Carlos Jimenez, Ray Castelo, Jay Torres, Juan Corona and many more for turning every event up to you guys put the comunidad in futbol y comunidad.
Shoutout to Christine Felton, Brian Mangum and Jeremiah Bentley for being able to organize us all and for tirelessly correcting our bad grammar.
Shoutout to Joel Corral and Max Pane for creating the discord, the rocket league team, and especially for literally letting us join your family to kayak across the city.
Shoutout to Marc Tost for actually learning to sew for LV! Thanks to you, Serge Gonzalez and Roma Desai for stepping up to make merch happen and turn our chaotic ideas into reality. Speaking of merch, thanks to Trey Bueche for being an amazing partner of LV!
Thanks to Mateo Clarke for being the peacemaker and the heart (live laugh love los verdes!) of our SG.
Thanks to Taylor Rudolph for being our biggest advocate and for always having our backs.
Shoutout to the membership committee Kirk Mangum, Mike Torres, Christine Felton, and Brian Mangum for making dealing with membership issues and logistics actually cool.
Last but not least Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira, Gaby Navarro, Faris Ibrik, Roma Desai, and Serafina Lopez who have gone from basically strangers to family for me in like 6 months and I would not have survived 2020 without you. All my best memories of this year are with you guys.
I know I forgot people but I gotta go to Christmas dinner now. LOVE MY LV FAM. - Katie Ensign
Thanks to Jay Mendoza and Zol Waterhouse for spending a bunch of their free time coaching me up on trumpet. Really appreciate y’all for sharing your knowledge and passion for music. - Mateo Clarke
Back for more! Shoutout to Scott Specht for excellent political takes that always make me think. And thanks to Landon Cotham, Jeremiah Bentley, Chris Welhausen (soccer analyst), Chris Hague and Phil West for being stellar podcast hosts and guests, providing the fútbol knowledge for fútbol y comunidad. Shoutout to Gabriel Mendoza, Andrew Urban, Natalie Czimskey, Sarah Beauchamp, Dallas Teston and Jay Mendoza for your wisdom and unwavering love and support for the community. Shoutout to Josh Jackson for being an integral part of the soccer community and for connecting so many amazing people. Your support from the beginning was absolutely essential to our success. Shoutout to Imani Williams for staying up all night to contribute to our conversations and for providing so much valuable experience and insight. Shoutout to Edwin Vences for being cool and also for the best michelada mix in the world. Shoutout to Juan Morinelli for embracing the community from the first meeting and for your leadership on the Hispanic Heritage Month project. You make this community so much better! Shoutout to Brandon Pederson, Rick Richter, Zach Christodoulides, Josh Jackson, Juan Morinelli, Carlos Jimenez, Juan Corona and the rest of the footgolf crew for kicking ass and spreading the gospel of foot golf. You guys are super welcoming to everyone and it’s a blast to chill with you. How do we have so many awesome people? From the bottom of my heart, thanks to the whole LV fam for being a bright spot in a dark year. Can’t wait for gameday with you! - Katie Ensign
Shoutout to the social team for spreading the hype and connecting us to so many people every day - Taylor Rudolph, Lynae Carroll, Pedro Berlanga, and Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira! Shoutout to bike fam and Mateo Clarke for organizing it! Shoutout to Chris Welhausen and Sergio Tristan for their player blogs and for Sergio almost speaking an El Tri signing into existence. - Derek Ensign
Mateo Clarke, Gaby Navarro and Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira - for dealing with my dramatic self and for being there and fighting the good fight for going on two years now. Kurt Lammers and Zol Waterhouse - for taking our musicianship to the next level and being great leaders. Brittany Koepp and Wiley Koepp - for saying yes to La Murga, and for literally getting me my job. Brian Mangum - for saying things so I don't have to. Jay Torres, Carlos Jimenez, Kirk Mangum, Marc Tost, Ray Castelo and Anthony Cardinal - for being the missing piece of the murga puzzle this year. Derek Ensign and Katie Ensign - for making me want a pair of huskies and for repping the Mavs in Spurs country - also Derek for having a very emojifiable face. Jeremiah Bentley, Andrew Urban and Dallas Teston - for being who they are and being a part of LV when they were high up on the totem pole within another SG. Natalie Czimskey and Justin Czimskey - for their passion and reassurance that we did/are doing the right thing. Josh Jackson - for being Mr. Austin Soccer! I could go on but I won't because I'm lazy, but just generally, our artists, our social team, our merch team, every member for buying in to what we're doing here, everyone who contributes in whatever way they do or can. It's been a long journey already, but seeing where we are now, just three months ahead of the season, makes everything we've gone through worth it.Cheers, y'all. - Jay Mendoza
Verde love to Gaby Navarro for being the first person I met in person and for being so welcoming to me and every other newcomer in this crazy slack party. Also my membership committee pals Katie Ensign, Brian Mangum, Kirk Mangum and Mike Torres for being complete badasses and helping get this place organized. Jeremiah Bentley and Landon Cotham for taking us to school every week with the Capital City Soccer Show. Joel Corral, Jonathan Davis and the rest of the video, photo and design teams for being so dang creative, and so patient with everyone’s feedback. Derek Ensign for the A+ GIF game (among many other things). Aaron Cook and Megan Cook and everyone in the merch channel because the process of taking a piece of merch from design to delivery is so difficult and so under appreciated. Mateo Clarke for just overall patience and thoughtfulness in everything you do (and much more). Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira for caring so much about doing this right. And to everyone else who has volunteered their time, or dedicated their passion to this community and this team and this city. - Christine Felton
Huge shoutout to Katie Ensign for keeping us honest about being inclusive of all voices and for having the idea that turned into this post. - Jeremiah Bentley
Thank you to the Starting Xl. You have managed to make this supporters group feel like a tight knit family even though many of us have not even had a chance to meet yet due to this global pandemic. There is so much passion and positivity that each one of you give and It makes me feel so damn lucky to be apart of this group! Your leadership has made Los Verdes the greatest SG and we have yet play a game. I can’t wait to celebrate in the stands with you all! - Joel Corral
I feel like EVERYONE HAS covered what I was going to say so far but I’ll throw in a few more. Shout out to vid crew Elias Posada, Mark Alexin, Blair Alexin, Joe Rocha- thanks for answering my questions, letting me borrow your badass equipment, and helping me grow! It’s been incredible. Appreciate y’all. Should out to the social team Taylor Rudolph, Derek Ensign, Pedro Berlanga, Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira for staying up on EVERYTHING and supplying me with gifs and laughs. Jeremiah Bentley and Christine Felton thank you for doing website things, newsletters, typing all the words, and keeping us organized
Sorry for waking you up all the time with translation help Rigo Rodriguez Lira but thank you for your dedication to making LV the greatest of all time. Shout out to all the Starting XI for the WORK y’all have put in Shout out to Mateo Clarke for his ability to give the floor to anyone and everyone to make sure everyone is heard.
Gaby Navarro thanks for being our leader and for being a badass for sooo many reasons (idk when you sleep).
Merch and design team - Marc Tost, Roma Destin, Serge Gonzalez, Aaron Cook, Megan Cook, Jesse Sosa, Jonathan Davis, Joel Corral Y’ALL MAKE IT HAPPEN the creative execution is incredible. Thank you for always taking feedback from many voices and making things that represent all of us.
Katie Ensign and Brian Mangum thanks for being badasses and for always making the points I want to make- but with full sentences and appropriate grammar. Thank you for valuing the voices and contributions of others.
Kirk Mangum thank you for always coming up to me at the couple of in person events I’ve been to and saying hi and making me feel welcome, future thank you for having all of our backs on game day.
Juan Corona thank you for literally going out of your way to drop off those weights I’d been looking for and for coming up with a great video idea and stepping out of your comfort zone for Immigrant Heritage Month.
Shoutout to Natalie Czimskey, Sarah Beauchamp, Gaby Navarro, Christine Felton and Jesse Sosa for working tirelessly on The Plastics collaboration.
I know I’ve forgotten people on here because there are so many good people in LV. Overall LV has been a bright spot for me in 2020. Thank you to EVERYONE. Each and every one of you make it happen. Cheers y’all! - Lynae Carroll
Huge shout out to Kirk Mangum and Jay Torres for their leadership as capos , loyalty, authenticity and for bringing so much passion. Lets keep brining it.My partners in crime (not literally, yet, or maybe yeah) Faris Ibrik, Mateo Clarke and Gaby Navarro thanks for always being available to bounce ideas, help me make stuff happen, trace and paint, or just to hear me out and so much more. Mateo they should make you a saint, thanks for always keeping a level head at the table it really helps and opens eyes up for the rest of us. Your attention to detail is like no other. Faris special shout out for playing the bombo and lighting flashing fireworks at the same time idk how you do it but you make it happen . Also just believing and wanting to create soccer culture in this city and coming on this Austin FC ride with me. Gaby for always being non stop and a chingona 24/7. You get shit done. So much. Derek Ensign for being the sweetest dude I know, i used to think you were the nicest one until now that I talk to you more haha but really thanks for taking on the challenge and big responsibility of your role as the treasurer. Katie Ensign for caring so much and bringing your perspective to the table and always finding the best info, if you know what I mean . #teamconejomalo. Marc Tost thanks learning to sew for LV and putting together our banners and flags, you are now a pro. Lynae Carroll, Mark Alexin, Elias Posada, Joel Corral, Jonathan Davis, Alex Rubio and all our artists. Thanks for creating so much for us and making us look like badasses Cant wait to keep designing, documenting and story telling with you all in the future. Let me know what you need and ill be there for you. So many more people to thank and new friends and family since May, you all know I’m here for anything you need. Murga fam Jay Mendoza, Kurt Lammers, Brittany Koepp, Wiley Koepp and everybody thanks for bringing the music and the passion McKalla is going to be booming. The starting XI thanks for leading and taking so many punches for this SG we dreamed so much of. Thanks for staying strong and united to help get us to this point. This is just the start and whatever happens you all know we are family. Thank you all for believing in LV being part of this conversation, thanks for being able to have constructive difficult talks and come back next day and still be a fam it only makes us stronger. Let’s keep it going 2021 and MLS doesnt know whats coming to them. - Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira
I’m going to thank many of the same people, but I would like to be thankful for what MLS in Austin/Anthem was, what Los Verdes is and for everything that we are to become. Breaking apart from MLS in Austin/Austin Anthem was not a decision I took lightly at all. I had a lot of emotion wrapped up there and a lot of memories and hopes. It was a hard decision to come to that’s for sure. I will first credit Dallas Teston for being the rock that said we know what Austin supporters really are and can be so let’s make that no matter what. Then it’s Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira, Mateo Clarke and Gaby Navarro who told myself and Dallas that we weren’t alone, we could be better, and there was so much more that could be done. Then I’d thank Katie Ensign, Natalie Czimskey, Sarah Beauchamp and Gabriel Mendoza because I always feel like when they believe something is either right or wrong that they are dead on. I’m so thankful for these moral compasses. From the beginning of working with MLS in Austin it was Josh Jackson, Zach Christodoulides, Brock Williams, Shane Castella, Derek Ensign, Ryan Riggins, Jay Torres, Mike Torres, Jeremiah Bentley and others that saw the prize that was the team, the first gameday, the players, the community of supporters groups and did everything to make sure the focus was on that always. I’m so thankful for them and all, like James Vinson, Alex Rubio and everyone who saw in their hearts what perfection looked like and never said “Let’s settle”. Los Verdes to me is the inevitable of what Austin as soccer fans is, was going to be, and will be in the future. I believe in and am thankful for each and every person that took the emotional and very personal leap of faith to make this community happen. I love it and each of you more than I can every say. Thank you all for making my dream come true. Thank you as this is just the beginning. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone I mentioned and all 700+ more that are mi latido por Austin FC. - Andrew Urban
First off I want to give a shout out to Mateo Clarke for chatting with me at Joe’s birthday party and being my first connection to Supporter Culture. To my man Joe Rocha for texting me back in May right when I got out of the shower telling me there was a new supporter group starting and if I want to be a part of it. Joe, Elias Posada and Lynae Carroll, it’s a joy doing videos with you all. You all are smart, creative, patient and extremely talented. A special shout out to Lynae whom, when she barely knew Blair and I, went out of her way to give us medical advice when Blair had a spinal leak. The whole thing could have been very scary and your knowledge and advice made us feel so much better. We will forever be grateful. Derek Ensign you are the first person to answers any message I have and just truly a good dude. Katie Ensign this group is so lucky to have you and your insight. Thank you for answering all my election questions when I have realized I may have been watching to much West Wing. Brian Mangum we are lucky to have your knowledge and I’m pretty sure you would go to a metal concert with me. Juan Morinelli Dude! The first day I met you we ended up hanging out at brewery that night chatting. That is exactly what LV is all about. Joel Corral Your drawings are amazing! Aaron Cook and Megan Cook you do so much. You do all the mailing without asking for thanks. But you deserve all the thanks. Thank you for all you do. Jeremiah Bentley Thank you for your leadership and you excellent hair. I feel like you don’t get enough credit for your hair. Gaby Navarro We are lucky to have you as our president. Alex Rubio Thank you for you photos and your friendship. I’m sorry I lost you DJI controller cable. Jay Mendoza I used a song you helped make on the Choose Your Verde video. I never got to thank you but it really made the video so much better. James Vinson Dude, I got a PlayStation 5 because of you. First beer is on me. Justin Czimskey You are my Thunder buddy. When we can Natalie Czimskey and all of us need to hangout. Taylor Rudolph Thank you for helping get the word out on social media. I will never play you at FIFA. Josh Jackson For being a voice for Austin soccer and for being one of my few friends in the VR world. Last but not least my friend and late night texter Rigoberto Rodriguez Lira. It means a lot that you take the time to explain Soccer culture with me. We will all be better fans because of you. I apologize if I forgot anyone. This group is a joy. We have and can do so much. This is just the beginning the best is yet to come. - Mark Alexin
Jeremiah Bentley for being a great strategic thinker for us and doing so much back end work on the website, our communications, partnerships etc. for being able to relate to and connect to everyone and always able to deescalate tense situations and remind us to have fun. And for trusting this group by sharing us with many of your own professional and community connections you have - Derek Ensign
Shoutout to Shane Castella for setting aside all his ideological concerns with democracy to facilitate our elections! - Katie Ensign
Thanks to everyone who helped build this and keep it growing everyday. This community has become something really special to a lot of people, including myself, and it wouldn't be possible without the work you all do.There are and will continue to be obstacles and roadbumps. It's easy to get worried or discouraged about what the future will look like, but I'm confident that if the talented and dedicated people involved in this community keep working like you all have done over the last few years, this is going to be something truly special. - Landon Cotham
Damn it guys I FUCKING LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, YALL ARE AMAZING PEOPLE AND YALL HAVE HELP CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL, I CANT WAIT FOR THE WORLD TO NOTICE OUR EFFORTS TO PUT AUSTIN IN THE FUCKING MAP - Carlos Jimenez
Thanks to every single one of you on this incredible journey, I won’t name everyone individually in an effort to keep it short, but thanks goes to all who helped launch this, thanks to all who have joined us along the way and are lifting this SG beyond it’s limits, and thanks to the people who will join us soon as they are just as important as the people already here. Every single person in this org is just as important as the other, no voice is greater than the other. And it’s evident with all the different aspects each individual brings to our family. If we can do this while we go thru this crazy year imagine what we will be able to pull off when we are in person. I cant wait to get up on that stand and lead us as we cry tears of joy and cheer on our club. I love you all.
Vamos Los Verdes!! Dale ATX!! Austin Hasta La Muerte!! - Jay Torres
Shoutout to the Starting XI for creating such a beautiful group to be a part of for supporting this club, but more so now, for creating the opportunity to connect with so many individuals that I cannot say enough about. This group truly feels like a family and I cannot wait to join y’all in the stands and around the country supporting our club and forging deeper friendships. Shoutout to Joel Corral for never giving up the push to get me to join. Shoutout to Derek Ensign and Katie Ensign for being such awesome folks in what has now become my first impression of who Los Verdes are. Shoutout to the entire merch team for putting in so much of your time into creating amazing products. From everyone who designs art, manages the website and store, secures vendors for production, manages finances and handles logistics, you are truly selfless in what you do and I thank you. Thank you to Taylor Rudolph, Lynae Carroll and Derek Ensign for creating and maintaining social media platforms to get the good word out there for Los Verdes. Thank you Carlos Jimenez for being in the stream parties and making me laugh more than I can remember. Shoutout to Juan Corona for giving me the opportunity to pick up your jersey, because that lead to yet another in-real-life meetup with someone hella cool and funny Thanks to all of you that made the Rocket League team a possibility Joel Corral, Daniel Saldana, Nate Booth, Rushabh, and Derek Ensign. Shoutout to everyone who puts up with my stream delays on live broadcasts just to be able to share some small moments with others we would otherwise be able to share together in person. Shoutout to Joel Ducey for being the true random guy in random threads. You are hilarious. Thanks for the too
I know I am forgetting people but I am still learning who does what lol but all in all, I thank everyone who is a part of this family for being just who they are. I love the genuine kindness and inclusivity from all of you and look forward to rocking 2021 with yall and making Austin, TX the best soccer city in the world. - Max Pane
Thank you to all the Verde family for being great at what y’all do. I can’t wait to make our stadium the loudest in MLS. Y’all have a great Christmas and don’t forget your Tajin. PAH PAH PAH PAHHHHHHH!!!!!! - Ray Castelo
Wow guys, the love here is amazing. How I know this is an inspiring family of Verdes is because our foundation was built despite bumps in the road, conflict, a pandemic and most importantly, built off of a lot of Austin strangers who became a familia. We created a family community that we will never forget and one i hope many of our kids one day will run or be a part of Los Verdes. I hope everyone who continues to join understands that some of the best of friends happened through Los Verdes and that’s they experience the same. To see everyone share their daily life’s or big events here is heart warming. I couldn’t possibly name specific people because we have all literally busted our ass to create this. Not one person owns this SG because we as a family share this SG. Sometimes as part of XI we get praised and personally I’m like um excuse me we have people working so hard on the back end to make things happen. Goodness just typing up a newsletter i get terrified of my not perfect grammar but we have geniuses for that who are so kind to share their time. We have geniuses for art, videography, photography, social media,and much more. Let’s not forget our parents who drop the cutest pictures of their kids, to our politics junkies who make me question my perspective even though I don’t engage believe me I’m like oooh hell i need to rethink this or that, to our happy clouds family who is vibrant and hilarious, to our footgolf family who legit created a mini soccer league, to our booze family that has shown us a great drinking selection. I’ll never forget the great convos over boujee wine, or our tifo family who is on the horizon to paint Austin Verde, so many more families who have truly inspired a futboleros culture in Austin. Last and definitely not least. La Murga De Austin who opened the doors for me no matter what. This family has instilled a fire in me to push for an amazing experience despite differences, life and cultures. La murga is El Latido de Austin and will forever continue to be. So Thank you everyone because without our Los Verdes members we would not be where we are today. May 2020 be known as the year of family and growth and 2021 a year of Wins and Celebrations.
I’ll end this in a millennial fashion in the words of bad bunny “yo hago lo que se me de la gana”’ and drake “ We created this” - Gaby Navarro
Thank you to Shawn Collins for introducing Austin FC and Los Verdes to me! I’m excited for what the future holds for the team and group! - Angie Pisani
Need to give Dallas Teston a shoutout for his financial and merch advice all along the way this year too! Who signs up to guide someone through paying taxes via a zoom call?! - Derek Ensign
