Austin Aztex News Release - www.austinaztex.com

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

AUSTIN, TX -- The Austin Aztex are officially open for business. That was the message delivered to a crowd of more than 200 people including fans, players, and special guests on Friday at the official opening of the new Austin Aztex offices and unveiling of the club's new logo.

The Aztex, in conjunction with the Austin and Greater Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, held a dual ribbon-cutting ceremony with owner Phil Rawlins and USL First Division Coach Adrian Heath doing the honors.

In addition to the ribbon cutting, Heath presented the individual league awards for the 2008 Premier Development League season garnered by members of the squad, which finished with a 10-5-1 record and won the Mid South Division. The individuals receiving top honors were PDL Defender of the Year Beto Papandrea, PDL Goalkeeper of the Year Miguel Gallardo and PDL Coach of the Year Wolfgang Suhnholz.

“It’s very exciting to receive this award,” Gallardo said. “I’m really proud and honored to have been selected as the top goalkeeper in the PDL and I look forward to building on it in 2009.” Gallardo has signed a contract to play for the Aztex First Division professional squad in 2009.

The three awards were the most earned by any single PDL team in the 67-team league and were voted on by PDL head coaches and general managers.

The ceremony concluded with the Aztex unveiling the team’s new logo/crest. The redesign was a collaborative effort intended to transition the organization from it first season in the PDL to the 2009 campaign, which will feature a full professional team competing in the USL First Division against teams from around the North America.