BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Mariana Espinosa was one of the best players in the Brownsville area on a Chargers basketball team that won 30 games and captured an undefeated District 32-5A championship.

The senior guard is headed to the Roanoke, Virginia, where she will play for Hollins University after signing Wednesday at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School.

The senior guard averaged 13 points, 3.7 assists and 3.5 steals per game and was awarded co-district MVP for her efforts. Espinosa’s dream was to continue playing basketball after high school.

“I got it,” she said. “Now I just have to continue the hard work and see what I can do out there. Hopefully I can do good.”

Espinosa never lost a District 32-5A game as a Chargers player, playing a big role in 2022’s championship team, and an even bigger role in 2023 as the leading scorer for a Brownsville Veterans team that advanced to the third round of the UIL Class 5A playoffs.

The Chargers won their first area-round game this season.

Espinosa picked Hollins over other programs because of the possibility for playing time, she said, but understands the work needed to earn playing time.

“Mariana is a tremendous player,” Brownsville Veterans head coach Arnold Torres said. “Her knowledge of the game is definitely an asset to any program. I know her going to Hollins, and them taking her in, she is going to make an impact right away.”

The senior plans to study physical therapy at Hollins. Espinosa wants to stay on the sports side of the profession because of her love for sports, she said.

“I am just grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills and all of the hard work that I have put it,” Espinosa said. “I just want to make my family proud.”

Roanoke is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. Hollins University is a NCAA Division III school that competes in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

WESLACO — Weslaco East’s five-run bottom of the fourth inning was the difference against Brownsville Veterans Memorial on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats defeated the Chargers 7-3 in a District 32-5A contest at Weslaco East High School to remain undefeated at 5-0 to start district play.

“It is a big district,” Weslaco East head coach Victoria Vasquez said. “So, 5-0 is nice, but we still have a lot of games ahead of us. We need to take it one game at a time. This district is tough.”

Weslaco East pitcher Kaylin Morales had a comfortable lead to maintain from the circle after the offense exploded in the bottom of the fourth. Morales finished the night with three strikeouts, as she had a defense behind her that made plays to keep the Chargers from doing too much damage.

“We told our defense go to work, take care of our pitcher — she is a freshman,” Vasquez said. “She has done a phenomenal job for us this season.”

Weslaco East picked up its decisive runs in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases no outs. Two runs followed by Wildcats infielder Ambrosia Pena’s bases clearing triple put her team up 7-1. Pena and Jaisy Caceres hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the third to give the Wildcats a 2-1.

“I told the girls we are going to enjoy tonight’s win, and then we got to get to work tomorrow,” Victoria Vasquez said with a meeting against Mercedes coming up Friday.

Brownsville Veterans pitcher Alexis Tamez gave up all of her runs in the third and fourth. Tamez finished with 11 strikeouts on the night.

“East is a really good team,” Brownsville Veterans assistant coach Heriberto Rodriguez said. “We needed to be on our game, playing perfect defense, because they were going to make contact. We made a couple of errors, and they hit the ball. Our pitcher did really good, but we did not help her offensively or defensively.”

The Chargers jumped on the Wildcats in the first inning when Reggie Santivanez drove in Andrea Chapa with a double that found a gap.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial takes on Donna North at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Donna North. Weslaco East faces Mercedes in another pivotal District 32-5A meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Mercedes High School.

BROWNSVILLE — It has been two weeks since Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s David Perez finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the Class 5A UIL State meet.

Despite being one of the most athletically and physically gifted swimmers in the Rio Grande Valley, the more prestigious swim schools have not come calling. Perez understands his situation though.

The Brownsville Veterans senior stands at 6-foot-1, around 6-2 with track spikes. The sport comes down to a 10th of a second sometimes, every inch matters, and the top schools want that, Perez said.

“I almost certain that I am not going to swim,” Perez said. “I have already been accepted into the engineering program at Texas Tech. I think I am going to focus on that.”

He can still go on to a college or university, but not going to a NCAA DI school for swimming is a tough sell to one of the best swimmers in Brownsville history. Perez holds three individual Brownsville records.

The grind of having to train at a small school or university with even more studying in a tough degree plan like engineering is not an ideal situation. And some of those schools do not even offer engineering, Perez said.

The Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech seems like Perez’s next stop on life. Texas Tech does not have a swimming program for a walk-on opportunity.

“I am still thinking about it,” Perez said. “In the next week, I will make my final decision about it. I probably won’t swim. The past two weeks have been really stressful. It is hard to make it fade away, but I have to think what is best for the future.”

Perez’s fourth place earned him first team All-State honors. Los Fresnos Jada Ashford was the only other swimmer from the Rio Grande Valley, boy or girl, to even advance out of the prelims. Ashford finished 13th at the Class 6A state meet.

Even though he did not medal, Perez’s fourth place is as good of a finish by a Valley swimmer since 2018 when former McAllen High swimmer Shaine Casas finished second in the 100 back and third in the 100 fly at the Class 6A state meet in 2018.

Casas won the gold in 100 back at the 2021 Short Course World Championships and has won golds on a relay team, as well as a number of other medals at the highest levels of swimming.

Casas stands 6-4, and is a physical specimen, Perez said. The Brownsville Veterans senior timed Casas when he set pool records in 2018 at the Brownsville Aquatics Center, he said.

Perez swam at the Brownsville Aquatics Center since he was 9 years old under coach Ryan Shea.

“He is the man who made as good of a swimmer as I am today,” Perez said. “He deserves a lot of credit, he has been there for me – when I was not focused, ready to swim or even scared of the competition. He pushed me hard.”

Perez has switched the goggles for some track spikes and tights as his senior year winds down.

Whatever Perez decides to do in the next week or so, he is going to go down as one of the best swimmers in recent times, not only in Brownsville, but the Rio Grande Valley.

SANTA MARIA — When Santa Maria’s Rosendo Fernandez crossed the finish line after running 3,200 meters Friday, he was the first athlete in school history to win a medal at a track and field meet hosted by Santa Maria High School.

Santa Maria has never hosted a track and field meet in the school’s history prior to Friday.

“Long time coming, I have always loved track and field,” Santa Maria athletic director Israel Gracia said. “Having a track meet here is great for the community and the kids.”

Fernandez finished second in the 3,200 to capture that first medal for the school on its track.

“It feels good,” Fernandez said. “It was something we all wanted to accomplish today.”

The Cougars’ track and field program ran on an asphalt and gravel mix before the track was installed as well as the turf on the football field. Long-distance runners like Fernandez would run on nearby trails as well.

The previous track had only one lane at best, Fernandez and Gracia said. The new eight-lane track made from polyurethane was well-used Friday by some of the best athletes from around the Rio Grande Valley.

Brownsville Lopez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Falfurrias, Hidalgo, Jubilee, Port Isabel, Lyford, La Villa, Monte Alto, Valley View, Santa Rosa, Raymondville and Marine Military Academy competed in the first meet in Santa Maria.

“I appreciate them coming,” Gracia said. “I know a lot of the coaches and they were willing to come. I told them we are going to put on a good meet. So far, I think we are going to be OK.”

BROWNSVILLE — A late equalizer by Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Angela Garcia opened the door for the Chargers to grab an extra point in a penalty shootout.

The Chargers won their first penalty shootout of the season 4-3 after a 1-1 draw to pick up two points against Donna North on Friday night at home in a District 32-5A meeting.

“It was a well-deserved win today,” Chargers head coach Raul Vasquez said. “I am really proud of them. Coming back from behind takes a lot of courage and effort.”

Garcia’s leveler came midway throughout the second half. Garcia was always marked when she received the ball in threatening positions. It is always wise to heavily mark the district’s leading scorer.

Garcia’s goal did not come during a run of play, but on a set piece with a narrow angle.

“It was a shot,” she said. “I was not going to shoot it at first, but coach really pushed me to shoot it, because he believed in me.”

District 32-5A’s top four teams were all in action Friday night. Donna North and Brownsville Veterans Memorial, a 2-vs.-3 meeting, and Harlingen South faced Brownsville Porter.

Brownsville Porter beat Harlingen South 1-0 on Friday night to move into a tie with Brownsville Veterans at second with 35 points. Harlingen South is first still with 40 points.

Donna North is fourth with 33 points and needs positive results the next three matches to move out of fourth.

“There is going to be some changes in the positions,” Donna North head coach Tony Garcia said. “First through fourth is going to change. Even fifth place has a mathematical chance, so these next three games are going to be interesting.”

The Chiefs went ahead after only nine minutes when Rubi Mercado was released in on goal following a beautiful pass behind the defender.

Mercado easily beat the keeper to put her side up 1-0.

“We had a very good first 40 minutes,” Garcia said. “But we gave them the second 40 minutes. After committing so many unnecessary fouls, one of them was bound to go in, and it did. We just could not take care of business in the PK situation.”

Donna North looks to bounce back against Brownsville Porter at 5:30 p.m. at Brownsville Porter, and Brownsville Veterans is set to face Mercedes at 5:30 p.m. at home.

BROWNSVILLE — When Texas Southmost College announced it would be bringing back the soccer program, it said it would focus heavily on recruiting local talent.

The Brownsville college stuck by its word Thursday by signing its first player to both the men’s and women’s programs.

Brownsville IDEA Riverview’s Haziel Mejia, for the men’s team, and Mia Ramos, for the women’s team, have the honor of being the first signings in any sporting program in more than one decade as TSC prepares for September, when they are set to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Former Brownsville Pace head boys soccer coach Mario Zamora is set to coach Ramos and Mejia in September.

“It is an honor to be signing two talented players,” Zamora said. “Haziel and Mia are two talented players. I have been waiting for them to become Scorpions officially.”

Only a handful of girls around the Rio Grande Valley have scored more goals than Ramos entering the week. Ramos had 26 goals to her name coming into Tuesday night.

“I feel really proud of myself,” Ramos said. “I am thankful the opportunity, and more importantly, thankful that my family has been watching me succeed.”

Ramos is happy to be staying home in Brownsville, she said.

Mejia is grateful for the opportunity to be playing the sport he loves in Brownsville as well, he said.

Like Ramos, Mejia entered the week as a top scorer in the Valley. Mejia has 23 goals in District 32-4A. Only one player from the Valley had more district goals than Mejia entering this week of action.

Mejia is pleased that is hard work is paying off.

“I feel good about signing,” Mejia said. “I am nervous but excited about the opportunity that I am receiving.”

The college is eyeing other players around the Valley in the coming weeks as the end of the soccer season approaches.

“We believe in the RGV talent,” Zamora said. “We believe in local players. They deserve an opportunity at the college level. TSC is giving that opportunity to them.”

HARLINGEN — Harlingen High senior Juli Bryant figured she would be in this position as a basketball player.

However, Bryant signed her NCAA Division I National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday at Harlingen High School

The Harlingen High standout had dreams of playing in the WNBA as a youth, until she started playing volleyball in fifth grade, she said.

Bryant decided to make her main sport volleyball during her freshman year at Harlingen High.

“My dream switched,” Bryant said. “Volleyball became my new love. It pushed me to strive to be better at everything. Now that this moment is finally here, it is unreal. I never thought this day would actually come, but it is here and I am excited.”

The Valley Morning Star’s 2022 Volleyball Player of the Year still hooped, making a huge impact on the basketball court as a Cardinals player, but it is on the volleyball court where Bryant’s athleticism was on full display.

Bryant smashed more than 400 kills for the Cardinals, doing so while sharing the court with another talented hitter, Casey Vidal. Bryant received District 32-6A’s offensive player of the year award for her performances for the district champs.

“It has been an honor to be her coach,” Harlingen High volleyball head coach Joslynn Torres said. “It is just natural talent, ability and me guiding the ship. She has truly been a blessing to our team and our program.”

The senior is the first volleyball player from Harlingen High to receive an NCAA Division I scholarship, Torres said.

Bryant joins a UTRGV volleyball program on the rise. The Vaqueros are coming off their most successful season in program history under head coach Todd Lowery.

Lowery guided the Vaqueros to a 27-win season, a regular-season conference championship with a record of 13-1 and two postseason wins at the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.

“I love the program,” Bryant said. “I got to check out to do my visit in early October. I got to check out the facilities, wow. I never thought that the Valley would have something like that. I am so excited to be a part of the program.”

Bryant has trained with RGV Venom Volleyball, a club in Edinburg, for the last four years. Bryant has spent the past two seasons with Lowery as her coach for Venom’s 17s and 18s teams.

Bryant is happy to have another four years with Lowery, she said, as well as just being able to play the sport and study criminal justice while attending the school in Edinburg.

HARLINGEN — With six minutes left in the match, Harlingen South’s Alexis Fonseca blasted a shot over the Donna North keeper to secure three points for the Hawks.

The 2-1 win Tuesday night at Harlingen South High School over the second-place Chiefs further cements the Hawks place atop District 32-5A’s standings with only four matches remaining on the season.

“Beautiful,” Harlingen South head coach Debra Galvan said about Fonseca’s goal. “We have been working on shooting. So, the fact that she shot and scored means that much more when they do what we ask them to do.”

Harlingen South’s Alexis Fonseca (10).(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey

Harlingen South enjoyed the bulk of possession in the latter stages of the match with the match level at 1.

Fonseca found space with all of the possession and combined with Noelle Araguz on the edge of the Chiefs penalty area. Araguz slipped Fonseca in the box.

Fonseca turned and fired her shot. The shot was too much for the keeper to handle as it found the back of the net.

“The play leading up to it worked perfectly,” Fonseca said. “All of our girls were working really well together, and we communicated through all of it.”

Harlingen South’s Noelle Araguz (2) .(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey

Donna North leveled the match five minutes after halftime. Miranda Mendoza scored on a tap-in to give her side the hope of picking up points.

The Chiefs trailed the Hawks by five points entering the match, but come out of it now down by eight. The Chiefs still look a lock for the playoffs with a seven-point advantage over Edcouch-Elsa coming into Tuesday night.

Donna North sat back and soaked up pressure for much of the match. Their keepers pulled off a few saves to keep them in the match. The defense also played well despite Fonseca and her twin Aliyah Fonseca constantly running at them throughout the pitch.

“We tend use them wherever we see fit,” Galvan said. “When we settle in and see a team, that is when we adjust and move them. They have been a great asset to our team.”

Alexis Fonseca started on the right side. The speedster nearly put her side in front after testing the Chiefs keeper at her near post in the 8th minute.

The Hawks found their opening goal a few minutes later when Kayren Vasquez had the final touch with the ball bouncing around the six-yard box.

Harlingen South’s Kayren Vasquez (14).(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey

It could be the second time in a week that Harlingen South faces a second-place team in the district, depending on Brownsville Porter’s result on Tuesday night.

“We are just trying to make sure we get better every game,” Galvan said. “Today we did not connect on as many passes as we would have liked to, but we are ready. We are going to start getting ready and prepared for Porter because we know they are hungry.”

The Hawks meet the Cowboys at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Harlingen South High School.

HARLINGEN — Harlingen native Steven Bazan could have two-putted for the win, but needed only one attempt after placing a shot within 10 feet of the 17th hole at the Harlingen Country Club.

Applause and golf cart horns sounded for the golfer they call ‘Bear’ when the ball slowly rolled in the hole.

First day of match play at LB40

Bazan is the champion of the 71st annual Life Begins at 40 golf tournament by defeating McAllen’s Arnoldo Curiel after 17 holes Saturday with around 100 golf carts surrounding the hole.

“This is big for me,” Bazan said. “This has been something I have thought about ever since working here as a teenager.”

During the late 1980s, Bazan started as a bag boy at the club while attending Harlingen High School. Bazan always wanted to compete in the tournament that he idolized in his youth.

Competitor Steven Bazan tees off at hole four Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey

Only four golfers remain at LB40

This year’s tournament had 96 golfers competing. When Bazan was a teenager, the tournament hosted more than 250 golfers, Life Begins at 40 tournament president Jeff Scoggins said. The pair reminisced about the old tournaments while Bazan celebrated with his family.

Bazan was a little emotional on the green. The 50-year-old woke with doubt in the early hours with big match approaching, he said. But Bazan made sure to have the right mindset when he stepped on to the course Saturday.

“I wanted to enjoy myself,” Bazan said. “Whether I win or did not win, I was going to be OK tomorrow. The sun was going to rise, and I was going to wake up. That was the mentality I had coming into today.”

Bazan, Curiel advances to final

Competitor Arnoldo Curiel tees off from the tee box at hole four Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 during the Life Begins At 40 Annual Golf Tournament at the Harlingen Country Club. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald) Denise Cathey

Even though Bazan had been playing well all tournament, he had not beaten Curiel before.

The Harlingen native has only competed in three LBA40 competitions. Each time previously, he has lost to Curiel, in the first round two years ago and in the second round last year.

Third time’s the charm, he said.

Bazan went up on Curiel by three after eight. Curiel struggled at times to hit the fairway but dug himself out of tough spots to keep the match going as far as it did.

Bazan had golden opportunities at 9, 10 and 11 to put Curiel away but could not convert on the green after beautiful shots with his irons. Curiel birdied 14 to pull within two, but that was as close as it got for the McAllen Country Club member.

BROWNSVILLE — The ball is hard to spot.

The white sticks out and makes it possible to track and catch the football, but concentration is a must.

It is better than having to pay for field access, so the lighting that the tennis courts at the Brownsville Event Center provide is enough for the women of the Brownsville Sting.

The Sting had a long offseason. It comes to an end at 7 p.m. tonight when the women’s contact football team takes on the Alamo Silverbacks at Oliveira Park in Brownsville.

“We have a lot of numbers this year,” said Amber Cantu, a veteran on the team. “We have a really good mix of experienced players, veteran players and newer players. Our team as a whole is just really excited for the season to start.”

The Sting started practicing in August.

Because the Sting do not have a robust base in the sport like the men’s teams that compete in Texas Valley Sports, a local adult league, they try and practice whenever and wherever they can.

Head coach Alvin Edwards makes the commute from Harlingen to Brownsville during the week. Edwards is joined by other dedicated coaches trying to help make the Sting better.

“Coach Edwards is our rock,” Cantu said. “He helps us out so much … he cares to share all of his knowledge with us. A lot of our success and the things that we do is thanks to Coach Edwards.”

Edwards was working especially hard to train some of the newer players with the Silverbacks on the horizon. Newer players received a different attention, while veteran players like safety Aimee Young worked on schemes.

Young is going to play safety this year and could be a key player Saturday night against the Silverbacks.

“We were looking forward to playing against a Valley team the year before,” Young said. “But they ended up disbanding. So, we are super excited and hope this brings more interest in the Valley. That is our goal, to bring more interest to our sport in the Valley.”

There are girls in the Valley that want to play contact football, but they just need teams to play on, Young said.