By CLAIRE CRUZ AND STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writers
BROWNSVILLE — The University Interscholastic League announced Friday it was suspending all athletic competitions starting Monday and running through March 29 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Texas.
“We are urging our member schools and their communities to stay vigilant and take every possible precaution to remain safe and healthy,” UIL executive director Dr. Charles Breithaupt said in a statement. “We understand there is a lot of uncertainty during this unprecedented time. Please know UIL leadership is working diligently to adjust to this rapidly evolving situation and will share updates as soon as possible.”
Coaches from across the East Valley endorsed the UIL’s actions, which have been closely mirrored by many of the programs across the region.
“The health and well-being of our athletes, families and communities takes precedence over any athletic contests, and therefore I wholeheartedly support the decision by UIL to suspend (competition),” Brownsville Veterans Memorial athletic director David Cantu said. “In the short-term we will still be able to practice, and that will allow our athletes to remain properly conditioned.”
Hanna athletic director Mark Guess said the safety of student-athletes and their families is the highest priority.
“(Our student-athletes are) young and healthy, but some of these kids have grandparents at home or maybe younger brothers or sisters,” Guess said. “We’re not just looking out for our kids, we have to look out for their families as well.”
As of Friday afternoon, there were no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Rio Grande Valley or northern Mexico.
Porter athletic director Carlos Uresti said the UIL’s approach was proactive, following the guidance of other major sports governing bodies.
“I believe it is the right thing to do at this time,” Uresti said. “They are allowing us to hold practices in the meantime, so the kids will still continue to work out and get better until we are allowed to compete once again.”
Pace athletic director Danny Pardo and Rivera athletic director Beto Leal echoed those sentiments.
Leal praised the response of BISD athletic administrator Gilbert Leal for promptly informing all of the athletic coordinators of the developments with the spread of the coronavirus and utilizing an abundance of caution in advising the Rio Grande Valley’s largest school district.
Brownsville St. Joseph Academy athletic director Tino Villarreal suspended all athletic events through April 12, in accordance with the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.
The Bloodhounds competed in BISD City Track & Field Meet on Friday at Sams Stadium.
In a statement released Friday, Villarreal said that starting Monday, all SJA practices will be suspended through March 29, or whenever SJA resumes classes on campus. The campus and all athletic facilities are set to remain closed until March 30.
Santa Maria athletic director Israel Gracia noted that while all spring sports essentially will be in limbo, he was concerned about the Cougars’ track program and missing out on the Meet of Champions, adding they likely will have to “wait and see” about their district meet.
“After seeing what the NCAA was doing, I figured it was just a matter of time for us,” Gracia said. “Of course, we have to think about the whole situation. It’s hard for our kids to understand, and (I) hope that our seasons are able to continue. We will keep practicing as much as we are allowed to (in order) to be ready to compete when we are allowed.”
Port Isabel’s Mac Strunk, who just signed his letter of intent to run track for The Citadel on Thursday, also expressed disappointment in not being able to compete at the Meet of Champions. He’s working to lower his times on the track before competing at the next level and said the UIL decision could impact that.
“It’s pretty big, because each meet you’re competitive and everyone in the Valley takes the meet to heart. I just moved here last year and didn’t realize what it was, but I loved the meet. I (set a personal record) there because the adrenaline starts pumping because everyone is there and you want to put on a show,” Strunk said. “It kind of sucks (that I won’t compete there again), but the UIL just wants to be safe, and I understand. I’m love running, so I’m just going to focus on that and keep in shape.”
The Los Fresnos Falcons and athletic director Patrick Brown were the first school in the Valley to suspend all athletic competition. The Los Fresnos boys basketball team took special precautions for its trip to San Antonio for the regional tournament, including wearing gloves and masks during meals on the road and using sanitizing wipes on hotel room surfaces.
Gracia’s daughter, Briana, plays for the Los Fresnos soccer team.
“She is really devastated that her senior year could be in jeopardy,” Gracia said.
Santa Maria girls track coach Sonia White also is worried for her senior athletes. The Lady Cougars have their district track meet set for April 1, which is right after the current postponement is set to end. She hopes the district doesn’t implement any additional restrictions as far as practice so that the Hudson Relays in which they competed Friday will not be the last meet for her four seniors.
“For me, I’m just worried about our kids practicing and concerned this will be our seniors’ last meet. I told them, you guys have to be your best because this might be your last meet. It’s hard for them to not know,” White said.
San Benito track coach Joel Padilla said he almost welcomes the decision because it gives his athletes time to recover from injuries prior to their district meet.
Many East Valley coaches at the Hudson Relays in La Feria said they will continue to practice in their usual routine during the dead period and focus their attention on getting back into action March 30.