BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

In the realm of Valley-girls basketball, Nora Zamarripa has nothing left to prove. Her resume is a monolith of accomplishments and a reflection of the progress made for women in sports during the last four decades.

But the many achievements to her name — including 760 career wins — has not quenched her appetite for competition and using athletics to impart lessons on the students in her coaching corral. So rather than call it quits after more than two decades at Harlingen High, Zamarripa is returning to the sidelines this season to helm the PSJA High Lady Bears.

“I really enjoyed what (PSJA football) coach Marroquin said about the position and what it would be like if I took over,” Zamarripa said. “It just seemed like something I was really interested in trying to do, to bring the program to play a level of basketball that I have been about to teach in my career to the young ladies that I’ve coached.”

Zamarripa takes over for former coach Stephanie Cantu, who left to program in May for the same position at McAllen High. Zamarripa will oversee a Lady Bears team that has gone a combined 17-11 in district play over the last two seasons, making the playoffs in back-to-back years only to lose in the bi-district round.

Though Zamarripa will coach a team that is no stranger to the postseason, she will do so in a realigned Valley-basketball landscape. After UIL reclassification in February, PSJA was promoted from Class 5A to 6A and placed a District 31-6A alongside the rest of PSJA ISD and all of Edinburg CISD.

Zamarripa played high school basketball at Lyford at a time when girls basketball was relegated to 3-on-3 competition. During the 1973-74 season, she helped the Lady Bulldogs to the state tournament.

After graduating, Zamarripa played for Texas A-I (now Texas A&M Kingsville). Her first high school coaching job came in 1982 at Edinburg High, where she remained for seven years. During her tenure with the Lady Bobcats, she coached Lottie Zarate, the current girls coach and coordinator at Edinburg Vela — a new district rival.

But Zamarripa’s greatest successes came at Harlingen High, where she coached for 25 years. Under Zamarripa’s direction, the Lady Cardinals were a perennial powerhouse in Valley hoops. The team made the playoffs like clockwork, won multiple district championships and advanced to the regional quarterfinals in 2010. Five years prior to that, she was inducted into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame.

After her historic run at Harlingen, Zamarripa took on a part-time gig last season as an assistant at Brownsville Lopez to work alongside coach Stephen Davis. The Lady Lobos went 4-27, 0-14 in District 32-6A.

But rather than call it quits or ride off into the sunset of retirement, Zamarripa remains as impassioned as ever about the game she’s given her life to.

“I love basketball, and I love teaching life lessons through the game of basketball,” Zamarripa said. “And my time where I was staying at home and stuff, I just really missed it. I decided I was not ready to hang up my tennis shoes. I wanted to coach some more.”

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Valley’s Best and Mythical Standings for

May 19, 2016

Team Standings

Boys — 1, McAllen Memorial, 69.43; 2, Harlingen High, 57.1; 3, McAllen High, 45; 4, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 44; 5, Harlingen South, 40; 6, Edinburg Economedes, 33.43; 7, La Joya Palmview, 28; 8, PSJA Memorial, 26; 9, La Feria, 24; 9, PSJA Southwest, 24.

Girls — 1, Weslaco High, 81; 1, La Joya Palmview, 81; 3, McAllen Memorial, 80.17; 4, McAllen Rowe, 44; 5, Harlingen South, 44; 6, Brownsville St. Joseph Academy, 36; 7, Los Fresnos, 32.1; 8, Mission Veterans Memorial, 26.2; 9, Edcouch-Elsa, 21; 10, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 18.

Individual Standings

Boys

* Fully Automatic Time

100-meter dash — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 10.66*; 2, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 10.74*; 3, Christian Perales, Los Fresnos, 10.82*; 4, Christopher Rosales, Harlingen High, 10.83*; 5, Trevor Speights, McAllen Memorial, 10.93*; 6, Charlie Vela, Edinburg Economedes, 10.94*.

200-meter dash — 1, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 21.46*; 2, Christian Perales, Los Fresnos, 21.64*; 3, Christopher Rosales, Harligen High, 21.71*; 4, Aaron Romero, Harlingen South, 22.21*; 5, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 22.22*; 6, Sammy Orive, Brownsville Rivera, 22.23*.

400-meter dash — 1, Christopher Rosales, Harlingen High, 48.22*; 2, Anthony Gonzales, Brownsville Porter, 49.18*; 3, Mario Garcia, Brownsville St. Joseph, 49.47*; 4, Sergio Murillo, Weslaco High, 49.74*; 5, Carlos Rodriguez, La Feria, 50.02; 6, Rodrigo Cedillo, Lyford, 50.15.

800-meter run — 1, Ricardo Mendoza, La Joya High, 1:54.98*; 2, Carlos Rodriguez, La Feria, 1:55.10*; 3, Jesus Mata, Mission Veterans Memorial, 1:55.46; 4, Victor Bocanegra, La Joya Palmview, 1:55.77*; 5, Jorge Perez, Mission High, 1:56.94*; 6, Manny Guerrero, Brownsville River, 1:57.00*.

1600-meter run — 1, Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 4:19.02*; Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:20.05*; 3, Anthony Garza, Brownsville Rivera, 4:21.47*; 4, Cruz Gomez, PSJA Memorial, 4:23.14; 5, Joshua Doria, Edinubrg North, 4:23.51*; 6, Aldo Nava, Edinburg North, 4:24.11*.

3200-meter run — 1, Cruz Gomez, PSJA Memorial, 9:19.56*; 2, Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East, 9:23.75*; 3, Fabian Garcia, Mission Veterans Memorial, 9:30.36*; 4, Dominic Cavazos, Mercees, 9:33.94*; 5, Anthony Garza, Brownsville Rivera, 9:36.03*; 6, Eliseo Rodriguez, La Joya Palmview, 9:36.81.

110-meter hurdles — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 13.82*; 2, Tristan Myende, La Joya Palmview, 14.83*; 3, Alexander Lara, Weslaco High, 14.87*; 4, Bony Rios, Edinburg Economedes, 14.92*; 5, Omar Silva, Port Isaebl, 15.24*; 6, Manuel Lerma, McAllen High, 15.74*.

300-meter hurdles — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 36.42*; 2, Carlos Serna, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 38.46*; 3, Marc Garcia, Mission High, 38.84*; 4, Joseph Lunn, La Feria, 39.08*; 5, Gunner Henderson, McAllen high, 39.61*; 6, Jorge Cantu, San Benito, 39.69*.

400-meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 42.21*; 2, PSJA Southwest, 43.01*; 3, Edinburg Economedes, 43.08*; 4, Harlingen South, 43.11*; 5, La Joya Palmview, 43.16*; 6, Harlingen High, 43.23*.

800-meter relay — 1, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 1:29.33*; 2, Harlingen South, 1:29.53*; 3, Edinburg Economedes, 1:29.55*; 4, PSJA Southwest, 1:29.69*; 5, Los Fresnos, 1:29.73*; 6, Weslaco High, 1:19.84*.

1600-meter relay — 1, Sharyland Pioneer, 3:19.74*; 2, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 3:20.00; 3, Harlingen High, 3:21.76*; 4, La Feria, 3:22.80*; 5, La Joya Palmview, 3:23.44*; 6, PSJA Memorial, 3:24.43.

Field Events

Shot put — 1, Mike Zuniga, Rio Hondo, 57-09; 2, Travis Barnes, Harlingen High, 55-11; 3, John Belmares, San Benitio, 55-05; 4, Gaston Cortina, Edinburg North, 55-00.25; 5, Ricardo Espinoza, La Joya Palmview, 54-03; 6, Johnny Howell, Sharyland Pioneer, 53-04.5

Discus — 1, Mike Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 178-00; 2, Mike Zuniga, Rio Hondo, 165-11; 3, Jordan DeLeon, Mission Veterans Memorial, 162-00; 4, Jonathan Banda, Weslaco East, 160-00; 5, Cesar Villegas, Donna High, 155-07; 6, Sydney Mock, Port Isabel, 154-09.

Long jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 23-07.5; 2, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 22-06; 2, D.J. Johnson, McAllen Memorial, 22-06; 4, Ciro Hernandez, PSJA North, 22-04.5; 5, Alexander Lara, Weslaco High, 22-01.5; 6, Leo Lara, Santa Rosa, 22-00.75.

Triple jump — 1, Joshua McGowen, McAllen High, 48-04.5; 2, Dominic Castillo, Donna North, 45-11; 3, Damian Quintanilla, La Joya Palmview, 45-03.5; 4, Raudel Alvarez, PSJA North, 45-01.5; 5, Isiah Martinez, La Feria, 45-00.5; 6, D.J. Jonshon, McAllen Memorial, 44-10.5.

High jump — 1, Robert Rosales, Valley View, 6-04; 1, Max Oyervides, Sharyland High, 6-04; 1, D.J. Johsnon, McAllen Memorial, 6-04; 1, Leo Lara, Santa Rosa, 6-04; 1, Justice Free, Weslaco High, 6-04; 1, Pete Segura, Edinburg Economedes, 6-04; 1, Devin Rosas, Harlingen High, 6-04.

Pole vault — 1, Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial, 15-07; 2, Marcus Ramirez, Harlingen South, 14-06; 3, Samuel Alvarez, Harlingen South, 14-00; 3, Jon Zapata, Weslaco High, 14-00; 3, Luis Trujillo, Mission Veterans Memorial, 14-00; 6, Saul Saavedra, Harlingen High, 13-06; 6, Trent Teinert, Harlingen High, 13-06; 6, Mike Garza, PSJA North, 13-06.

Girls

Track Events

* Fully Automatic Time

100-meter dash — 1, Nicole Gonzalez, Harlingen South, 12.32*; 2, Gaby Garza, Brownsville St. Joseph, 12.47*; 3, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 12.64*; 4, Jacklynn Flores, Mercedes, 12.67*; 5, Mirna Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 12.74*; 5, Alondra Escobar, Los Fresnos, 12.74*; 5, Sydney Salinas, Weslaco High, 12.74*.

200-meter dash — 1, Nicole Gonzalez, Harlingen South, 25.32*; 2, Alondra Escobar, Los Fresnos, 25.88*; 3, Mia Hinojosa, La Joya Palmview, 25.89*; 4, Mallory Grannum, Harlingen South, 26.09*; 5, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 26.20*; 6, Rebeca Martinez, Sharyland Pioneer, 26.22*.

400-meter dash — 1, Lorraine Estrada, McAllen Rowe, 56.99*; 2, Natalie Garza, Port Isabel, 57.52*; 3, Nicole Gonzalez, Harlingen South, 58.04*; 4, Miriah Gonzalez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 58.34*; 5, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 58.67*; 6, Juliana Guerrero, Harlingen High, 59.98*.

800-meter run — 1, Stephanie Sauceda, Weslaco High, 2:13.44*; 2, Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest, 2:16.86*; 3, Dylann Guerra, Edinburg Vela, 2:20.81; 4, Bailey Villalon, La Joya Palmview, 2:21.77*; 5, Adriana Cruz, Rio Grande City, 2:22.06; 6, Kelly Aguinaga, Edcouch-Elsa, 2:22.65*.

1600-meter run — 1, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 5:00.43*; 2, Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview, 5:06.03*; 3, Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 5:07.88*; 4, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 5:08.53*; 5, Soledad Cruz, Mercedes, 5:09.19*; 6, Andrea De La Rosa, Brownsville Rivera, 5:16.38*.

3200-meter run — 1, Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview, 10;49.57*; 2, Beth Ramos, Edinburg North, 10:50.75*; 3, Tina Sierra, La Feria, 11:07.10*; 4, Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa, 11:09.15*; 5, Soledad Cruz, Mercedes, 11:09.17*; 6, Ana Bautista, Rio Grande City, 11:09.40*.

100-meter hurdles — 1, Gaby Garza, Brownsville St. Joseph Academy, 14.45*; 2, Lanie Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 15.36*; 3, Karla Ibarra, Valley View, 15.74*; 4, Alyssa Salazar, Los Fresnos, 15.94*; 5, Aniah Chaleff-Reyna, McAllen High, 16.16*; 5, Oliva Garcia, Edinburg Vela, 16.16*.

300-meter hurdles — 1, Gaby Garza, Brownsville St. Joseph Academy, 43.51*; 2, Lanie Nitsch, McAllen Memorial, 45.39*; 3, Alyssa Salaza, Los Fresnos, 46.03*; 4, Brittany Cano, La Joya Palmview, 46.44*; 5, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 46.53*; 6, Caleigh Hausenfluck, Sharyland High, 46.94*.

400-meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 49.42*; 2, La Joya Palmview, 49.74*; 3, Weslaco High, 49.76*; 4, McAllen Rowe, 49.98*; 5, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 50.15*; 6, Weslaco East, 50.22*.

800-meter relay — 1, La Joya Palmview, 1:43.78*; 2, Weslaco High, 1:44.34*; 3, Harlingen South, 1:46.95*; 4, Los Fresnos, 1:46.96*; 5, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 1:47.26*; 6, McAllen Memorial, 1:47.44*.

1600-meter relay — 1, McAllen Memorial, 3:55.82*; 2, Weslaco High, 3:58.45*; 3, McAllen Rowe, 4:02.87*; 4, Mission Veterans Memorial, 4:04.45*; 5, Port Isabel, 4:04.81; 6, Harlingen High, 4:06.11*.

Field Events

Shot — 1, Samantha Alvarez, Harlingen High, 40-03; 2, Eloisa Martinez, McAllen Memorial, 39-09; 3, Alexis Vasquez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 38-10.5; 4, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 38-09.5; 5, Valeria Granados, Los Frsnos, 37-10.5; 6, Serena Rivera, La Feria, 37-10.

Discus — 1, Ciera Gonzalez, Weslaco High, 134-06; 2, Karen Guerra, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 133-08; 3, Jazmin Cortez, PSJA North, 133-04; 4, Gertrudis Ruiz-Balli, Brownsville Pace, 130-10; 5, Tamara Castillo, PSJA Southwest, 128-02; 6, Yvette Tamez, Donna High, 128-01.

Long jump — 1, Mirna Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 18-00; 2, Jacklynn Flores, Mercedes, 17-08.5; 3, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 17-08; 4, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Roew, 17-06; 5, Caleigh Hausenfluck, Sharyland High, 17-05.75; 6, Natalie Young, McAllen Memorial, 17-02.5.

Triple jump — 1, Jovanni Solis, McAllen Rowe, 37-08; 2, Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial, 36-08.25; 3, I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North, 36-06.75; 4, Nyla Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, 36-03.5; 5, Brenda Martinez, La Joya Palmview, 36-02.5; 6, Alyssa Salavzar, Los Fresnos, 35-09.

High jump — 1, Ana Calderon, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 5-04; 2, Eleanor Arndt, Weslaco High, 5-02; 2, Hannah Kelly, McAllen High, 5-02; 2, Jackie Alanis, PSJA High, 5-02; 2, Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest, 5-02; 2, Charlize De La Garza, Mission Veterans Memorial, 5-02; 2, Jayla Santa Maria, Edinburg High, 5-02; 2, Mackenzie Gerlach, Mission Veterans Memorial, 5-02; 2, Narumi Urdiales, PSJA Southwest, 5-02; 2, Juliana Guerrero, Harlingen High, 5-02.

Pole vault — 1, Sydney Salinas, Weslaco High, 12-00.25; 2, Marifer Valencia, Brownsville St. Joseph, 11-00; 3, Bianca Cardenas, Edcouch-Elsa, 10-06; 4, Alexandria Martinez, Port Isbael, 10-00; 4, Sara Solis, McAllen High, 10-00; 6, Mikaela Flores, Harlingen South, 10-00; 6, Elizabeth St. Clair, McAllen Memorial, 10-00; 6, Carolina Carrillo, PSJA North, 10-00; 6, Sabrina Garza, Port Isabel, 10-00.

BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

AUSTIN — Michael Boltie spent much of the season with the luxury of being the best. At Valley meets, the pole vaulter would often enter competition only after every opponent scratched out. A gold medal was often a gimme. Boltie was his own stratosphere.

Saturday, however, saw the McAllen Memorial senior grow accustomed to vaulting alongside superior talent while still holding his own. Though Boltie is used to flying solo at a height of 15 feet, he was lost in the mix at the UIL state meet.

“It was different jumping with eight guys at that height,” Boltie said.

But Boltie rose to the occasion, earning a bronze medal by clearing a height of 15 feet, 6 inches, one inch shy of tying his personal best. Boltie scratched each of his three attempts at 15-09, marking the only times he failed clearing the bar.

The rest of his jumps appeared crisp and effortless. Boltie vaulted past heights of 14-06, 15-00 and 15-06 on each of his first attempts with ease. Making it look easy is nothing new for Boltie, but the senior did so with a new wrinkle in his repertoire.

Boltie’s season-long weakness has been an inability to vault with larger poles. While he frequently used 15-foot poles to attack the bar, Boltie would often hesitate when using a 16-foot pole in an attempt to breach greater heights. Knowing the stakes, he prepared for state with the big toys.

“I just decided to face my fear and say, ‘You know what, I might die from this, but I’m just going to go ahead and do it anyway,’” Boltie said. “Then I just got on it, and it’s a dream. It’s a beautiful pole and it’s just fantastic.”

Boltie also placed sixth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.74 seconds.

DELAYED FINISH

Michael Gonzalez always wanted to get to compete at the state meet, but he never thought it would take more than six hours to do so. The PSJA Memorial discus thrower completed preliminaries before lightning storms caused an extended delay. While Gonzalez finished his final prelim throw before 12:30 p.m., his first attempt in the finals came after 6:30 p.m.

Gonzalez ultimately placed seventh with a throw of 169-05.

With so much downtime, Gonzalez took an extended lunch break, all the while remaining cognizant of the task at hand.

“It just helps make you more focused,” Gonzalez said of the delay. “Because it’s really all you’re thinking about, what you have to do once you get back out there.”

Gonzalez was the only Valley athlete whose event was interrupted by the storms.

OTHER UPPER-VALLEY ATHLETES

Weslaco High’s Stephanie Sauceda placed ninth at her state-meet debut in the 6A girls 800 run in 2:15.55. Karen Guerra of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln finished eighth in the 6A girls discus throw with a mark of 124-04.

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BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

AUSTIN — During a day in which almost nothing went according to plan, Joshua McGowen’s silver lining was a history-making gold medal.

The McAllen High senior woke up Saturday prepared to compete at the UIL state meet in three events over a six-hour span. But a series of lightning storms caused a five and a half hour delay, scrunching McGowen’s once manageable schedule into a bum-rush that took him to every corner of Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Despite the taxing to-do list, McGowen turned loose during his final race as a Bulldog, placing first in the Class 6A boys 300-meter hurdles in 36.42 seconds, setting an all-time Valley record in the process. The previous record of 36.46 was set by Harlingen High’s Randy Bermea in 2011.

McGowen ran at the front of the pack for the duration of the race and was challenged by William Watson of Belton in the closing meters. But as Watson stumbled over the final hurdle, McGowen cleared his last obstacle in surgical fashion.

“Getting into the blocks and stuff, I just knew I had to keep it fast,” McGowen said. “I had to keep it moving, and it all came down to that last hurdle. I could have either gotten second or first depending on that last jump, but he fell and that was just my chance.”

In an act of sportsmanship, McGowen helped Watson off the track before walking to the podium to collect gold.

The state meet caps a sensational season for McGowen, who graduates holding the Valley record in the 300 hurdles and the triple jump (48 feet, 4 1/2 inches). McGowen also set the second-fastest Valley time in the 110 hurdles on Saturday, doing so in a silver-medal winning effort in 13.82.

Hurdling is McGowen’s specialty, and he has run such races at meets the world over — from the junior Olympics in Germany to the state track meet in North Carolina. But the well-traveled athlete was still struck by the level of competition found in the Lone Star State.

“I’m a newcomer to Texas, so the level of talent was something I had to get used to,” McGowen said. “I’m truly happy with my performances in everything that I’ve done to get here.”

Sandwiched by the hurdling races was the long jump, wherein McGowen placed fifth with a distance of 22-10 1/4. That performance was one spot better than his go in the triple jump on Friday. While McGowen looked robust in the hurdles, he was visibly plagued by shin pain in the jumping events.

Such pains come with the territory for an athlete tasked with doing so many events, and McGowen felt his body begin to betray him at the regional meet in San Antonio earlier this month. At one point, McHi coach Bob Bechtold tried to pull his stud athlete from the long jump to keep his legs fresh for the 300. McGowen caved, but soon reversed his decision.

“This was his final meet, so ultimately I left it in his hands,” Bechtold said. “He knows his body and his limitations. If he wants to go out there, he’s not going to let anybody stop him.”

Indeed, rare is the occasion in which anyone got in McGowen way’s this year. Wherever he went, a small circus of fellow athletes, coaches, spectators and media usually followed. To witness McGowen was to almost witness theater. Before jumps, he’d often encourage the crowd to clap, a colorful display to enhance his frequent gold-medal performances.

McGowen will play football at Stephen F. Austin in the fall, and is apprehensive regarding track at the collegiate level. Still, if this is the last time he’ll compete in full force, the youngest child in his family went out obeying his parents.

“We’ve been telling him, ‘Don’t get to the big dance and then not dance,’” Joshua’s mother Emma said. “Don’t do all this work and put in all this practice to show up and not dance. Go out there and get what’s yours.”

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BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: Edinburg IDEA Quest’s Valery Tobias wins historic gold

Dominic Cavazos’ break-out year ends at state meet

AUSTIN — A storied high school tenure concluded splendidly for Krysta Martinez. Running the best one-mile race of her career, the senior distance athlete from Edcouch-Elsa capped her final track season with a state medal.

Martinez earned bronze in the Class 5A girls 1600-meter run in 5 minutes, .43 seconds, setting a new personal best to boot. Friday marked her second appearance in the UIL track meet after going as a sophomore. Martinez has also competed at state for cross country in four straight seasons, always denied a podium finish.

“I was nervous before the race,” Martinez said. “I knew this was my last run and I just wanted to go out doing my best.”

Aside from an early race misstep wherein Martinez was momentarily tripped in traffic, her final four laps for the Lady Yellowjackets mirrored the race she ran at regionals earlier this month in San Antonio — steady in the early stages, patient in pack racing and a burst into a sprint during the final lap.

The nine-athlete field held in a firm cluster during the first two laps, with Martinez running on the outside. With 400 meters to go, Martinez made her move, bolting from fifth place to third on the final backstretch, maintaining momentum to the finish.

“I’m really happy with my time and my finish,” Martinez said. “This is something I’ve worked so hard for and wanted so badly. I just wanted to make my family and my coaches proud.”

SILVER FOR SOLIS

Joe Solis always knew he was an able competitor, but he was never sure where his abilities stood in larger context. The Weslaco High wheelchair athlete got his answer Friday: He belongs with the best.

After spending the season at Valley meets where he is one of only two area athletes to participate in wheelchair racing events, Solis sped his way to a pair of silver medals in the 100- and 400-meter dash, doing so in 17.76 and 1:01.98, respectively.

While non-district meets find Solis racing against standard times issued by the UIL, he tested himself in a full field with eight opponents, showcasing his talents while learning what is required of him to someday achieve gold.

“I know where I stand now,” Solis said. “My times were good and I’m satisfied with my finish. I’m unhappy I didn’t get first, but I’m still satisfied that I competed well. Now I know what I have to do to get better. I really need to work on my starts and my accelerations.”

PSJA Southwest wheelchair athlete Christian Trejo finished ninth in the shot put with a throw of 14 feet, 2 1/4 inch.

SOUR START

Joshua McGowen’s hopes of going four-for-four in podium finishes were dashed after his first event. The McAllen High senior placed sixth in the Class 6A boys triple jump with an attempt of 47 feet, 6 3/4 inches.

McGowen looked uncomfortable during his jumps, at times grimacing while picking himself up out of the sand pit.

“After practicing for five events every day for a whole season, your body starts to break down,” McGowen said. “I just wasn’t feeling it today. I felt a little heavy, like my body telling me that I’m doing too much.”

McGowen competes today in the 110 and 300 hurdles, as well as the long jump.

OTHER VALLEY FINISHERS

PSJA Memorial freshman Cruz Gomez finished eighth in the 6A boys 3200 run with a time of 9:27.62. Edinburg North’s Beth Ramos placed ninth in the 6A girls 3200 run in 11:31.46. Ramos’ teammate, Gaston Cortina, placed sixth in the 6A boys shot put with a throw of 54-11 1/4.
In the 5A boys high jump, Valley View’s Robert Rosales capped a consistent senior year with a fifth-place finish, clearing a height of 6-04. Mission Veterans Memorial’s Jesus Mata finished ninth in the 5A boys 800 run in 2:00.39. The Sharyland Pioneer boys 1600 relay team placed eighth in 5A competition with a time of 3:22.69.

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AUSTIN — What began as a case of deja vu turned into a historic victory for Valery Tobias.

While the Edinburg IDEA Quest sophomore settled for silver at the state track meet a season ago after an ill-timed kick near race’s end, Friday saw Tobias demonstrate maturity and poise to win gold in the Class 3A girls 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 16.86 seconds.

The win marks the first time an IDEA athlete has won a state title in UIL competition. There are 25 IDEA schools in the state, but only the IDEA Quest Trail Blazers and Brownsville IDEA Frontier compete in UIL. So small is the athletic budget for Quest, the track team practices at UTRGV or simply runs laps around the school.

“This win is so big,” Tobias said. “I can’t believe it. Those are the only words I have right now. This is so big for me. And not only myself, but for my school.”

Tobias ran a steady pace throughout the two-lap event, kicking into a faster stride in the final 200 meters to clip second place by .57 seconds. After crossing the finish line, Tobias looked into the stands of Mike A. Myers Stadium at coach Robbie Cruz before covering her face to hide tears of joy.

Tobias’ victory caps a sophomore season that has seen inconsistent performances, standing in contrast to her more steady freshman year. Despite the up and downs, she finishes with the second-fastest time among Valley girls to run the 800.

“When I crossed the line, I didn’t know what to feel,” Tobias said. “It was just super amazing. This is such an accomplishment for all that I’ve been through, and it’s amazing to know that all of your hard work pays off. My season in track paid off.”

Tobias avoided a mishap during the start of the second lap. While running in a cluster of opponents, her feet became tangled with other athletes, nearly causing her to trip. From there, Tobias moved to the outside lane to set up her final push.

Though the race featured ebbs and flows and concluded in nail-biting fashion, Cruz watched with confidence.

“I always feel comfortable when I see her run,” Cruz said. “But she had to expect the unexpected. We’ve really been stressing that in practices, and she was mentally prepared for anything. I think just seeing her keep up in the front of the pack, we knew she was going to pull it out in the end. It was just a matter of when she was going to pull it out.”

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BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

MORE: View video highlights from the first day of the UIL state track meet

AUSTIN — While Dominic Cavazos spent much of the 3200-meter run looking forward in hopes of staying with the leaders, the final stretch found the Mercedes sophomore looking over his shoulder.

As Cavazos neared the finish line during the first day of the UIL state meet, the distance runner turned into a sprinter to stave off Asa Rice of Mansfield Summit, who made a late charge to contest Cavazos’ fifth place finish. Cavazos ultimately held on, doing so in 9 minutes, 37.44 seconds.

Of the seven Valley athletes to compete Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium, none placed as well as Cavazos, who made his debut in the state meet to cap a breakout season for the Tigers. Once an athlete who played second fiddle to teammate Jonathan Reyes, Cavazos proved the ability to be his own runner.

“Honestly, I was just tired of always being behind and never making it out of the Valley,” Cavazos said. “I didn’t make state in cross (country), so after that I really just started working hard. I didn’t think I’d make it to state, but I’m happy I did.”

Cavazos’ finishing time nearly mirrors that of the one he posted at the regional meet earlier this month in San Antonio. He admits he’s disappointed with this time and hoped to break the 9:25 barrier.

First place in the Class 5A boys race went to Carter Blunt of Frisco Independence, who broke his own state meet record with a time of 8:58.86. Cavazos has grown accustomed to running upfront against Valley competition, but was still taken aback by the expected increase in speed found at the state level.

“I started off in last, and it was about a 4:30 (mile) pace, that’s crazy,” Cavazos said. “Usually I’d be in first with a 4:45 (pace). So that was crazy being in last with a 4:30. I didn’t even want to look at my watch to scare myself because I knew it was going to be fast. The last four laps just went by so fast, I didn’t have time to worry about it.”

While Cavazos was able to hold his own at a familiar pace, Fabian Garcia exhausted his energy too soon. The Mission Veterans Memorial senior finished 8th in 9:59.59, slipping towards the back of the nine-man field with every lap.

Garcia, just like Cavazos, anticipated a quickened tempo given the elevated competition, but went for broke in the early stages of the eight-lap race.

“I just didn’t want to hold back on anything, so I just went with it,” Garcia said. “It killed me at the end. I didn’t have what I needed for the end of the race. … The last three laps, I felt like I couldn’t go anymore. My hands were numbing out. But, you know, competing here at the state meet during my senior year, I’ll take that.”

Garcia competes again today in the boys 1600 run.

The boys 3200 was preceded by their female counterparts in a race that featured another pair of Valley runners. Rio Grande City’s Ana Bautista finished sixth (11:09.40) and Mercedes’ Soledad Cruz placed ninth (12:01.37). Though both runners made their state-meet debut, Bautista’s race served as a swan song for her senior year while Cruz’s effort was a sign of thing to come for a budding freshman talent.

Bautista will compete in cross country and track for UTRGV in the fall.

Other area athletes to compete Thursday included PSJA Southwest’s Diego Trevino, placing ninth in the boys 5A shot put with a throw of 50 feet, 9 1/2 inches. Donna North’s I’Dasha Sorrell also finished ninth in the girls 5A triple jump with a distance of 36-00 3/4. Mission Veterans Memorial’s Luis Trujillo dealt with a hamstring issue during the boys 5A pole vault, finishing ninth while clearing the bar at 13-06.

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BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Cristian Espinoza’s offseason to-do list is similar to the one undertaken a season ago — a series of camps that will find the Edinburg North quarterback crisscrossing the state in hopes of refining his skills and adding new tools to his arsenal.

The biggest goal is increased accuracy. Though Espinoza threw for 1,610 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015, he did so while completing a pedestrian 44 percent of his passes. As an incoming senior, Espinoza will shoulder many of the Cougars’ offensive burdens in the team’s quest to return to the postseason.

During spring workouts, Espinoza is already demonstrating a mature sense of patience.

“He’s already doing a good job of letting the play come to him,” Edinburg North coach Rene Saenz said. “He’s not forcing anything and taking what the defense gives him. And if it’s not there, he has licence to take off.”

Espinoza led the Cougars in rushing attempts last year with 110, gaining 359 yards on the ground. Though he possess the ability to escape oncoming defenders, his go-to remains his right arm.

Though the quarterback is entering his second year as a full-time starter, he’s saying goodbye to graduating wideouts Ubaldo Pequeño and Adrian Rivera. Those two combined for 860 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Incoming senior Justin Guerra is pegged to be the team’s No. 1 target through the air. Guerra, one of just four returning starters on offense, split time as a receiver and running back last year, gaining 723 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns.

With significant roster turnover at key positions, Espinoza is looking to increase his standing in the locker room by organizing team activities.

“A lot of it comes on the field for sure, and also off the field,” Espinoza said. “I’ll call up some of the receivers and some of the linemen, and we’ll just hang out, or we’ll go to a 7-on-7 tournament. We’ll just do stuff away from the build to get comfortable with one another.”

That increased focus on a cohesive offense is already percolating into spring ball, where Espinoza is calling plays at the line and reading defenses during run-throughs.

“He’s already controlling the line very well,” Saenz said. “His decision making is already improved from last year. He’s carrying himself a different way, there’s a confidence there that is more pronounced.”

STAYING HEALTHY

North finished a disappointing 3-7 a season ago and were eliminated from the playoffs during a 35-28 loss to Edinburg Economedes in the season finale. The dispiriting finish brought an end to a season wrought with injuries and discouragement.

“I don’t think there was one game where we had the same starting bunch on the offensive line,” Saenz said.

Injuries were also sustained to defensive tackle and incoming senior Sebastian Bulos, who missed time from a knee injury, and Espinoza played through wrist pain near the season’s end. Saenz is hopeful for a healthy 2016 campaign, counting on luck and biology.

“I think just being a year older counts for a lot,” Saenz said. “With all of the tackling and crashing and physicality these guys put on their bodies, it takes a toll when you’re 16 or 17 years old. You can grow into yourself a lot in a year. I think our guys will be able to stay on the field more this year.”

HOLES IN THE SECONDARY

One question the Cougars will look to find an answer for emanates from the free safety position. Allstate player John Mendoza and his 11 interceptions are graduating. Spring ball is providing an opportunity for would-be starters to showcase their abilities. Saenz says incoming junior Jacob Guerrero is impressing with his speed.

“So much is asked of that position,” Saenz said. “They have to be quick, recognize the offense and just swarm to the ball. A lot of what we want to do on that side of the ball comes from that spot.”

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PHARR — Marcus Kauffman didn’t get what all the fuss was about.

As the first-year coach acquainted himself with the athletes of PSJA North by watching film from the previous regime, he didn’t see the high-powered offense reflected in the team’s gaudy statistics, nor did he see the up-tempo style suggested by the team’s prolific scoring rate.

Instead, he saw a team pretending to be something it wasn’t.

“These kids were trying to be something that isn’t in their DNA,” Kauffman said. “They were in a spread, trying to air it out or rip off a lot of yardage at once. I saw a lot of three-and-outs. Occasionally they’d rip off the big play, but I want to take these kids back to what the Raiders were back when this school first opened, a tough, physical team. They’re ready to hit somebody.”

It’s that old-fashioned gusto Kauffman brings with him from McAllen Memorial, where he served as offensive coordinator for 13 seasons. Though he’ll be without a go-to threat like Bradley Stephens or Trevor Speights — two of the most dominant running backs in Valley history — Kauffman will look to refine the Raiders’ offense, strengthening their potency while maximizing efficiency.

North returns five offensive starters from a unit that averaged 398 yards in 2015, including halfback Bo Adams and quarterback Darren Fuentes. Fuentes, an incoming senior, became the guy under center midseason after then-quarterback George Olivarez was benched by then-coach Jorge Peña, who resigned in January.

Despite the turmoil in the locker room, the Raiders appeared in the postseason for the second time in as many years. The team looks to improve upon last year behind a renewed energy and focus brought in part by Kauffman’s arrival.

“The mood is great right now,” Adams said. “There’s an energy there that wasn’t really there a year ago. Guys are bringing it during drills. You can tell that everyone is excited with Coach Kauffman.”

Adams split time at wide receiver and quarterback last season, but looks to be used primarily as a ballcarrier out of the backfield. Don’t expect Adams’ dynamic skill set to be limited too much. Kauffman is stressing versatility on both sides of the ball to keep opponents guessing.

Though Kauffman has only been on the job for a few months, he looks to bypass the pains of rebuilding, and simply retool and reload for a team that he thinks can make noise in the postseason.

“I expect us to be really good,” Kauffman said. “I think we’re going to be a damn good team, actually.”

BACK IN LINE

Kauffman inherits enough holdovers from last year’s team to ease his transition, but he is spending part of spring ball focusing on the offensive line.

Though the unit returns three starters, including incoming senior and all-state standout Vicente Palacios, Kauffman says the O-line has some of the biggest question marks.

“We’re just looking for some consistency with them, and trying to figure out who fits where,” Kauffman said. “We have an idea of who’s going to be where, but we want guys competing like they’re fighting for a starting spot. That’s going to keep the intensity level up to where we want it to be.”

North offensive coordinator Weldon Jones will oversee the O-line. Jones was the line coach for two years under Kauffman at Memorial. Jones was also the O.C. for McAllen Rowe in 2012 and 2013.

MEND THE DEFENSE

Though the Raiders were notable for their offense in 2015, their defense ranked near the bottom among Valley teams in Class 6A. North allowed opponents to score nearly 37 points and surrendered a District 31-6A-worst 386 yards per game.

Assisting North in rectifying its defensive woes is first-year defensive coordinator William Littleton, who joins Kauffman after serving a stint at Los Fresnos as a secondary coach. No surprise that Littleton will employ a 4-2-5 scheme reliant on defensive backs.

“We think that’s the best way to be versatile and throw different things at the offense,” Littleton said. “It’s a pretty basic premise, but there are a lot of different ways you can go with it. It’s all going to be about confusing the opponent.”

The Raiders return five defensive starters from last year, including safety Raudel Alvarez.

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