Apaches News
Thu, Jan 22, 2009 - [Men's Soccer]
Jesus Ledesma became the first-ever Tyler Junior College player inducted into the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame and will be honored this Saturday at halftime of the TJC versus Lee men's basketball game. 

Ledesma and six other members of the class of 2008 were officially honored at the NJCAA Division I Championship Banquet in Phoenix, Arizona in November. They joined 44 other coaches, contributors, and players already named in the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame. 

Ledesma will be honored by TJC this Saturday as he will be presented his Hall of Fame plaque at halftime of the men's basketball game, which tips off at 4pm. In honor of Ledesma, all fans wearing a soccer jersey will be admitted free to the game. 

"I am so proud of Jesus and he deserves every accolade he gets," said Peter Jones, who coached Ledesma at TJC and is still on faculty at the college. "Jesus was the finest athlete I ever coached. He had great vision, anticipation and team awareness. He also possessed more skills than any player I have coached." Coach John Peterson, who was Athletic Director at TJC during that time, said that Ledesma was one of the best athletes, regardless of sport, that he has ever seen at Tyler.

Jesus Ledesma was an attacking midfielder for Tyler Junior College, where he was the team's leading scorer during both the 1995 and 1996 season. He also earned recognition as first-team NJCAA All-American in both years and was on the NJCAA National All-Tournament Team both years. In addition, he was selected as a member of the NJCAA All-20th Century Team. After completing his college days he turned professional, playing for Jacksonville (FL) before being picked up by Universidad Catolica in Chile's First Division, where he played for two seasons.