La Joya Palmview and PSJA High put together deep playoff runs into the regional semifinal round of the postseason, which resulted in Lobos and Bears players and coaches earning all-area honors for the 2023 baseball season.

Leading the way is PSJA slugger Julius Ramirez, The Monitor’s All-Area Baseball Offensive Player of the Year.

Ramirez hit at a .545 clip during the regular season and finished his senior campaign with nine home runs and 50 RBIs, leading PSJA High to a share of the District 31-6A championship and into the regional semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Ramirez was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 6A All-State Elite Team and played in the THSBCA All-Star game in June in Round Rock.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

DIEGO DIAZ, SHARYLAND HIGH

Diego Diaz flashed the leather at shortstop, showed off his arm in center field and proved to be a clutch arm on the mound down the stretch for the Sharyland Rattlers.

The sure-handed Texas at San Antonio baseball signee posted a .962 fielding percentage and a 5-1 record as a starting pitcher with a 1.48 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings pitched.

While Diaz’s all-area honor recognizes his defensive play, he wasn’t too bad offensively either. He had 42 hits, 20 RBIs, 13 doubles, two triples and three home runs for a .442 batting average. He also stole 41 bases.

The THSBCA Elite All-State member and also played in the THSBCA All-Star game in June in Round Rock.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

MATEO GARCIA, LA JOYA PALMVIEW

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Mateo Garcia earned the nod as Palmview’s No. 1 starter and delivered each time he stepped onto the mound for the Lobos, helping them reach the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in program history.

He finished the regular season 7-0 with a 1.14 ERA with five complete games, three shutouts and two no-hitters. He pitched a team-high 49.1 innings and struck out 47 batters while only walking four.

Garcia, who started at second base when not pitching, led Palmview with 41 hits, 22 RBIs, 12 doubles, four triples and a .423 batting average. He was also named to the THSBCA Class 5A All-State third team.

“As a young sophomore, as a young pitcher, we always felt he’s a kid we know is mentally tough. He knows on the mound, things are not going to faze him,” Palmview head coach Rick Garcia said about Garcia.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

SANTIAGO SOTO, SHARYLAND HIGH

Sharyland freshman Santiago Soto made an immediate impact and developed into one of the Rattlers’ top hitters in his first year playing varsity baseball.

The first baseman Soto led the Rattlers with a .567 batting average and added 20 runs, 38 hits, 24 RBIs, four doubles and two triples in 25 games. He also boasted a perfect fielding percentage and made eight appearances as a pitcher, finishing with 16 strikeouts in 17.1 innings.

He’ll be another dynamic weapon moving forward for the District 31-5A champion Rattlers.

CO-COACH OF THE YEAR

RICK GARCIA, LA JOYA PALMVIEW AND MARCO GUAJARDO, PSJA HIGH

Palmview’s Rick Garcia and PSJA High’s Marco Guajardo each led their team into the regional semifinal round of the playoffs to split this year’s all-area coach of the year honor.

Garcia led the Lobos to a 28-10 record overall and into the fourth round of the postseason for the first time in program history. Palmview captured a share of the District 30-5A championship for the second straight season and proceeded to pick up playoff wins over Corpus Christi King, Sharyland Pioneer and Edinburg Vela before falling in Round 4 against Leander Rouse.

Garcia’s group repeatedly came through in the clutch to keep Palmview’s playoff run alive, including three one-run victories during the first three rounds.

Guajardo’s Bears went 28-10 on the year and split the District 31-6A championship with a 9-1 record in league play. He coached the Bears into the regional semifinal round of the playoffs against San Antonio Johnson, a place PSJA High hadn’t been since the 2004 season.

PSJA High earned postseason victories against San Benito, Laredo Alexander and Laredo United before dropping its three-game series against Johnson.

The Monitor All-Area

Superlative Winners

Player of the Year: Alex Solis, Weslaco East

Offensive Player of the Year: Julius Ramirez, PSJA High

Defensive Player of the Year: Diego Diaz, Sharyland High

Pitcher of the Year: Mateo Garcia, La Joya Palmview

Newcomer of the Year: Santiago Soto, Sharyland High

Co-Coach of the Year: Rick Garcia, La Joya Palmview & Marco Guajardo, PSJA High

The Monitor All-Area

First Team

C – Josiah Gonzalez, La Joya Palmview

1B – Diego Gomez, PSJA High

2B – Jayden Martinez, Edinburg Vela

SS – Paul Bazan, Rio Grande City

3B – Branden Leon, McAllen Rowe

IF – Cole Gerlach, Sharyland High

OF – Tony Villarreal, La Joya Palmview

OF – Alejandro Islas, Sharyland High

OF – Homer Garcia, Sharyland High

P – Vinny Cano, PSJA High

P – Javier Garcia, McAllen Rowe

UT – Antonio Balboa, Weslaco East

DH – Dannel Marrero, Sharyland Pioneer

The Monitor All-Area

Second Team

C – David Benitez, Sharyland Pioneer

1B – Quincy Handy, Mission Veterans

2B – Lucas Zambrano, La Joya High

SS – Andy Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer

3B – Brent Szczuroski, Hidalgo

IF – Nate Rivas, Weslaco East

IF – Andy Gamboa, PSJA High

IF – Darrian Garza, Hidalgo

OF – Ramiro Campos, McAllen Rowe

OF – Diego Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer

OF – Davian Clarke, Roma

OF – Renso Tamez, La Joya Palmview

P – Alejandro Castillo, Weslaco High

P – Jake Dufner, Edinburg Vela

P – Ruben Lopez, Sharyland Pioneer

P – Hunter Morales, La Joya High

Utility – Stone Gomez, Weslaco High

DH – Bobby Garcia, Edinburg Vela

Rio Hondo’s Caleb Laster pitched his way into the national strikeout leader race and helped the Bobcats reach the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Laster, The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star’s All-Area Pitcher of the Year, finished his senior season with the most strikeouts by any pitcher in the nation with 170, according to MaxPreps.

Laster posted a 16-3 record in 19 appearances. He recorded a 1.14 ERA with 170 strikeouts to just 18 walks in 80 innings. He pitched eight complete games, eight shutouts, one no-hitter and one perfect game. Laster also had a .431 batting average with 25 hits, eight runs and 11 RBIs.

“He’s a special player. Whenever we have him on the mound, our chances of winning the ball game are pretty good,” Rio Hondo head coach Sergio Gonzalez said. “You come across those players every once in a while and we’re just blessed that we have him in Rio Hondo. The confidence level, I think the kids really play up to another level behind him when he’s on the mound, and that confidence carries over to what we have to do in ball games.”

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JASON VILLARREAL, BROWNSVILLE VETERANS

Brownsville Veterans’ Jason Villarreal was a model of consistency for the Chargers during the 2023 campaign. He helped the Chargers finish the year 22-9 and 15-4 in district play by recording 14 multi-hit games.

Villarreal hit .430 and racked up 40 hits, 25 runs, 23 RBIs, three doubles, three triples, one home run and stole 10 bases. He was also lights out on the mound with a 1.36 ERA, striking out 63 in 46 1/3 innings. He pitched five complete games, two of which were shutouts and one a no-hitter.

Villarreal signed to play college baseball at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

NATHAN ALVEAR, BROWNSVILLE RIVERA

The Rivera Raiders advanced to the area round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004, and middle infielder/pitcher Nathan Alvear was a big part of the reason why.

Alvear had a .961 fielding percentage, shutting down nearly everything that was hit his way. He served as Rivera’s ace throughout a 20-12 regular season and into the area round of the playoffs. He pitched 67 2/3 innings, had a 0.83 ERA and finished with 82 strikeouts, limiting opponents to a .137 batting average.

He pitched a complete game shutout during the first round of the playoffs against La Joya High to send the Raiders into the area round, surrendering just four hits and three walks in seven scoreless innings.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

GAEL SILVA, LYFORD

Lyford’s Gael Silva burst onto the RGV high school baseball scene with a sensational first year in the Bulldogs’ lineup. The freshman led Lyford with a .506 batting average, 40 hits, 33 runs, 38 RBIs and one home run. His 22 doubles ranked first in the state in Class 3A, according to Texas High School Baseball.

He helped the Bulldogs win their third-straight District 32-3A championship as Lyford finished the year unbeaten in league play at 8-0.

“He is ‘Him.’ He’s been outstanding,” Lyford head coach Jose Rocha said of the freshman Silva. “He came in after basketball was over and instantly took over a leadership role, and this team is going to be his in a few years. He’s killing it already.”

COACH OF THE YEAR

SERGIO GONZALEZ, RIO HONDO

Rio Hondo’s 28 wins during the 2023 season shattered a program record as head coach Sergio Gonzalez coached the Bobcats to a second-place finish in District 32-3A before advancing to the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

The Bobcats started the year with 22 straight wins before falling to Lyford in district play.

Rio Hondo opened the postseason with a clean sweep of Donna IDEA College Prep before holding off a tough Taft team 1-0 in the area round to set up a third-round playoff game against defending state champion Corpus Christi London. Rio Hondo’s trip to the third round of the postseason was the first time the program had been there since 2007.

Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star All-Area

Superlative Winners

Most Valuable Player: Josh Muñoz, Los Fresnos

Offensive Player of the Year: Jason Villarreal, Brownsville Veterans

Defensive Player of the Year: Nathan Alvear, Brownsville Rivera

Pitcher of the Year: Caleb Laster, Rio Hondo

Newcomer of the Year: Gael Silva, Lyford

Coach of the Year: Sergio Gonzalez, Rio Hondo

Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star All-Area

First Team

C – Oscar Rodriguez, Brownsville Veterans

1B – Devin Parker, Brownsville Rivera

2B – Rowen Garcia, San Benito

SS – Armando De La Garza, Lyford

3B – Joshua Laster, Rio Hondo

IF – Josh Ruiz, Harlingen South

OF – Derek Garcia, Los Fresnos

OF – Justinray Peña, Harlingen South

OF – Roman Perez, Rio Hondo

OF – Rolando Rivera, Brownsville Rivera

P – Hector Arellano, Brownsville Lopez

P – Roel Gonzalez, Los Fresnos

Utility – Aiden Olivas Romo, Lyford

DH – Sebastian Sanchez, Los Frenos

Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star All-Area

Second Team

C – Nehemiah Garcia, Brownsville Lopez

1B – Daniel Lopez, Harlingen South

2B – Jacob Salas, Brownsville Veterans

SS – Carlos Garza, Brownsville Veterans

3B – Alejandro Rodriguez, Los Fresnos

IF – Christopher Galvan, Rio Hondo

IF – Jacob Reyna, Lyford

OF – Alek Guzman, Brownsville Rivera

OF – Isaias Gonzalez, Lyford

OF – Jonathan Ortega, Raymondville

OF – Sergio Zapata, Brownsville Porter

P – Aundre Guadarrama, Harlingen South

P – Mario Rodriguez, Los Fresnos

LOS FRESNOS — Los Fresnos hasn’t lost a District 32-6A game in two years.

The Falcons’ dominant run through district play also happens to coincide with shortstop and pitcher Joshua Muñoz’s junior and senior seasons.

After winning the award last year, Muñoz is now The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star’s back-to-back All-Area Most Valuable Player following another standout season.

“Now that my high school career is over and I can look back at it, it’s been great,” Muñoz said. “This (award) is something I thought of freshman year, and now that I can say that I accomplished it my last two years, it’s pretty great.”

Muñoz led the Falcons in batting average (.472), runs (39), hits (51), RBIs (29) and stolen bases (29).

Also, he was their top pitcher, going 8-3 as a starter with a 1.88 ERA and one save in 13 appearances. He struck out 57 in 48 1/3 innings, allowing just 13 earned runs.

“This past year was one of the years where I barely realized that I was pretty decent on the mound,” Muñoz said. “It’s a pretty good feeling, being able to have the game in your hand at all times, every pitch. This past year was fun being able to pitch and be part of our success.”

Los Fresnos’ Josh Munoz (23) pitches against PSJA High in a game at PSJA High School on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in San Juan. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez

Muñoz and the Falcons put together a 13-game winning streak during the regular season that bled into the start of the playoffs. They made quick work of Edinburg High in the opening round of the playoffs before losing a back-and-forth area-round series against Laredo United.

Muñoz credited Los Fresnos head coach Rene Morales for building and upholding the winning tradition with the program.

“That was something that Coach Mo talked about. They have a great coaching structure, and it’s all built around hard work and having that grit,” Muñoz said. “You either have it or you don’t. Everybody there is hard workers. The way that we won, it was all about being gritty.”

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WESLACO — Weslaco East baseball has become a force to be reckoned with as winners of three consecutive District 32-5A championships.

Prior to the 2021 season, the Wildcats hadn’t even qualified for the postseason.

At the center of the turnaround has been a core group of players who helped transform the program into one of South Texas’ best over the past three seasons.

Pitcher and shortstop Alexander Solis has been instrumental in Weslaco East’s success with a dominant arm on the mound and dangerous bat at the plate. After another outstanding year leading the Wildcats, Solis is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Baseball Player of the Year.

“It’s exciting. I’m just thankful I’m able to be recognized for playing baseball and trying to get better,” Solis said.

Solis, who signed to play college baseball at Houston, tied for the team lead with 43 hits, 30 RBIs, 11 doubles, four triples, two home runs and a .457 batting average in 26 games played this season. The right-hander also posted a 0.75 ERA with 119 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings pitched for a 9-1 record. He held opposing batters to a minuscule .104 batting average.

Solis helped lead Weslaco East to a 23-5 overall record and a 16-2 mark in 32-5A competition as the Wildcats captured their third consecutive district championship.

He was also named a Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 5A Elite All-State player and selected to play in the 2023 THSBCA All-Star Game in June in Round Rock.

Solis credits his older brother, Nicholas, for helping start the turnaround at Weslaco East. Solis, along with his teammates, was able to turn the momentum into three district titles. Now, Solis’ younger brother, Alex, who started as a freshman on varsity this past season, is set to carry the torch for Wildcats baseball.

“It started with my older brother. He put that foundation, got a little bit more wins and some recognition,” Solis said. “He handed down the reins to me to keep building on that with the guys we had. Now with my little brother on the team, it’s time to hand the reins down to him and the other guys that are with him as part of the next generation, so that’s going to be cool to watch.”

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MERCEDES — Mercedes guard David Clower has spent the past three summers traveling across the country playing basketball in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit with the McAllen Ballers, a team made up of high school hoopers from the Rio Grande Valley.

The seasons spent on the court suiting up for the Tigers and the summers playing non-stop basketball has resulted in an opportunity to play college basketball at Dallas College-North Lake, a National Junior College Athletic Association school located in Irving, Texas. Clower signed to attend and continue his athletic career in the Mercedes High School gym Wednesday.

Mercedes guard David Clower, center, signed to play basketball at Dallas College-North Lake, a National Junior College Athletic Association school in Irving, Texas, in Jim Norris Gymnasium at Mercedes High School on Wednesday. Photo by Bryan Ramos.

“It’s a grind every day, non-stop,” Clower said. “From summer workouts with Mercedes to McAllen Ballers practice two hours after, it was a grind, but I watched my game excel from my sophomore year to my senior year.”

Clower lit up scoreboards across the RGV during his senior season. He averaged 22 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks per game.

The 6-foot-2 guard upped his scoring averages from 12 points a game as a sophomore to 18 as a junior before averaging 22 in his final season, which earned Clower The Monitor’s 2022-23 All-Area Boys Basketball Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Now, he heads to a Dallas North Lake program that won the 2022 NJCAA Division III Championship

“They’re going to be getting a hard-worker and someone that’s going to guard the best player on the other team and make everybody on the court better. I’m going to try to be a good point guard, that’s all that matters to me, being a good point guard,” Clower said.

Edinburg North’s Cristian Faz, who also played for the McAllen Ballers this past summer, also signed to attend and play basketball at Dallas College-North Lake on Wednesday at Edinburg North High School.

Edinburg North guard Cristian Faz, seated center, signed to play basketball at Dallas College-North Lake, a National Junior College Athletic Association school in Irving, Texas, at Edinburg North High School on Wednesday. Photo via Edinburg North Athletics

Faz, a second team all-area selection, led the co-district 31-6A champion Cougars with 13.5 points per game to go with 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals.

The two will continue as teammates at the next level, along with Harlingen High guard Ryan Sanchez.

“It’s amazing, man. Ryan and Faz, I’ve known them for a while,” Clower said. “We’ve built good relationships this past year and it’s good that I’m going to be going to college with them. They’ll probably be my roommates, so our relationship is only going to become stronger.”

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UTRGV football just landed another commitment, this time, from a quarterback.

Laredo United senior signal caller Atzel Chavez Jr. announced his commitment on Twitter on Monday evening.

🔒. 🧡🤍✌🏼
Committed!!! @UTRGVFootball @CoachTBush @CoachJeffBowen @TomLoy247 @AWilliamsUSA @txqb @YVQBacademy
@GKroegs @dasanchez10 @CoachVillasenor @ehuerta88 pic.twitter.com/peZTcKKMr5

— Atzel Chavez Jr. (@AtzelChavez) August 1, 2023

He’s the second player from the class of 2024 to verbally commit to play football at UTRGV. Dickinson class of 2024 defensive back Nicholas Peace became UTRGV’s first commit in program history with a verbal commitment last week.

Chavez, listed at 6-foot-1, is entering his senior season at Laredo United. The three-year letterman completed 157-of-257 passes for 2,156 yards and 20 touchdowns in eight games as a junior last season. He also ran for 312 yards on 73 carries with seven rushing touchdowns.

As a sophomore in 2021, Chavez threw for 1,113 yards and 15 touchdowns.

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McALLEN — Boxing promoter Anthony Cavazos has dedicated more than 20 years to growing the boxing scene in the Rio Grande Valley by putting together fights across South Texas through his company, Cavazos Boxing Promotions.

The Texas Boxing Hall of Fame recently notified Cavazos its selection committee has named him as a Texas Boxing Hall of Fame honoree in the Contributor Division.

“It is our mission to honor and preserve the legacy of those who have contributed most to the success of boxing in the state of Texas since 1900. Your legacy of presenting quality professional events in the Rio Grande Valley for more than 20 years is a legacy that will live on forever with the Texas Boxing Hall of Fame,” Texas Boxing Hall of Fame president Lester Bedford wrote to Cavazos in a letter.

“I’m honored and humbled. It’s a great honor,” Cavazos said. “It’s been a lot of work. I started in 2001 and worked my way up. I started from the bottom in boxing, started in the corner, made it to promoter. We did over 50 fights, worked with Golden Boy Promotions, Top Rank main events, we’ve been on ShoBox, HBO, ESPN and it’s been one heck of a ride. “

Cavazos Boxing Promotions is set to put on another show highlighting the future of RGV boxing with Border Wars beginning at 8 p.m. tonight at Payne Arena in Hidalgo.

THE FIGHT CARD

The six-bout Border Wars fight card is headlined by unbeaten boxers Fabian “The Unknown Warrior” Diaz (4-0, 2 KOs) and Ivan Alvarado (5-0, 3 KOs) fighting for the Interworld Boxing Organization lightweight championship.

The Edinburg native Diaz is a three-time USA Boxing National Junior Olympics champion who has knocked out his last two opponents. He’s determined to do the same at Border Wars tonight against Alvardo, who hails from Monterrey, Mexico.

Fighting in the co-main event is San Juan’s Esteban Ali Garza (1-0, 1 KO) against Donna’s Bryan Santiago, who will be making his professional debut.

The undercard features Corpus Christi’s Travis Crawford (4-2) against Laredo’s Jesus Maldonado (2-4) at 144 pounds; Edinburg’s Rigoberto Rivera against Mission’s Isaac Matamoros (2-0) at 140 pounds; Elsa’s Jesus Adolfo Gallegos against Monterrey, Mexico’s Juan Alberto Flores (2-2-1); and McAllen’s Francisco Javier Castillo against Donna’s Roberto Pina at 145 pounds.

Tickets for Border Wars at Payne Arena in Hidalgo can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Payne Arena box office.

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UTRGV football can check another first off its list.

Head coach Travis Bush and UTRGV football landed the first commitment in program history. Dickinson class of 2024 defensive back Nicholas Peace announced his verbal commitment to play football for the Vaqueros on Twitter on Wednesday.

Committed.🔒🧡@CoachAdayMac11 @CoachTBush @DickinsonFB @DonnieBaggs_ @STE_ELITE @UTRGVFootball pic.twitter.com/wg4jwUeD0g

— Nicholas Peace (@nicko7even) July 26, 2023

Peace, listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, is a safety who excels in man-to-man and zone coverage, but has also shown the ability to line up at cornerback if called upon. He diagnoses plays from the last line of the defense and has displayed a willingness to step into the box and shut down the run with a quick, instinctive first step and power at the point of contact. He also has the ability to return and cover kicks on special teams.

Bush and the current UTRGV coaching staff — offensive line coach Jeff Bowen, defensive coordinator Brian Gamble and defensive back coach Adrian McDonald — traveled across Texas during the recruiting period earlier this year and extended offers to multiple players throughout the state. A handful of Rio Grande Valley high school football players received offers as preferred walk-ons.

UTRGV plans to conduct a practice season in fall 2024 before officially kicking off competition at the Division I level in fall 2025.

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McALLEN — San Juan’s Esteban Garza has a fitting middle name — Ali.

The boxer comes from a fighting family and said his mom knew the name would fit just right.

The 18-year-old Garza has proven her correct thus far as he stands 1-0 in his professional boxing career and is looking to stay unbeaten when he fights in the co-main event at Border Wars on July 28 at Payne Arena in Hidalgo.

“I’ve been working my ass off since May when they gave me the call to fight in the co-main event, and I’m going to make a statement come July 28,” Garza said at Border Wars media day Wednesday at University Draft House in McAllen. “My uncles fought, my grandpa fought, my family fought, so boxing is in my blood. I’m excited, and it’s more motivation to fight here in my hometown. It’s a blessing.”

San Juan’s Esteban Ali Garza set to fight in the Border Wars co-main event on July 28 at Payne Arena in Hidalgo. Bryan Ramos

Garza began his professional boxing career March 25, scoring a first-round knockout against Reynosa’s Hector Gonzalez Elizondo. He’s now slated to fight against Donna’s Bryan Santiago, who will be making his professional debut. The two will fight four rounds at 115 pounds.

The Border Wars boxing card features six fights with a battle of undefeated boxers as Edinburg’s Fabian Diaz (4-0, 2 KOs) takes on Ivan Alvarado (5-0, 3 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico, in the 137-pound weight class fighting in the main event.

“I’m going for the knockout. I’m going to put on a show and show everybody I’m about it,” Diaz said.

The undercard features Corpus Christi’s Travis Crawford (4-2) against Laredo’s Jesus Maldonado (2-4) at 144 pounds, Edinburg’s Rigoberto Rivera against Mission’s Isaac Matamoros (2-0) at 140 pounds, Elsa’s Jesus Adolfo Gallegos against Juan Alberto Flores (2-2-1) Monterrey, Mexico, and McAllen’s Francisco Javier Castillo against Donna’s Roberto Pina at 145 pounds.

Matamoros, who was recently preparing for an MMA fight before his opponent backed out due to injury, is set to return to the ring for the first time since 2017.

Mission’s Isaac Matamoros speaks at Border Wars boxing Media Day on Wednesday, July 19 at University Draft House in McAllen. Bryan Ramos

“I’ve boxed before, but I was running through my whole camp preparing for MMA for my first fight back in a few years, so now I just have to knock out the takedowns, kicks and put that aside,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s too different leading up to it. Once you’re in there, it’s about putting the kicks away, putting away the groundwork, and just focusing on the hands. That’s where you find out if you got the tools or not.”

Tickets for Border Wars on July 28 at Payne Arena in Hidalgo can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in-person at the Payne Arena box office.

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Former PSJA Memorial football coach Marco Regalado took the TikTok world by storm during the pandemic with viral videos parodying the comedy that comes along with the football coaching world.

Since then, the Zapata native who played on the Hawks’ offensive line has made coaching stops at Eaton High School in Fort Worth, Washington State University in the Pac-12 and now serves as the executive director of player personnel and recruiting innovation at Rice University in Houston. Regalado recently helped the Owls land their highest-rated recruiting class in program history in back-to-back seasons.

Now, he’s headed to the NFL.

Regalado is part of a group of coaches selected for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship and will spend a month at training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars to gain experience while helping coach tight ends. He’ll be with the Jaguars from July 19 to Aug. 19 as they prepare to kick off the 2023 NFL season.

The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is a program designed to use NFL clubs’ training camps, offseason workout programs and minicamps to give talented coaches opportunities to observe, participate, gain experience and ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position, according to NFL.com. The fellowship is designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches with all 32 NFL teams participating each year.

His time with the Jaguars will bring him back home to Texas, too. On Aug. 12, the Jaguars are scheduled to play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. For a lifelong Cowboys fan, Regalado said the opportunity is a special one.

While he’s been climbing the coaching ranks through high school and collegiate football, Regalado has shown his ability as a bit of a renaissance man. The guitarist and singer recently released his first single titled “Right guy, wrong time.” The song can be found on most music streaming platforms.

Coach Regalado can be found on Twitter under @CoachRegalado.

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