BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
SAN JUAN — Trey Guajardo is the next elite Valley athlete to sign to play Division I baseball at UTRGV.
On Monday, in front of his PSJA High baseball teammates, football teammates, friends and family, Guajardo made it official, signing to play baseball for the Vaqueros.
“It feels great,” Guajardo said. “This was something I have worked for, my entire life. Being able to play collegiate baseball at the next level, and be close to home, it’s an amazing experience.”
As the face and embodiment of what it means to be a Bear, Trey Guajardo has always shown tremendous pride in the school that he called home the past four years.
“(Winning a district title in football, and then signing to UTRGV for baseball) it’s something out of a movie, it is crazy,” Guajardo said. “I worked my whole life for opportunities like this. I had a great football career, there is no doubt about that. But now, it is baseball mode. I am trying to give my all this year, not only to showcase my talents, but it’s my senior year here, and I want to leave my mark at PSJA.”
In the day of transfers and super teams, Trey Guajardo will have proudly worn the Bears across his chest from the time he stepped onto the football field freshman year, to the day his cleats trot off of the high school baseball diamond one final time — whenever the perennial title-contending Bears wrap up their season this spring.
“It’s something I take a lot of pride in,” Guajardo said. “From a very young age, I dreamed of playing baseball for the Bears. Now, I am here. It’s crazy, it has gone by so quickly. I remember like it was yesterday, my freshman year.”
Throughout the course of his career, he has always played whatever role was needed of him. On the football field he played defensive back before becoming the quarterback that took the Valley by storm. In baseball, Guajardo has pitched (starting and relief), played the outfield and shortstop, always playing a pivotal role in big games.
Guajardo credited his time this summer, playing with the South Texas Sliders and hitting the showcase scene hard, with getting him the attention of several schools. Guajardo had other DI offers, and several other DI Juco offers as well, but the UTGRV was the best offer, and so he took it.
“It is very special, as a parent,” said Ruben Guajardo, Trey’s father. “Being greedy, it’s the best opportunity for us to see him play. If it would have been an offer that we liked better elsewhere, he was ready to leave, also. He has to take that next step, and we are behind him. But, we are glad we didn’t have to choose and he will be here, a couple miles down the road.”
Trey’s uncle and Bears baseball coach Marco Guajardo has seen the trend of Valley signings at UTRGV as a huge plus for both parties.
“In the past, a lot of our Valley kids have not gotten the chance here,” he said. “They have always gone elsewhere, and then they end up coming back home. (UTRGV) will have more of a crowd, now. And the kids that (UTRGV coach Derek Matlock) have signed so far, he has a really good group.”
And Trey’s just can’t wait to get in the mix.
“I am looking forward to working with some great coaches, (associate head coach Russell) Raley and coach Matlock over there,” Trey Guajardo said. “They have shown me a lot of love this summer. I can’t wait to put on the UTRGV jersey and get to work.”