No one has done it better than Tanner’s Randy Cortes.

The senior soccer standout tallied three goals in a 4-1 win over Tharptown in March to become the all-time boys goals leader in Alabama High School Athletic Association history with 172 — surpassing the previous record of 171 set by Sylacauga’s Cole Grogan (2013-17). Saint James’ Katie Brightwell (2019-24) is the all-time girls goals leader with 259.

Cortes, who has played on the varsity team since seventh grade, currently sits at 177 goals and counting.

He helped the Rattlers secure a Class 1A-3A state title in 2023 and has racked up numerous accomplishments — including Super All-State selections — during his excellent career.

“I’ve always worked hard at becoming the best I can be,” Cortes said. “Even at a young age, I played against people that were older than me … constantly pushed around, but that only made me better. Gaining this achievement and being etched into not only my school’s history, but the state’s, is remarkable, especially coming from a small community. Who would have thought someone from Tanner would be the one to break it? I just hope that with this I can encourage the rest of the younger guys on this team, and even my younger siblings, to set big goals in life. Because matter where we come from, we can achieve anything.”

Tanner coach Matt Smith, meanwhile, marveled at Cortes’ character and talent — both now and way back when.

“I remember him coming up through youth league and thinking, ‘Man, if he is scoring six or seven goals a game here as a sixth-grader, then he should be able to get me a goal every now and then on varsity,” he said. “Well, that turned into starting him, and his first seven matches before COVID he scored seven goals. He never looked back from that. He’s been a consistent leader year in and year out for this program. Randy is a great student-athlete and has several offers to play at the next level. I can’t wait to see where he chooses to further his career.”