THE MONITOR’S 2023 ALL-AREA GIRLS BASKETBALL SUPERLATIVES AND TEAMS

Player of the Year: Emma Lucio, Edinburg Vela

Offensive Player of the Year: Ashley Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

Defensive Player of the Year: Yulissa Yebra, McAllen Rowe

Newcomer of the Year: Jamie Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

Utility Player of the Year: Sophia Pecina, Progreso

Most Improved Player of the Year: Lola Mallard, McAllen High

Coach of the Year: Jaime Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

All-Area First Team: Kimora Fagan, Edinburg High; Janai Coleman, Edinburg Vela; Morgan Perales, Weslaco High; Emily Carranco, Edinburg High; Britzeida Sanchez, Rio Grande City.

All-Area Second Team: Daylah Vega, Sharyland High; Lexi Garcia, Harvest Christian; Dana Serna, Edinburg Economedes; Madison Martinez, Edinburg High; Madison Borjas, McAllen Memorial.

Player of the Year: Emma Lucio, Edinburg Vela

Edinburg Vela’s Emma Lucio is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year. (Courtesy Photo)

Offensive Player of the Year: Ashley Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

Harvest Christian junior Ashley Gonzalez has been the focal point of the offense since she stepped on campus as a freshman.

Her first year, Gonzalez averaged 26.8 points per game, forcing defenses to gameplan against her going forward.

Despite facing double-teams and several different defensive strategies to slow her down, Gonzalez has continued to dominate all the same the past two seasons, including another 20 point per game season this year.

Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year.

Harvest Christian’s Ashley Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“I really like this accomplishment,” said Gonzalez, who won the same award last year. “I’m proud of it, but I must stay humble. We have a target on our back now. Personally, I don’t get worried about it. I’m going to keep playing my game and so is the team. We’re just going to get better.”

Gonzalez was a walking bucket this season, with her crafty handles and three-level scoring ability making it difficult to stop the Eagles guard.

Her offensive prowess was on full display all season, averaging 21.9 points per game in 42 games played this season.

Gonzalez’s offensive impact didn’t end with scoring. The 5-foot-8 guard flashed her court vision this season, dishing out 3.4 assists per game.

She also crashed the boards with the best, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, while serving as one of the team’s top defensive players with 3.7 steals per game.

Gonzalez’s dominant all-around effort helped lead the Eagles to a 35-7 overall record, marching through the TAPPS 1A playoffs en route to the team’s first ever state title.

“I think the biggest thing I improved on was my defense and my mentality,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t feel like it is just me. I realize it is about my whole team. I think having the team have my back has been one of the most helpful things because I know if they double me, I have my teammates around me. I’m just really proud of them because I couldn’t do this without them.”

Defensive Player of the Year: Yulissa Yebra, McAllen Rowe

McAllen Rowe’s defense was one of the toughest in the Valley this season, allowing just 36 points per contest en route to their first third round playoff appearance since 2012.

Anchoring the Warriors defense was 6-foot-0 post Yulissa Yebra. The Howard College signee crashed the boards to limit opponents shot attempts, while turning away numerous shots and creating countless turnovers.

Yebra is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year.

McAllen Rowe’s Yulissa Yebra is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. (Courtesy Photo)

“I really love playing defense, so it is an honor to get this award,” Yebra said. “I’ve always worked hard on my defense to get to where I’m at right now. I’m just really proud of myself.”

Yebra towered over most of her competition this season, standing a 6-foot-0. The Howard College signee used her size, along with her elite athleticism to terrorize opposing players.

Her presence inside the paint led to several multi-block games for Yebra during her senior year. Not shown on the stat sheets, however, is how her sheer presence in the paint helped turn away potential shot attempts.

Yebra also displayed quick hands this year, coming up with two or more steals in countless contests this season.

“I always just try to stay low and keep my head in the game,” Yebra said. “When they’re going up for a shot, I just try to keep my hands up and not foul out because I know my team is going to need me in the game. My size has been an advantage, especially for blocking shots. I just try to keep my hands up and deflect any passes or shots just to help my teammates at least slow down the ball and force turnovers.”

While Yebra’s high school career has come to an end, she hopes to carry her defensive presence into the next chapter of her basketball career at Howard College next fall.

“I’ll definitely take my defense and confidence when I go over there because I am going to need it,” Yebra said. “There are going to be girls who are like me. I’m just going to have to keep working and push harder to meet the expectations the coach wanted of me, just like I did at Rowe, and go from there.”

Newcomer of the Year: Jamie Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

Cracking the starting lineup on a team that advanced to the state tournament on any level can prove to be a difficult task for any player.

Harvest Christian’s Jamie Gonzalez made it look almost seamless.

The freshman guard emerged as a top contributor for the Eagles during their TAPPS 1A state title run, averaging 12.8 points, 3.5 steals and 3.4 assists per game. She is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Newcomer of the Year.

Harvest Christian’s Jamie Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Newcomer of the Year. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“It means a lot to win this award,” Gonzalez said. “This was one of my goals from the beginning of my freshman year. Of course, my main goal was to win state with the team, but this was a good little side.”

Gonzalez stepped into the starting lineup with ease during her freshman year, ranking second on the team in points per game behind only her sister, Ashley.

She also served as arguably the team’s best defender, tasked with shadowing the opposing team’s best player night after night.

The addition of the youngest Gonzalez made the Eagles nearly unstoppable on the hardwood this year, posting a program best 35-7 overall record en route to the school’s first state championship.

Gonzalez looked like a seasoned veteran during her first state tournament appearance, scoring a game-high 30 points during the semifinal round to send the Eagles to the championship game.

She added a 15-point performance, 13 of which came during the opening quarter, during the state final to help the Eagles win the TAPPS 1A crown.

Despite her breakout freshman season, Gonzalez already has her eyes set on next season and improving her game.

“I definitely need to work on my left side and more on my shooting,” Gonzalez said. “I think I already do really well on defense, pushing the ball and just being active. There definitely is pressure. It is always harder to repeat because now you have a target on your back and people know you now.”

Utility Player of the Year: Sophia Pecina, Progreso

No player did more for their team this season than Progreso’s Sophia Pecina.

The junior guard contributed in nearly every way possible for the Red Ants, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game en route to bi-district playoff win.

Pecina is The Monitor’s All-Area Girls Basketball Utility Player of the Year.

Progreso’s Sophia Pecina is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Utility Player of the Year. (Courtesy Photo)

“It wasn’t expected,” Pecina said. “Coming from a small school, we don’t really get that recognition that much. At bigger schools it is easier to be seen. Coming from a small school, it is an honor to be selected for this award. It gives me more push for next season, especially after going through confidence problems this year. It gives me that recognition and makes me feel seen.”

Pecina was a near guaranteed double-double this season, accomplishing the feat in all but two of 31 contests this year. The junior guard also added 15 triple-doubles this year.

Offensively, Pecina led the team in points per game, scoring 18.0 a night on a 44% clip from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. Both percentages ranked first on the team.

When she wasn’t scoring, Pecina was dishing out assists to her teammates, averaging a team-high 7.8 assists per game.

Pecina’s efforts continued on defense, averaging a team-high 14.8 rebounds per game, while nabbing a ridiculous 7.5 steals per contest.

“I started off playing ball really young,” Pecina said. “I’ve had a bunch of different coaches and played on a bunch of different teams. I’ve played different positions for each team. I had to make myself a different player for each team. I’ve never been a stats person. I’ve just tried my best to do everything I can to get a win.”

Pecina’s play led the Red Ants to a 21-12 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in district play.

She opened the playoffs with a 19-point, 18 rebound double-double to help lead the Red Ants past Donna IDEA 49-25 and into the area round. Pecina also added six assists and five steals that game.

After falling in the area round, Pecina has her eyes set on bigger during her final season, hoping to build off her impressive junior year and turn it into deeper postseason success.

Most Improved Player of the Year: Lola Mallard, McAllen High

Junior year presented a new challenge for McAllen High’s Lola Mallard on the hardwood, going from an option on the team’s offense to the Bulldogs go-to scorer.

Mallard took the challenge head on and emerged as one of the top hoopers in the RGV, setting career highs in nearly every statistical category. She is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Most Improved Player of the Year.

McAllen High’s Lola Mallard is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Most Improved Player of the Year. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“I’m grateful for this,” Mallard said. “I’m grateful for my team and for God that I am able to have this opportunity. I just want to use it to help me grow more in my skills.”

Graduation hit the Bulldogs hard over the summer, leaving Mallard as one of team’s most experienced players this season.

Mallard took the challenge head on, upping her scoring average from 5.8 points per game as a sophomore to 14.1 this year. Her scoring numbers ranked well ahead everyone on her team, with no other player averaging more than five.

“I feel like my driving helped me take the game to another level this year,” Mallard said. “This year I drove a lot more, while last year I was more afraid to do that. Honestly, my mentality just flipped. I knew I had to get the ball in the basket. I have the skill to do it, so I knew I just had to get in there and do it.”

Mallard’s scoring numbers weren’t the only ones to see a jump. The junior guard increased her rebound per game from 3.1 to 5.8 this season, also seeing an uptick in steals from 1.6 to 3.0 and assists from 1.8 to 1.5.

Her rebound and steal numbers set new career bests, while her assists ranked second in her high school career behind her freshman year when she averaged 2.0 per contest.

Mallard’s play kept the Bulldogs in playoff contention for most of the season, just missing out on a postseason berth down the stretch.

The now-senior leads an experienced group of individuals into next season, hoping to continue to build off her breakout season and get McAllen High back into the playoffs.

Coach of the Year: Jaime Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

Expectations were high for Harvest Christian this season after falling just short of a TAPPS 2A state title last season.

The Eagles responded to the expectations in dominant fashion under the tutelage of head coach Jaime Gonzalez, setting a program record in wins and capturing the TAPPS 1A state title.

For his coaching efforts, Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Harvest Christian’s Jaime Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“It is a pretty high honor,” Gonzalez said. “Honestly, I think there are whole lot of other coaches better than I am and I sincerely mean that. I think I’m just blessed with an opportunity being at Harvest to do this with my daughters and the kids that I got.”

Gonzalez knew he had a good team heading into this year, returning nearly every player from last season’s state semifinalist squad.

All he had to do was sit back and let them figure it out on the court, Gonzalez said, crediting his players for the season’s success.

The team was able to piece things together through a gauntlet of a season constructed by Gonzalez, which included contests against several UIL Class 4A-6A opponents.

The Eagles posted a 35-7 overall mark this year, a new program best, including wins over UIL playoff teams La Feria, La Joya High, Los Fresnos and Rio Hondo.

Their tough regular season schedule set up a dominant postseason run, outscoring their four playoff opponents 291-95 en route to the TAPPS 1A state title.

“I’ve said it a couple of times this year, but I have a good thing going here. I just got to make sure I don’t get in the way,” Gonzalez said. “It is an honor, but I feel like there is a whole lot of other coaches better than I am. When you’re in the right place at the right time and you’re doing what God has called you to do, his blessing is on it and the results just are really good. It makes me look better than I really am.”

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After nearly two decades at the helm of Hidalgo’s boys soccer program, Ezequiel “Zeke” Morales is moving on.

The state champion head coach is headed to Valley View next year, officially signing his contract to take over the boys soccer program, Valley View ISD superintendent Silvia Ibarra confirmed to RGVSports.com on Wednesday.

“Yes, we hired Mr. Morales at Valley View ISD,” said Ibarra in an email to RGVSports.com. “He will be teaching Spanish classes and coaching soccer.”

Morales joins the Tigers after a 17-year stint at Hidalgo, taking the Pirates to the state tournament during his first year in charge in 2007. He led Hidalgo to its first state championship just two years later, winning the Class 4A title in 2009.

This season, Morales was on pace to lead the Pirates to another state championship before being relieved of his duties late-February. The Pirates went on to win their second state championship in April, with the players celebrating with Morales afterwards.

Morales takes over a Valley View program with a long history of success. Since 2013, the Tigers have made the state tournament five times, tied for most all-time in the Valley with Brownsville Lopez.

One thing that has evaded the Tigers has been a state championship, failing to make it past the semifinals during all but one of their state tournament appearances. Their lone state championship game berth came in 2014, falling 2-1 to Northwest Nelson.

Morales will look to get the Tigers back into the state tournament after having their season ended in the bi-district round of the playoffs each of the past two seasons.

“I’m excited to be a part of the Valley View school district,” Morales said. “I know I come to a soccer program that has been successful in recent years. I’m ready to come and add to their winning traditions.”

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PORT ISABEL — The start of June signals the start of the road to the 7-on-7 state tournament in College Station for teams across the Valley, with multiple state qualifying tournaments taking place during the next two weeks across Texas.

Several RGV teams were in action Friday, with the La Feria Lions emerging as the first Valley team to punch its ticket to the state tournament.

The 2023 7-on-7 state tournament is scheduled for June 22-24 at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station.

“It is a great feeling,” La Feria quarterback Andruw Rivera said. “This is what you want. You want to be up there and banging with big-time teams. You know what to expect. You don’t count out any team. Being there just makes you want to work harder and keep pushing for the season.”

The Lions were one of four RGV teams to compete in the 2023 Battle at the Bay 7-on-7 state qualifying tournament, with Yoakum also competing in the five-team round robin event.

La Feria set the tone from the start, taking down Yoakum 14-6 in their first game. The Lions ran the table from then on, picking up double-digit wins over Hidalgo (28-6), Raymondville (34-0) and Port Isabel (26-7) to finish the day 4-0.

Their perfect record cemented their spot in the state tournament’s Division II bracket, with the team with the best record from the day earning the state bid.

“It is all about our energy,” La Feria receiver Joaquin Treviño said. “You just have to wake up as a team and have everybody on the same page. You have to want it. I told the boys from the start we had to get our feet moving and set the tone. That chemistry we build during this time as a skill core, it makes us play better as a team when we get into the real season.”

Yoakum finished second with a 3-1 record, its lone blemish coming against La Feria. Raymondville finished third with a 2-2 mark, picking up wins over Port Isabel and Hidalgo. The Pirates and Tarpons finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Elsewhere, Santa Rosa was in action at the Poth SQT, eyeing a bid in the Division II state tournament. The Warriors finished 3-0 in pool play, picking up wins over Comfort (33-7), Falls City (12-0) and Three Rivers (27-26) to earn a spot in the tournament semifinals.

The Santa Rosa Warriors finished third at the Poth 7-on-7 state qualifying tournament Friday at Poth High School. (Courtesy Photo)

The Warriors lost 34-14 to Dilley during their semifinal contest, finishing third in the tournament and just missing out on a state bid. Dilley and Poth each earned state bids as the top two finishers.

Several RGV teams will be in action during today’s Snake Pit Classic SQT being held at multiple locations in Mission, with three state bids on the line. For a full schedule, visit RGVSports.com.

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EDINBURG — Keyshawn Garcia spent the first three years of his high school track career as a sprinter. When he first arrived at Edinburg North, Garcia primarily competed in the 200- and 400-meter dash.

This season, Garcia elected to take the advice of longtime coach Homer Martinez and make the move to the 800-meter run, a race he had only run four times during his first three years.

The move paid dividends for Garcia, who took the state by storm with a perfect 10-0 record en route to the Class 6A title in the event.

The decision has also secured a future in the sport for Garcia, as he signed his National Letter of Intent to run at the University of Houston next fall during a signing ceremony Thursday at the Edinburg North Gym.

The University of Houston is an NCAA Division I school that competes in the American Athletic Conference.

“The University of Houston reached out to me a couple of weeks ago, and they wanted to fly me out,” Garcia said. “I went for a visit, and I really liked it. Then they offered me a full ride, so I took the scholarship. I feel really blessed for this opportunity. I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity and guiding me through the steps. I’m just grateful to compete at the next level and show them who I really am.”

Garcia split time on the gridiron and on the track during his four years at Edinburg North, also competing on the cross-country team.

On the football field, Garcia was a dominant force from his defensive back position, recording 72 tackles, five tackles for loss and four interceptions during his senior season en route to being named the District 31-6A MVP.

His speed and conditioning in football translated onto the track during his senior season, as he advanced to the Class 6A state track and field championships in the 400 and 800.

“The strength and conditioning got me stronger and bigger, so going into track season all I had to do was cut down a couple of pounds and I knew I’d be good,” Garcia said. “That turnover speed from football, it helped me in all my races this year. Football really helped me in the long run.”

The Houston signee went 6-of-7 in the 400, winning District 31-6A, Area 31/32-6A and Region IV-6A titles en route to a state meet appearance.

His best race, however, was the 800. Garcia went perfect in the event, adding district, area and regional titles in the event, before capping his career at Edinburg North with state gold in the event.

Edinburg North’s Keyshawn Garcia (2679) reacts after winning the Class 6A boys 800-meter dash during the UIL state track and field championships on May 13 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

Garcia wasn’t done after the state meet, going to Huntsville, Alabama, this past Friday and competing in the Running Lane National Championships. There, he added a national title, winning the event against competition from across the state with a personal-best time of 1 minute, 49.61 seconds.

The mark sets a new RGV best according to track and field historian Carlos Vela, breaking Port Isabel’s Todd Harbour’s record set in 1977. Harbour’s hand-timed mark of 1:49.46 adjusts to 1:49.64 in fully automated time according to Vela, making Garcia No. 1 all time in the Valley.

“I know the collegiate level is a lot harder than the high school level,” Garcia said. “I’d like to set several records at the collegiate level now and compete against the best. I want to go out there and put my name up there.”

Garcia joins a program led by led by legendary USA track and field athlete Carl Lewis. Lewis, who is entering his 10th year as the program’s head coach, is recognized by many as one of the greatest athletes of all time after winning 10 Olympic medals during his career.

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BEEVILLE — La Joya Palmview has become familiar with walk-off runs during its postseason run. During each of its first three playoff series, the Lobos have won at least one game with a walk-off.

Palmview was on the wrong side of the walk-off Friday.

Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Leander Rouse’s Blake Gonzalez sailed a ball into center field, bringing in Tyler Espinosa to secure the 3-2 victory and the sweep of the Lobos during Game 2 of a best-of-three Region IV-5A semifinal series at Coastal Bend College’s baseball field.

“When you come to this level, you find out every team is good,” La Joya Palmview head coach Ricky Garcia said. “You have to make sure you don’t make errors. Everything went according to our game plan, but sometimes we didn’t make the plays we needed to make. We made a couple of errors here and there, and it went their way. I’m proud of this team because they kept on fighting and never gave up. That is what kept us together.”

The loss ends the Lobos’ historic season, which featured Palmview advancing to the fourth round for the first time in program history.

They finish with a 29-10 overall record, including playoff wins over Corpus Christi King, Sharyland Pioneer and Edinburg Vela in the bi-district, area and regional quarterfinal rounds, respectively.

“We’ve been talking about this season since August,” Garcia said. “I told the guys then if they wanted to make this a special season, we had to work hard in the offseason and take it into the season. That is exactly what we did. When you play tough teams in certain tournaments, it pays off. The kids put it all together. We had great leadership from our seniors. Those guys are outstanding ball players and kept the team together. Not only them, but the young ones that are starters, too. They worked together to keep this team going throughout the whole season.”

The Lobos and the Raiders traded runs during the first two innings, and were tied 2-2 heading into the third.

Palmview got on the board first with an RBI single by Josiah Gonzalez, bringing in Joe Cerda to make it 1-0 after one.

The Raiders answered almost instantly, with Rayner Heinrich delivering a bomb to left field for a one-run homer to tie the game during Rouse’s first at-bat.

Palmview retook the lead during the top of the second, with senior Tony Villarreal stealing the home to make it 2-1. The lead was short-lived again, with Gonzalez bringing in his first of two RBIs of the day during the bottom of the second to knot it at 2.

After a back-and-forth start, the teams buckled down defensively, with neither allowing another run during the next four innings. A quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh for Palmview set up Rouse for the go-ahead run.

With just one out remaining, Gonzalez delivered the biggest hit of the day, placing the ball just past the outstretched glove of Palmview’s Tony Villarreal for the walk-off score to end the Lobos historic playoff run.

“I told our guys these are big shoes to follow up,” Garcia said. We can’t be satisfied with getting to this round anymore. We got a taste of it, and now we have to work hard to get past this round. The Sweet 16 is no joke. Everybody at this level can play.”

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HIDALGO — Rey Cantu set out to accomplish two goals when he arrived at Hidalgo High School as a freshman: leave a state champion and sign to play collegiately.

The senior forward accomplished the first of his two goals in April, helping lead the Pirates to the Class 4A state title with a 3-0 victory over Palestine.

He fulfilled the last of his two goals Tuesday, committing to play collegiate soccer at Blinn College during a signing ceremony in front of coaches, friends, family and teammates at Hidalgo High School.

Blinn College is a National Junior College Athletic Association program based in Brenham. The Buccaneers compete in NJCAA’s Division I tier and are a part of Region XIV.

“I remember saying in an interview my sophomore year that I was going to be a state champ at Hidalgo and sign to play college soccer,” Cantu said. “I feel happy right now because it shows I’m a person who says he is going to do something and does it. Now it is time to go to Blinn with everything I have.”

Cantu’s dream of playing collegiate soccer was nearly shattered following a devastating knee injury during Hidalgo’s playoff run last year.

The injury kept Cantu off the field for the first part of his senior season, not returning until the Pirates kicked off district play late January. The long wait to return made Cantu question whether he’d be able to return to form and play at the next level.

Cantu looked better than ever when he returned to the pitch, netting a Valley-best 40 goals in 13 district contests.

He continued to shine as the competition got tougher during the postseason, scoring eight goals in seven playoff contests.

Cantu saved his best performance for the final game of his high school career, scoring twice just five minutes into the state championship game to help Hidalgo secure the 3-0 victory and the Class 4A state crown.

“After suffering my ACL injury, I felt like I was never going to play like I used to,” Cantu said. “I knew I was wrong the moment I stepped back onto the field. I kept getting better. Now, thanks to God, here I am signing to play at a really good college.”

Cantu, a four-year letterwinner, leaves Hidalgo with a decorated resumè in tow. He earned District 31-4A’s Newcomer of the Year award as a freshman in 2020. Cantu followed it up by winning the district’s offensive MVP honors the next year, while also being named The Monitor’s 2021 All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.

An injury-filled junior season kept him from earning any superlatives, but Cantu still managed to earn District 31-4A first-team honors.

This year, Cantu earned first-team honors for a second straight year. Cantu also is a candidate for The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area Player of the Year award and the inaugural RGVSports.com All-Valley soccer team.

With his high school career in the rearview mirror and after accomplishing what he set out to do as a freshman, Cantu has new goals in sight as he prepares for the next chapter of his soccer career.

“My goals are the same from when I came to Hidalgo as a freshman,” Cantu said. “There is no state championships at the college level. Now it is about national championships. The goal remains the same, though. Winning a championship with my team and bringing the same joy I brought to this community to the community over there.”

Cantu joins a Blinn team led by head coach Mac McBride and assistant Rudy Roediger, who have a combined 40 years of collegiate coaching experience.

The Buccaneers led the nation in assists (92) in 2022 and ranked seventh in goals (61). The Buccaneers were ranked No. 18 in NJCAA Division I last season, marking three straight seasons the team was ranked in the Top 20.

The Buccaneers also contributed off the field, doing 892 hours of community service during the 2022-2023 academic year.

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MISSION — Sharyland High’s boys soccer team was among the best not only in the Valley this season, but in the state.

The Rattlers captured a share of the District 31-5A title during the regular season, adding a Region IV-5A championship and a state tournament appearance for the first time since 2012.

Leading the Rattlers’ historic run was a group of talented seniors, three of whom are set to compete at the next level this coming fall.

Jose Sanchez, Edward Morales and Kevin Zepeda each signed to continue playing soccer during ceremonies this week at the Sharyland High Auditorium.

“It is no surprise,” Morales said. “We knew the talent we had. It was just a matter of us putting in the work and putting in the effort. I love these guys with all my heart. I am just happy to see us all excel. It was a great ride. I’m happy for all of us.”

Sanchez was the first of the three to sign this week. The senior midfielder penned his commitment to the University of Houston-Victoria during a ceremony Wednesday at the Sharyland High Auditorium.

UHV is an NAIA Division I program in Victoria that competes in the Red River Athletic Conference.

Sharyland High’s Joselo Sanchez signs his NLI to play soccer at University of Houston – Victoria during a ceremony Wednesday at the Sharyland High Auditorium. (Courtesy Photo | Sharyland ISD Athletics)

“It has been a few weeks of preparation to get here,” Sanchez said. “I got to see the coaches a few weeks ago during the RGVSCO All-Star game. I talked to the coaches after the game, and we’ve just been preparing for this moment. It has been an exciting week for the team in general. I’m just really happy to make it official and join this university. I know they’re going to get the best out of me, so I’m really excited.”

Sanchez’s impact on the Rattlers was almost instant from the moment he arrived as a freshman, cracking the varsity roster.

By his sophomore season, Sanchez was named team captain, holding the rank for the rest of his high school career.

The four-year letterwinner did a little bit of everything for the Rattlers during his final season, lining up wherever needed.

No matter where he played, Sanchez shone on the pitch, netting 16 goals and 11 assists to wrap up his final year at Sharyland en route to his third straight first-team all-district selection.

Sharyland’s Jose Sanchez celebrates his goal during a Region IV-5A semifinal contest against San Antonio Southwest on April 7 at the Brownsville Sports Park. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“I had the responsibility of being the team captain and team leader,” Sanchez said. “This year, I took the role of playing a few positions. I just told the coach to play me wherever he needed me because we had a lot of good players. I got to play a lot of positions this year. I was happy to do that.”

Midfielder Edward Morales was the second soccer signing of the week for the Rattlers, officially joining the Creighton Bluejays during a ceremony Thursday.

Creighton is an NCAA Division I school in Omaha, Nebraska, that competes in the Big East.

Sharyland High’s Edward Morales signs his NLI to play soccer at Creighton University during a ceremony Thursday at the Sharyland High Auditorium. (Courtesy Photo | Sharyland ISD Athletics)

“It was great having all my friends and family out here together to celebrate this big moment,” Morales said. “It was nice seeing all the hard work pay off. The visits to Creighton always felt welcoming. I felt at peace and at home there. I didn’t feel that with a lot of other schools, and I just knew for the get-go that this would be my home.”

Morales only played one season with the Rattlers, but that didn’t stop him from leaving his mark on the program.

The crafty midfielder was the cog that moved Sharyland High’s dominant offensive machine, dishing out a team-high 25 assists. Morales didn’t just set up his teammates for goals, however, creating opportunities of his own to net 16 goals.

Morales’ dominant season helped the Rattlers advance all the way to the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time since 2012, and also earned him District 31-5A co-MVP honors.

Sharyland’s Edward Morales (17) dribbles the ball during a District 31-5A contest against PSJA Memorial on Feb. 14 at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“Really, I’m just all about the team,” Morales said. “I think my assist numbers say that well. I’m mainly for the team, and I love to see others do well. I love to see the team win, and I know I can’t do it by myself. It was just a team effort. I think I bring the intensity and it is contagious, so I think that is what I brought to the table.”

The final signing of the week came Friday, with forward Kevin Zepeda officially committing to take his talents to Texas A&M San Antonio.

TAMU-SA, an NAIA Division I program in San Antonio, competes in the Red River Athletic Conference with UHV, making Zepeda a conference rival with Sanchez next fall.

Sharyland High’s Kevin Zepeda signs his NLI to play soccer at Texas A&M – San Antonio during a ceremony Friday at the Sharyland High Auditorium. (Courtesy Photo | Sharyland ISD Athletics)

“It is a lot of nerves and excitement,” Zepeda said. “This is a big step for me. My process to signing was very last minute. Going into the playoffs I didn’t have any offers. Nobody had talked to me, so I found all the colleges from Texas and sent them an email. Texas A&M San Antonio, they knew my situation and they were willing to fight for me. They made a great offer, and now I’m going to play with them. Now it is time to keep working hard and get to the next level from there.”

Zepeda’s journey to a collegiate opportunity was littered with obstacles after moving from Georgia to South Texas this year.

Clearing hurdles from the UIL kept Zepeda off the field for all of non-district play and the first four games of district play. Once cleared, however, Zepeda came out with a vengeance.

The speedy winger netted two goals during his season debut, a District 31-5A contest against Valley View, giving the Rattlers a victory over their rival for the first time in seven years.

Sharyland’s Kevin Zepeda (22) dribbles the ball during a District 31-5A contest against PSJA Memorial on Feb. 14 at Richard Thompson Stadium in Mission. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“There were times where I started doubting I would be able to play this year,” Zepeda said. “Then that first game, I came on as a substitute. I ended up scoring two goals and it was just a great time.”

From there on, Zepeda dominated on the pitch, leading the team in scoring with 24 goals, including four goals during the Rattlers’ postseason run to the state semis.

Zepeda added six assists to go along with his scoring, earning him the District 31-5A offensive player of the year award.

“I’ve always been pretty fast since I was little,” Zepeda said. “I’ve also always had the dribbling skills It just came naturally. I just have an eye for the goal. I always want to score and give the best for the team. Whether that was scoring or assisting, I just wanted the ball to finish in the back of the net. I think I did a great job at scoring this year and helped the team a lot.”

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SAN JUAN — Just moments after taking their first lead of the contest Thursday, the PSJA High Bears had their Game 1 regional quarterfinal contest against Laredo United postponed until Friday due to lightning in the area.

The near-24-hour delay couldn’t slow the Bears’ momentum, as they picked up right where they left off when play resumed Friday with an 8-4 win over the Longhorns in Game 1.

PSJA High continued to dominate just 30 minutes later, roaring past the Longhorns 9-1 in Game 2 to complete the sweep during their best-of-three Region IV-6A quarterfinal at C.V. Cain Baseball Stadium in San Juan.

The victory pushes the Bears into the fourth round for the first time since 2004. They’ll take on the winner between Lake Travis and San Antonio Johnson at a date, time and location to be determined.

“It is an amazing feeling to be here again,” PSJA High head coach Marco Guajardo said. “We’ve been through ups and downs all year long. Goals were set from the beginning. We put it all together, and the guys are finally realizing the sky is the limit.”

The Bears trailed the Longhorns 3-2 heading into the seventh during Game 1 of the series Thursday. A two-run single by Austin Flores gave PSJA High a 4-3 lead on the road before lightning postponed the contest into Friday at C.V. Cain Baseball Stadium in San Juan.

PSJA High picked right up where it left off Friday, with Nyles Alvarez delivering a line drive to center field, bringing in a pair of runs to make it 6-4. The Bears added to the lead on RBIs by Jai Arenas and Julius Ramirez to secure the 8-4 win in Game 1.

After a 30-minute break, the Bears and Longhorns took the field again, with PSJA High’s bats remaining just as hot.

Ramirez set the tone for the second game, driving home a solo homer during his first at-bat to give the Bears a 1-0 advantage. Diego Gomez added to the lead with an RBI, making it 2-0 after one.

The runs continued to pour in, taking a 9-0 lead after five innings, led by Andy Gamboa’s two RBIs.

“The lightning delay was tough,” Guajardo said. “We were down and right when we got momentum, I saw the trainers holding on, trying to see if we could end the game. I just told the guys we had to continue this today. Our bats came alive big-time. We started hitting the ball. Our big guys were hitting deep. The guys came out ready. They were focused.”

Defensively, the Bears buckled down after allowing four runs during Game 1, allowing just three hits and one run during Game 2.

Junior pitcher Vinny Cano got the start on the mound, getting the win with six strikeouts and just three hits allowed in seven innings pitched, including one strikeout during the final inning to help secure the 9-1 win and the sweep.

“Preparation was the key today,” Cano said. “My pitching coach, he did 50% of the job. I just came out here and did the other 50. He told me what to do, and I just executed. Then when you have guys like Andy (Gamboa), Jaime (Lopez) and Diego (Gomez) making plays back there, it is hard to lose when your defense performs like that. It feels amazing right now. This group of guys, we’ve all come together. It is a great feeling knowing we have each other’s backs.”

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AUSTIN — Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal found herself in perfect position heading into the final four laps of the two-mile run.

The Cougars’ junior was neck and neck with Lewisville Flower Mound’s Nicole and Samantha Humphries, fighting for the top spot on the podium.

Then everything stopped.

Halfway through the race, UIL officials elected to temporarily suspend the race, along with other ongoing events, due to lightning in the area.

“When they stopped the race, I was shocked,” Leal said. “I was feeling really relaxed during the race. I had a good position. After they delayed it, I was kind of mad because I felt really good. I had to get new socks because mine were drenched. I just waited in the bus for a bit, stretched out and came back out to start to warm up.”

The delay wouldn’t stop Leal from reaching her goal.

After a nearly three-hour stoppage, Leal retook the track and finished what she started, clocking in at 10 minutes, 19.19 seconds to take home the gold in the Class 6A girls 3,200-meter run during the final day of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal reacts after winning the 6A girls 3,200-meter run during the final day of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“I’m feeling really good after coming here last year,” Leal said. “Back then I didn’t have as much experience or training as I do now. Regardless of what happened, I was going to be proud of how far I’ve come in a year. I was expecting to place, though. Now, for senior year, I want to put myself out more and make myself more known and break records.”

Leal’s gold in the 3,200 was just the start to a dominant day for the junior. She followed her first place with a win in the 6A girls 1,600-meter run.

The Cougars’ distance runner clocked in at 4:47.36 for the gold, sweeping the 6A girls distance running events.

Edinburg North’s San Juanita Leal smiles as she crosses the finish line in first during the 6A girls 1,600-meter run during the final day of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“I’m feeling really confident going into next year now,” Leal said. “Last year, I would have never expected myself to be up here. Then my times, they’ve been amazing. I’ve shaved off nearly 10 seconds from last year. I have to work much harder now, though. I don’t have that much experience yet, so I’ll be even stronger next year.”

Leal was one of three state champions crowned during the final day of the state meet.

Edinburg North’s Keyshawn Garcia joined his classmate at the podium, winning the Class 6A 800-meter run with a personal-best time of 1:51.53.

The Cougars’ senior turned on the burners during the final 200 meters to overtake four competitors and take home the gold.

Garcia also competed in the 6A boys 400-meter dash, finishing ninth with a time of 50.74.

Edinburg North’s Keyshawn Garcia reacts after winning the 6A boys 800-meter run title during the 2023 UIL state track and field championships Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

“I feel really happy and emotional after that,” Garcia said. “I knew I had to finish the race strong. There were a few guys in front of me towards the end, but I knew I had to do this for my family and all the people supporting me. The last 50 meters I started feeling dizzy and my legs were hurting, but I had to finish strong. All the hard work paid off, and I accomplished everything I wanted these past few years.”

Lasara junior Xiomara Rodriguez also captured state gold, defending her Class 1A state discus title with a mark of 136 feet, 11 inches on her final throw. The attempt moved Rodriguez from fourth to the top spot on the podium, securing back-to-back titles in the event.

Rodriguez wasted no time following her state championship, competing in the Class 1A shot put immediately after due to possible inclement weather, leading the UIL to move to a rolling start.

The Lasara thrower picked up her second medal of the day during the event, recording a mark of 36-5.75 for the bronze. Rodriguez has now medaled at state during each of her first three years, taking the silver in the discus as a freshman and winning the gold as a sophomore.

Lasara junior Xiomara Rodriguez competes in the 1A girls discus throw during the final day of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“It is amazing, honestly,” Rodriguez said. “I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to come back. I asked God to give me chances time and time again. This year, he gave me the chance to prove myself in both the discus and the shot put. It feels really good.”

Harlingen High’s Faith Franklin qualified for the most events of any RGV athlete during this year’s state meet, advancing in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash.

The junior sprinter put on her best performance in the 400, winning the 6A silver medal with a time of 53.50. Franklin also finished ninth in the 6A girls 100, and added an eighth place in the 200.

Harlingen High’s Faith Franklin smiles after look over at the score board after she finished second in the Class 6A Girls 400 Meter Dash during UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Saturday, May 12, 2023, in Austin. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

Harlingen High’s Jazmine Thompson also competed during the final day of the state meet, making her second straight appearance at the event. The junior thrower finished seventh in the 6A girls shot put (42-4.75) and sixth in the 6A girls discus (139-4).

The Valley finished with 13 medals during the three-day meet, three more than last year’s total. The RGV also came away with seven individual state titles, an improvement from just one last year.

For full results from the state meet’s events featuring Valley athletes, visit RGVSports.com.

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AUSTIN — The Rio Grande Valley has a longstanding history of success in throwing events at the UIL state meet.

Since the UIL added girls track and field participation in 1972, the Valley has had 21 athletes be crowned state champs in throwing events. From Port Isabel’s Daniela Murchison winning three consecutive state shot put titles from 2013-2015, to Rio Grande City’s Stephen Saenz striking gold back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009, the RGV has become a perennial power in throwing events.

The current wave of area throwers continued the Valley’s trend of success Friday.

Rio Grande City’s Serina Ramirez and Sharyland Pioneer’s Evan Thompson became the RGV’s most recent throwing champs, sweeping the Class 5A boys and girls shot put titles during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships.

“To everyone in the Valley, just know that anybody can do it, honestly,” Ramirez said. “If you’re from a small town or don’t think nobody is noticing you, don’t think those things. Honestly, the littlest things are almost always the biggest.”

Ramirez was the first RGV athlete to capture a gold medal during this year’s meet, winning the 5A girls shot put championship on her final throw. The TCU signee recorded a personal-best mark of 48 feet, 7.75 inches to secure the win over Midlothian’s Madeleine Fey (47-10).

The senior thrower wraps up her four-year career with three state meet appearances and a pair of podium finishes, also capturing the bronze in the same event last year.

Rio Grande City’s Serina Ramirez competes in the Class 5A girls shot put during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“All my throws had been between 43-44, so when I hit that PR, it was so amazing,” Ramirez said. “I sprained my ankle earlier in the year, so I didn’t think that my senior year would go this great. Everything seemed to be going for the worst. I just feel very accomplished because I did what I was supposed to do at the end of the year. After four years, it just feels so surreal to be able to come here and show everybody that the Valley has talent.”

Thompson followed up Ramirez’s performance with an equally dominant showing in the 5A boys shot put. The UIW signee all but secured the state title on his first throw, recording a mark of 60 feet, the second highest of the event.

He closed out his career with a mark of 60-3.75 on his final attempt, sealing his first state gold medal. Thompson, like Ramirez, finishes his career with a pair of medals, capturing the bronze in the 5A boys shot put last year.

Sharyland Pioneer’s Evan Thompson competes in the Class 5A boys shot put during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“I believe in God, so I asked him before today if it was his will to let it be done and let me come home with a gold medal today,” Thompson said. “I guess it was his will. I’m just blessed and happy. I can’t wait to see my parents.”

Sharyland High’s Chukwubueze Ikondu joined the Valley’s state champion duo with a podium finish, coming in third in the Class 5A boys discus throw.

Ikondu recorded a mark of 169-11 during his fourth attempt to secure a top-three finish in his first state appearance.

Sharyland High’s Chukwubueze Ikondu competes in the Class 5A boys dscus throw during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

Throwers weren’t the only ones to have a big day for the RGV during Day 2 of the meet, with a pair of distance runners earning podium finishes.

La Villa’s Kaycei Salazar had arguably the biggest day of any RGV runner. The sophomore kicked off her state debut with a silver medal in the Class 2A 3,200-meter run in the morning.

She followed it up with a dominant performance during the Class 2A 1,600-meter run in the evening, running away with the gold in a time of 5 minutes, 15.75 seconds.

La Villa’s Kaycei Salazar celebrates after winning the gold in the Class 2A girls 1,600-meter run during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“I feel pretty good,” Salazar said. “This morning I came in second, so I knew I needed a comeback. Going into the final race, I was really nervous. I was thinking about getting second in the first one and I didn’t know how I’d do. I started telling myself I had one more, so I had a chance for a comeback. Now I’m going to go celebrate with my family and friends. After that I’m going to start training hard to get ready for cross country.”

McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados delivered a memorable performance during the last meet of his high school career, capturing a pair of medals in the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs.

Granados opened the meet with a record-setting performance, clocking in at 8: 57.09 to take home the silver in the 5A boys 3,200-meter run. Grapevine’s Adam Burlison won the event with a time of 8:54.47.

Both athletes’ times went under the previous Class 5A state meet record of 8:58.86 set by Frisco Independence’s Carter Blunt in 2016.

Granados’ mark also sets a new Valley record, breaking the previous time of 9:02.17 set by former PSJA Memorial and current Texas distance runner Cruz Gomez in 2019.

Granados added his second medal of the day during the 5A boys 1,600-meter run, finishing in 4:10.83 for second.

The Oklahoma State signee wraps up his decorated high school career as the Valley record holder in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, also leaving with four total state medals under his belt.

McAllen Memorial’s Ayden Granados (9) competes in the Class 5A boys 3,200-meter run during Day 2 of the 2023 UIL state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. (Joel Martinez | The Monitor)

“It feels amazing, breaking the record,” Granados said. “That is something to take away from it. That’s what I wanted since I started, to be the first Valley runner to go under nine minutes. Taking Cruz (Gomez’s) name off the top, it is nice to know I did that. No hate to him or anything. It just shows that the Valley is evolving, and I can’t wait to see the day someone takes my name off of it.”

A total of 17 athletes and one relay team represented the Valley during Day 2 of the state meet. McAllen Rowe sent the Valley’s lone relay team to the state meet, qualifying its 4×400-meter relay squad. The Warriors finished ninth in the Class 5A race with a time of 3:30.32.

Santa Maria’s Mia Picazo just missed a spot on the podium, finishing fourth in the Class 2A girls 800-meter run.

McAllen High’s Yaneli Rocha made her state debut, racing in the Class 5A girls 800-meter run. The freshman runner finished sixth in the race with a personal-best time of 2:15.75. Mission Veterans’ Carla Guerrero also ran in the race, finishing in 2:20.87 for ninth.

Other competitors from Day 2 included Brownsville Veterans’ Gerry Gomez, Edinburg Vela’s Kris Perez and Jacob Trevino, McAllen High’s Dana Rojas Vazquez, PSJA North’s Jaylah Martinez, PSJA Southwest’s Marcela Trevino and Weslaco East’s Gael Romo.

The 2023 UIL state track and field championships conclude today with the Class 1A and 6A events. The day begins with field events and the 3,200-meter run at 9 a.m. Running events are slated for 5 p.m.

For full results from Day 1 and 2 events featuring RGV athletes, visit RGVSports.com.

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