By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Jim Morton’s character was as tough as nails.

That was evident during his 20-plus years of military service (1947-1968) in the Marine Corps, and later as a drill instructor, football coach and athletic director at Harlingen’s Marine Military Academy (1969-1994).

He died in 1995 at age 64, one year after his retirement from MMA.

Morton, a longtime successful coaching figure in the Rio Grande Valley, will be inducted posthumously into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame today at the organization’s 32nd annual banquet at Pharr Events Center. In all, there will be nine new inductees, with two of them to be enshrined posthumously.

The event begins with dinner at 5 p.m., scholarship presentations at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m. An informal reception for the inductees is scheduled at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rgvshof.net.

Ken Morton, one of Jim Morton’s four sons, will accept the RGV Sports Hall of Fame honor on behalf of his family.

Ken Morton said the description of his father being tough as nails was pretty accurate.

“Yes, he took a hard-nosed approach, but he was a fair man,” the son said. “He had a soft side that was not seen too often, not even in the family all that much. It was maybe only seen by our mother (Miriam Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Morton, who died in 2007).

“My father helped kids at Sunny Glen (Children’s Home in San Benito) and did things like that,” Ken Morton added. “It was a side of him that wasn’t seen. He didn’t need any press (about it).

“They broke the mold after him.”

Before beginning his military career, Morton attended San Antonio Fox Tech, where he played football and graduated in 1947. He then enlisted in the Marine Corps and fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was twice awarded Purple Heart decorations. While in the military, Morton played and coached football, with the opponents ranging from other services and U.S. bases to college teams.

Morton’s first high school football coaching job came in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. His team was ranked No. 1 in the state at one time and finished the season 8-2.

From there, Morton was hired by MMA in 1969. Besides drill instructor, Morton eventually became MMA’s athletic director and the school’s primary coach for football, basketball and track.

Throughout his 25 years of guiding the football team at MMA, the Leathernecks compiled a 137-119 record. In 1974, MMA finished as the state runner-up in TCIL. In 1977, MMA won the state championship in TAPPS.

One season about that time, the Leathernecks produced three NCAA Division I recruits.

Many of Morton’s players went on to attend the three major service academies. Many others received NCAA Division I football scholarships and played at the pro level.

Five of them in particular were Dale Hellestrae (SMU, Dallas Cowboys), Bernard Parmalee (Ball State, Miami Dophins), Kevin Hickman (U.S. Naval Academy, Detroit Lions), Denard Walker (LSU, Denver Broncos) and Frank Ganz (The Citadel, special teams coach for Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, SMU and UCLA).

Two of Morton’s former players became admirals in the U.S. Navy and another a brigadier general in the Marines. Yet another former player, Mando Avila, a Texas A&M graduate, flew “Marine One,” a helicopter used by President Bush.

John Brown, another of Morton’s players, was a tight end who went on to play for the University of Pittsburgh. It was Brown who caught the winning touchdown pass from Dan Marino on fourth down with 42 seconds left as the Panthers prevailed 24-20 over Georgia in the 1982 Sugar Bowl.

Two of Morton’s sons, Mike and Ken, played for him at MMA from 1969-1972 and went on to play at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville). Jim, his youngest son, played at Harlingen High and East Texas State. Oldest son Tom played at Texas A&I and for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tom and Mike became coaches at MMA, and Jim coached at Harlingen High and Harlingen South. Tom died in 2014, also at age 64.

Some of the Morton grandchildren have played and continue to play various sports at Valley schools.

Throughout the years, the elder Morton became a mentor and father figure for many of the young men attending MMA and playing sports for him. While his grueling practice standards and hard-nosed approach to athletics were well-known, the legendary coach’s passion for sports and dedication to molding young men became his trademark.

“My father loved the Valley and the competition in the Valley from the other coaches,” Ken Morton said. “He loved what he did (while at MMA). It was exactly what he wanted to do. He was very content with that.

“The Morton fingerprint is still out there (at MMA) to a certain extent (with Mike Morton coaching track and teaching health there),” he added.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The wait is over.

Frank Parker Sr., one of Brownsville’s top all-time high school athletes who earned nine letters playing sports before graduating from Brownsville High in 1947, has patiently bided his time for a number of years and hoped he would someday gain induction into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame.

That day has arrived for the 90-year-old Brownsville resident and former well-known local businessman.

Parker and eight others, including two posthumously, are scheduled to be inducted today at the RGV Sports Hall of Fame’s 32nd annual banquet at Pharr Events Center.

The event begins with dinner at 5 p.m., scholarship presentations at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m. An informal reception for the inductees is scheduled at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rgvshof.net.

Parker earned his nine letters at Brownsville High by playing football and basketball in addition to running the open quarter mile in track. A two-way starter at center and linebacker in football, Parker stood 6-foot-1 and weighed 180 pounds. As a senior for the Golden Eagles, Parker, an all-state center, was selected to play in the 1947 North-South All-Star Game in El Paso.

Football became the sport that enabled Parker to earn a scholarship to play for the Texas Longhorns during the late 1940s.

Parker said he is grateful to all those who have remembered him as a standout football player.

“I’m very proud and pleased to be inducted,” he said. “The experience is quite surprising and humbling. There are so many people to thank for all the help I got (as an athlete) — my family, my teammates and my coaches.

“I feel very honored,” he added. “Playing sports has been an influence and a very big part of my life. I’m a competitive person, and I always want to be first. I don’t think that’s selfish. Getting this honor is something all athletes strive for. It’s nice to be recognized for one’s efforts. It’s very thoughtful of them to do this.”

Parker played on the Eagles’ varsity football team for three seasons and started his junior and senior years in 1945 and 1946. The Eagles won the District 16-2A championship when he was a junior, finishing with a 10-1 record under coach Bob Martin, previously the coach for Tom Landry at Mission High in 1941. When Parker was a senior in 1946, the Eagles went 6-4 and tied Edinburg High for the district title. The Eagles missed the playoffs that year due to a 32-12 loss to the Bobcats.

After graduation from Brownsville High, it was on to Austin to play for the Longhorns. Parker started at center and linebacker for the Texas freshman team and made the varsity travel squad as a sophomore, getting some playing time at the end of several varsity games.

Just when it appeared Parker might have a chance to play more as a junior on the UT varsity, he was injured on a crackback block early during the 1949 season and never fully recovered. He eventually had multiple surgeries on his knee.

When his football career came to a close, a promising business career was just ahead. Parker graduated from UT with a business administration degree in 1951, returned to Brownsville and began to work in the stevedore business at the Port of Brownsville.

He married wife Carolyn in 1956 and the couple had six children, including Frank Parker Jr., who operated a customs business in Brownsville. The elder Parker owned Gateway Harbor Tugboat Co. for 15 years before selling the business in 1998 and opting for retirement.

Parker has always had great admiration for Martin from his high school days. Parker remembers him as a disciplinarian-type of coach who had the habit of calling the players’ homes at 10 p.m. on random nights to check on them.

Parker also remembers the words of Martin, who said, “Play the best you can, be the best you can, and if you get knocked down, always get back up.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Desi Najera is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks to play high school football in Brownsville.

He was a three-year starter for the Brownsville High Golden Eagles from 1967-69, leading the team to a 10-2 record, a district championship and the regional round of the playoffs as a senior in 1969.

Najera will be enshrined into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday along with eight other individuals, including Brownsville’s Frank Parker Sr., at the organization’s 32nd annual induction banquet.

The event at Pharr Events Center begins with dinner at 5 p.m., scholarship presentations at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m. An informal reception for the inductees is scheduled at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rgvshof.net

The hall of fame honor comes as somewhat of a surprise to the standout former QB, whose exploits are still remembered by many longtime Brownsville football fans.

“I never really expected anything like this,” said Najera, who was a dual-threat signal caller running and passing the ball. “It’s so humbling. I’m looking forward to it, and so is my family.

“Playing sports and being involved in the games was always something I really enjoyed,” Najera added. “I just enjoyed playing. Now I’m being recognized above and beyond what I ever expected. I appreciate people still remembering those days (when I played). It’s incredible to me.”

Still, Najera and the Eagles didn’t have the best of starts.

Najera was part of a team that went winless his sophomore season with Joe Rodriguez as the first-year coach. Brownsville High then went 6-4 when the 24 sophomores from the 1967 team were juniors the following season.

There was a big turnaround by the time Najera and his teammates became seniors under Rodriguez. The Eagles won the District 26-4A championship and finished with a 10-2 record in 1969 after reaching the Class 4A regional round of the playoffs.

A 27-22 setback against PSJA High marked Brownsville High’s only regular-season loss in 1969. The Eagles rebounded with victories against Edinburg High (36-7) and San Benito (48-0) to take a 9-1 record into the playoffs. Najera, playing at 6 feet, 175 pounds and wearing jersey No. 11 as a senior, guided the Eagles to a come-from-behind 25-15 victory in the bi-district playoffs before a packed crowd of 10,000-plus fans at Sams Memorial Stadium. Miller had a talented team with three future NFL players. Brownsville High’s season ended at 10-2 the following week with a 47-14 loss to Sequin.

“I’m happy that we were able to provide entertainment for the whole town on Friday nights,” Najera said. “I would like to accept this honor on behalf of our whole team. My teammates were the ones who helped me do well. It’s hard for me to accept that I was ever that good.

“I think we made Brownsville proud in 1969,” he added. “I’m so glad that I was a part of it.”

Najera quarterbacked a team in 1969 that averaged 37.2 points per game during the regular season. The Eagles ranked as one of the state’s top-scoring squads. Najera tied for the individual scoring lead in the Valley with 118 points. He was named second-team all-state as a senior after passing for 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns, and rushing for 1,000 yards and 12 scores.

Najera and 10 of his teammates from the 1969 team went on to play college football. Najera received 26 scholarship offers and chose Texas A&I University, where he played two seasons after graduating from Brownsville High in 1970.

As a sophomore QB for the Javelinas in 1971, Najera started against Trinity University and passed for 192 yards and rushing for 141 yards. His combined offensive total of 333 yards set a school record at the time for a single game by an individual player. It earned him recognition in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section. The magazine awarded him a golden bowl, which has become a prized possession from his playing days.

The standout QB’s football career at Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) was short-lived.

Najera returned to Brownsville in 1972, married Carmen Guerra, his high school sweetheart, and started a family. He became a Brownsville fireman, just like his father, Israel Najera. His career with the fire department in Brownsville spanned almost 20 years before he went to work as a manager for Cameron County.

In 1995, Najera earned his college degree from the University of Texas at Brownsville with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in history. He retired in 2015 and continues to work from time to time as a substitute teacher in Brownsville ISD.

He and wife Carmen have a family that includes six grown college-educated children.

“I’m very grateful to the Lord for blessing me to be able to perform like I did in football,” Najera said. “I believe He kept me from injury. I’ve been blessed throughout my life.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Longevity and consistency have marked Mike Buck’s career as a football referee.

He became one of the most trusted sports officials in the Rio Grande Valley.

Buck’s high school football officiating career started in 1979 and ran through 2017. It included 706 varsity and 738 subvarsity games across 38 years. Including all-star contests and playoff games, his lifetime total as a football official was 1,444 games.

Buck, formerly a longtime Harlingen resident who recently moved to Bastrop, will be enshrined into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday along with eight other individuals, including former Marine Military Academy football coach Jim Morton, previously of Harlingen, who will be inducted posthumously.

The organization’s 32nd annual induction banquet at Pharr Events Center begins with dinner at 5 p.m., scholarship presentations at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6 p.m. An informal reception for the inductees is scheduled at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rgvshof.net

The former football official eagerly anticipates Saturday’s event.

“ I’ve known about it for some time, and it’s been pretty exciting getting ready for it and preparing a five-minute speech,” Buck said. “I can’t wait to get down to the Valley (from Bastrop). We’re really looking forward to it.”

Before becoming a football official, Buck started working at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen in 1976 and served in various capacities until 2008. The positions included vice president of administrative services and later associate vice chancellor of administrative services for the TSTC system. His duties involved overseeing $50 million-plus in construction at the school.

It was in 1979 that a co-worker at TSTC asked Buck if he would like to start officiating football games. Buck was intrigued by the offer and said yes. The rest is history.

He has been a member of the Valley football officials organization, TASO, since 1979. He officiated an average of 20 varsity games per season for approximately 20 years.

Among the high-level Texas high school football playoff games he officiated are a Class 5A Division II state quarterfinal between Richardson and Temple in 1993, the Class 4A Division II state championship between Stephenville and La Marque in 1998, and the 4A Division II state semifinal between Ennis and Wichita Falls in 2000.

Buck was the head linesman for the 2005 Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game at the Alamodome in San Antonio. He was the head linesman for the Intense Football League in 2007, including the league’s championship game. Buck served as convention chairman for the 2009 TASO Football State Convention in McAllen.

He retired as a major in the Texas Army National Guard in 1997 after a 25-year career. He served as an assistant plans and operation officer (G3).

“Being a football official has influenced me in all kinds of ways,” Buck said. “Being a football official makes me think that I’m a problem solver. It helped me in 25 years with the National Guard. I learned (as an official) to study the rules manual and better communicate with coaches and lead an officiating crew. You don’t want mistakes (on the field during games) so you can have a good post-game review.

“I believe being a football official helped me improve as a college administrator, too,” he added. “Officiating has influenced me in a lot of (positive) ways.”

Throughout his career as a football referee, Buck enjoyed officiating the subvarsity games on Saturdays just as much as the varsity contests on Friday nights. He did that with a desire to help train younger officials who were starting out and gaining experience on the subvarsity level, just like he did.

Buck is scheduled to receive the Curly Hays Award at the annual THSCA Convention in July in Houston. It’s an award that recognizes the top high school official in the state. It is an honor given to only one official each year by the Texas coaching organization.

“Receiving the Curly Hays Awards next month is going to be pretty exciting, too,” Buck said.

Buck and his wife, Linda, moved to Bastrop from Harlingen about one year ago. They have been married 44 years and are the parents of three grown children — Leslie Kutzberger, Matt Buck and Ryan Buck.

Being inducted into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame is an honor he humbly accepts, Buck said.

“I’ve lived there (in the Valley), I’ve worked there and I saw sports there,” he said. “I played six sports myself growing up, so I’m a sports fanatic.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

MISSION — The best of the best high school athletes, coaches and teams from the 2018-19 school year in the Rio Grande Valley were recognized at Thursday’s All Valley Sports Award Banquet at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission.

There were 33 awards in 12 UIL sports handed out at the annual event presented by RGVSports.com, which is the website of the Valley’s three daily newspapers — The Brownsville Herald, the Valley Morning Star and The Monitor.

Among those honored with an All Valley award from the Harlingen area were San Perlita’s Tige Johnson (Boys Basketball Player of the Year), Lyford’s Cristian Alaniz (Boys Tennis Player of the Year), Harlingen South’s Valeria Montero (Girls Tennis Player of the Year), Mercedes’ Mika Vento (Sub-6A Female Athlete of the Year), Harlingen South Lady Hawks soccer (6A Girls Team of the Year), Lyford softball (Sub-6A Girls Team of the Year) and Lady Hawks soccer coach Omar Pedroza (Girls Coach of the Year).

The 6-foot-7 Johnson is a senior-to-be at San Perlita, so he still has another season to lead the Trojans to success in basketball. He helped them get to the 2A regional tournament this past season.

“A lot of hard work pays off,” Johnson said. “I’ve been working my butt off since my freshman year by coming in early every morning and staying late after school. It’s a pretty good award, and I’m thankful for it.

“This (award) is an added motivation for me,” he added. “My freshman and sophomore years we dropped out of the playoffs in the third round (before making it to the regional tournament this year). It was a blessing to go to the regional tournament. Hopefully next season we can get over the hump and get past the third round again and go even farther.”

Lyford’s Alaniz made it to state in 3A tennis in boys singles this season for the first time, so it was a senior year to remember for him. Getting the All Valley award was pretty memorable, too.

“It’s an awesome feeling to win an award like this,” Alaniz said. “I don’t have the right words to describe it, honestly. To be playing tennis only two and a half years, and to win something like this is a huge accomplishment. It’s a huge honor. To me, it really means a lot.”

The top honors for South girls soccer came toward the end of the banquet as the Lady Hawks earned the 6A Girls Team of the Year award for advancing five rounds in the state playoffs and making it to the Region IV-6A Tournament final. The Lady Hawks, 23-4, came within one win of advancing to the state tournament in Georgetown.

“I think we surpassed a lot of people’s expectations,” said Reid Davis, the Lady Hawks’ recently graduated senior goalkeeper. “We came out and proved people wrong. We’ll remember this season a long time. It’s an honor to be here and an honor to get this award and be recognized as one of the best teams in the Valley.”

Added South teammate and fellow 2019 graduate Mellory Grannum, “This award means a lot to me and it is definitely a great way to end the season (as a graduating senior). I’m just so proud of everyone — all my teammates, the coaches, my parents and my sister (and teammate Caroline) — everybody who supported us throughout the year. It couldn’t have happened without them.”

Pedroza was gracious in accepting his award for Girls Coach of the Year.

“This award is a reflection of the kind of players that I have,” said Pedroza, who just completed his 23rd season as the Lady Hawks’ coach. “You don’t get nominations and awards like this unless you have the kind of players I have. I have some incredible student-athletes. That’s all I have to say.”

Some of the other top awards went to McAllen High’s Lexi Gonzalez (6A Female Athlete of the Year), PSJA High’s Trey Guajardo (6A Male Athlete of the Year), Mercedes’ Mika Vento (Sub-6A Female Athlete of the Year), Mission Veterans’ Landry Gilpin (Sub-6A Male Athlete of the Year), Brownsville Hanna football (6A Boys Team of the Year), Sharyland Pioneer baseball (Sub-6A Boys Team of the Year), Mark Guess (Boys Coach of the Year for Hanna football), Edinburg Vela (6A Program of the Year), and Brownsville Veterans and Sharyland Pioneer (a tie for Sub-6A Program of the Year).

The final and most highly regarded honor of the night, the Tom Landy Award, went to Los Fresnos’ Isis Delgado, who was a four-year standout of the Lady Falcons’ volleyball team as a libero and was the valedictorian of her school’s 2019 graduating class of 917.

Delgado was chosen based on her extensive athletic and academic achievements along with her character and community service.

Randy White, former NFL All-Pro with the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl XII Co-MVP, was the banquet’s featured speaker.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

MISSION — The best of the best high school athletes, coaches and teams from the 2018-19 school year in the Rio Grande Valley were recognized at Thursday’s All Valley Sports Award Banquet at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission.

There were 33 awards in 12 UIL sports handed out at the annual event presented by RGVSports.com, which is the website of the Valley’s three daily newspapers — The Brownsville Herald, the Valley Morning Star and The Monitor.

Among those honored with an All Valley award from the Brownsville area were Rivera’s Andrea de la Rosa (Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year), Hanna’s Mia Paz (Girls Basketball Player of the Year), Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Mark Boswell (Boys Soccer Player of the Year), Pace’s Alexis Guajardo (Girls Soccer Player of the Year), Brownsville Veteran’s Fahtima Avila (Girls Golfer of the Year), Los Fresnos’ Luis Osuna (Boys Swimmer of the Year), Brownsville Veterans’ Mia Anzaldua (Softball Player of the Year), Hanna football (Class 6A Boys Team of the Year) and, Hanna football coach Mark Guess (Boys Coach of the Year).

Also, Brownsville Veterans tied with Sharyland Pioneer for Sub-6A Program of the Year.

Thursday’s award was a perfect way to transition from high school to running in college in Tennessee for de la Rosa.

“It’s amazing to win this award, I feel it’s such an accomplishment,” said the recently graduated standout Rivera runner who went to state in cross country three times and to state in track once. “I’ve worked really hard for four years, so it feels really good. It’s a great way to go on to college. I’d like to thank God and all my coaches for their support.”

Regarding his award in boys soccer, Boswell, a senior-to-be, said, “I’m pretty speechless, but most importantly, I’m blessed and thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been given. All glory to God.”

Paz, a recent Hanna graduate who has signed to play basketball at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, was nominated for the top girls basketball player award last year, but didn’t receive the top prize. She was happy to be the winner this time around.

“It was a little nerve-wracking because I was up against some real strong competition,” said Paz, who finished her Hanna career as the all-time Brownsville scorer with 2,968 points and with a Valley-record 410 3-pointers. “To win this award is amazing.”

Los Fresnos’ Osuna was a standout boys swimmer who qualified for state during each of his four years swimming for the Falcons.

“After all these years of dedication (as a swimmer), it feels amazing (to win this award),” said Osuna, who just graduated from Los Fresnos. “I was in practice every day, so it’s truly an honor to be recognized for this award.”

Some of the other top awards went to McAllen High’s Lexi Gonzalez (6A Female Athlete of the Year), PSJA High’s Trey Guajardo (6A Male Athlete of the Year), Mercedes’ Mika Vento (Sub-6A Female Athlete of the Year), Mission Veterans’ Landry Gilpin (Sub-6A Male Athlete of the Year), Harlingen South soccer (6A Girls Team of the Year), Lyford softball (Sub-6A Girls Team of the Year), Sharyland Pioneer baseball (Sub-6A Boys Team of the Year), Harlingen South soccer coach Omar Pedroza (Girls Coach of the Year), Edinburg Vela (6A Program of the Year) and Brownsville Veterans and Sharyland Pioneer ( a tie for Sub-6A Program of the Year).

The final and most highly regarded honor of the night, the Tom Landy Award, went to Los Fresnos’ Isis Delgado, who was a four-year standout of the Lady Falcons’ volleyball team as a libero and was the valedictorian of her school’s 2019 graduating class of 917.

Delgado was chosen based on her extensive athletic and academic achievements along with her character and community service.

Randy White, former NFL All-Pro for the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl XII Co-MVP, was the banquet’s featured speaker.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

After waiting years for their first playoff victory, 2019 became a breakthrough soccer season for the Harlingen South Hawks.

A span of 25 years or so passed before the Hawks defeated Edinburg Economedes 3-2 in bi-district on March 29 for the school’s first postseason victory in boys soccer. The Hawks enjoyed the win so much they went on to defeat McAllen Rowe 4-1 during the second round.

District 32-6A runner-up South ended the season with a 17-10 record after being eliminated during the third round.

As a result of the Hawks’ newfound playoff success, a number of them are receiving top awards on the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR boys soccer team.

Among them are Julian Robles as coach of the year, Angel Ortega as defensive player of the year and Joaquin Ovalle as newcomer of the year.

“It’s been an honor playing for Harlingen South,” said Ortega, a senior team captain who started two seasons out of his three years on the varsity. “Hopefully the ones coming up can do even better, but our (senior) class is the best so far (after these playoff wins).”

Ortega, a central defender, said Robles played an important role in directing the team. Robles has now guided the Hawks to the postseason during three of his five seasons as coach.

“Coach Robles’ intelligence for the game is crazy because he’s shown us things that we never knew, and he’s shown us tactics that have helped us a lot,” Ortega said. “As a player, you need that type of coach to help you get better.

“That’s what Coach Robles did,” Ortega added. “He pushed us to make us better. He told us to keep going and not stop. He did that every practice. He told us if we wanted to go as far as we wanted, we had to work for it. The coaches under him supported us as well.”

Robles said it hasn’t been just him getting the Hawks’ soccer program to go in the right direction.

“It’s important that the players have wanted to win, and the assistant coaches have been great, too,” Robles said. “All I’ve done is bring them a blueprint, and the players are hungry to win (by following it). The assistant coaches are Jose Galvan, Miguel Torres and Alejandro Mendez. They’ve really helped out a lot. No individual accomplishment can be achieved without having a great support group. It takes a great team and a great coaching staff.

“The players are buying into the system,” Robles added. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy getting the program’s first playoff win, but these guys broke through with flying colors. Being named coach of the year is a great honor, but I understand that it’s totally a team effort.”

Robles said Ortega was an important player in the middle of the defense.

“Angel is a very intelligent player,” the coach said. “We always knew since he was on the junior varsity that we could count on him. He always wanted to be the one we counted upon back there (on defense). He’s very talented and can play up front (at forward), but as a team captain and leader of the defense, he knew what we needed to do to win.”

Ortega saw South’s defense as a strong part of the team.

“I would tell the guys on defense to unleash the beast inside of them and just play with all their heart,” Ortega said. “Besides scoring goals, it’s important to defend and prevent goals. As a captain back there, I always wanted the best from my teammates. They gave it their all and proved it on the field, and I was really proud of what we did as a defense. I couldn’t be any happier about the players who were beside me.”

Giving the Hawks hope for the future is the play of Ovalle, who was a freshman starting on the left wing.

“It was an honor playing with these seniors this year,” Ovalle said. “It’s awesome to win this newcomer award because it keeps you motivated to win more awards in the coming years.”

Ortega said there are many people to thank for the memorable season the Hawks just experienced.

“Thank you to all the people who helped us out in getting to our full potential as a team,” Ortega said. “Thanks to the coaches, all of the teachers who helped us and everybody just in general. We felt the full support of Harlingen South. We didn’t forget about them. We were the ones playing for them and trying to make the fans and the school as happy as can be, so it was an honor playing for them.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The Harlingen High Cardinals have two promising soccer players for the future.

Actually, they’re pretty good already.

Jacob Garza and Jose Garcia were standout underclassmen for the Cardinals this season, as each performed a vital role for the team. Garcia was a sophomore forward who led the squad with 15 goals and between 10 and 15 assists. Garza was a junior midfielder/defender both in the middle and on the side who helped out wherever he was needed on the field.

For their strong efforts, each has won a top award on the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 ALL-STAR boys soccer team. Garcia is the offensive player of the year, and Garza is the utility player of the year.

They say the awards will help motivate them to do better in the future as they try to get the Cardinals back to the playoffs after the team missed out on the postseason in 2019 following a playoff trip in 2018.

“It’s a blessing,” Garza said of his recognition. “Since I got this award (as a utility player) last year, I wasn’t sure if I’d win it again, but I’m excited about it and I can’t wait until next season. It’s a huge motivation.

“This season didn’t come out as planned for us, but we just have to move on from it,” added Garza, who has been a starter since he was a freshman, mostly on defense as a fullback and a center defender. “Next season will be my last year playing for the Cardinals as a senior, and hopefully it will be my best year. I’m also kicking for the Cardinals in football, so I’m looking forward to doing a good job in football, too.”

While Garcia doesn’t play football, he is a multi-sport athlete as well. He just went to the University Interscholastic League state meet last month in the 100-meter dash. He’s looking forward to his next athletic school year as a junior, the same as Garza.

“It’s an honor to be recognized (with All-STAR and All-District 32-6A awards),” Garcia said. “It just means a lot considering the work I’ve put in.”

Regarding his recent trip to state in track, Garcia said, “It was crazy up there, and it was a good experience. I’m hoping to return to state and get a medal next year.”

For all-district this soccer season, Garcia was a unanimous first-team selection at forward. Garza was an all-district second-team defender.

Cardinals coach Johnny Guillen values the contributions of both players. He looks forward to welcoming them back next school year.

“Jacob is the type of player that can play any position on the field,” Guillen said. “He is a true team player. He’s always willing to play any position on the field to help the team be successful. Jacob is a true leader on and off the field.

“Jose is an all-around athlete,” Guillen added. “In soccer, he is able to use his speed as an advantage to get by defenders. When he is in open space and receives a ball, he becomes really hard to stop, and he finishes the ball behind the net well.”

Garza and Garcia each appreciate the opportunity to participate in sports for the Cardinals.

“It’s a big thing to play for the Cardinals,” Garza said, “It’s a huge tradition around here. I’ve always wanted to be a Cardinal. It’s amazing to be one now.

“I just want to play my role when I’m out there and do whatever I can to help out my team,” he added. “Whatever it is, either stopping a play (as a defender when an opponent advances the ball near the goal) or contributing to a goal (as a midfielder with a good pass), anything like that (is what I enjoy doing).”

Garcia is equally proud of representing his school through sports.

“It’s special to play for the Cardinals, and it’s an honor,” said Garcia, a starter at forward since he was a freshman. “We work hard, but we have a lot of fun times, too. My mindset on the field is for us to work together so we can score goals. For me, it’s all about teamwork.

“I’m glad other people are getting to know my name (in soccer and track) and following my path,” Garcia added. “What’s really on my mind is to see us go to the second round (in soccer). It just takes teamwork, and I think we can do it.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Gonzalo Villarreal is one of those goalkeepers who came and played four standout seasons on the varsity for the San Benito Greyhounds.

There is a lot to be said for a goalkeeper like that, and the Greyhounds will certainly miss him now that he is graduating.

As he moves on from high school, Villarreal takes with him the award as the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR Boys Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year.

“All of these four years playing for San Benito have been special for me,” he said. “The coaches have been pushing us (to make the playoffs), so it’s been great for the Greyhounds. We got to the playoffs this year for a reason. It was because we were playing as a team. I feel that we had very good players all the way from the back (of the field on defense) to the ones on the offensive end.”

The Greyhounds returned to the postseason this year for the first time since 2014 as the fourth-place team from District 32-6A.

Villarreal was a key contributor in helping the team accomplish that feat.

“Gonzalo was just a natural at being a goalie,” Greyhounds coach William Huerta said. “He always came to practice with the mentality of being a great goalie, and that carried over into the games.

“He was a four-year starter for a reason,” Huerta added. “I believe he has the talent to play at the next level. With his work ethics, I believe it can and will happen.”

Villarreal said his immediate plans are to attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley next school year and study criminal justice.

He’s happy to culminate his high school days by winning the All-STAR award as the area’s top goalkeeper. He also was named a first-teamer at goalkeeper on the All-District 32-6A team this season.

“It feels like something very special for me because I’ve been working so hard since my freshman year,” he said. “It just feels great.

“What I tell myself before every game when I’m on the field is that no shot is going to go by me for a goal,” Villarreal added. “Telling myself that is a motivation for me.”

Villarreal said he has a lot of people to thank for helping him end his high school soccer career on such a high note.

“I would like to thank my Dad, who is Armando Villarreal, and all of my coaches that have been there pushing me and pushing the team,” he said. “All of these four years have been great to me because I really love playing soccer.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Harlingen South’s Jose Lerma is a clear-cut choice as MVP of the Valley Morning Star’s 2019 All-STAR boys soccer team.

He led the way for the Hawks this season as a senior forward. It was a record-setting season for the South boys on the soccer field, as they won in the playoffs for the first time in school history after a wait of 25 or so years.

Lerma, a graduating senior and four-year starter, was right there at the forefront for the 17-10 Hawks, who went into the playoffs as the District 32-6A runner-up. Lerma led the team with 22 goals on the season.

Lerma also was the unanimous choice as MVP for the All-District 32-6A selections.

“I really like his work ethic, and he’s just a talented player that has a knack for getting better,” South coach Julian Robles said of his star player. “When Jose was a freshman, he was newcomer of the year (in 32-6A). Now to see him as MVP four years later just goes to show that with hard work you can accomplish things.

“One thing we always preach here is that hard work pays off, and it has for Jose,” added Robles, who just completed his fifth season guiding the team and is the All-STAR coach of the year. “He led us as a captain, he led us as a scorer, and he did everything he had to do for this team. He wanted to make it a memorable senior season by helping us advance in the playoffs (and he did).”

Added fellow senior captain Angel Ortega, the All-STAR defensive player of the year, “As team captains, Jose, Eric (Lopez Jr.) and I wanted to go the farthest possible and break all the odds against us to make it past the first round of the playoffs. That’s what we did, and we actually did more than that (by winning two games during the playoffs).

“Even though we couldn’t quite make it to the regional tournament, it was still a good experience for the team,” Ortega added. “It was also good history for the school.”

This season made it all worthwhile for Lerma, who plans to attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg and pursue a degree in international business. He and Ortega also want to walk on to the UTRGV soccer team.

“It’s been a good four years, and this was the best one,” Lerma said. “I worked hard all four years so we could go to the playoffs and go as far as we could. This year was like the breakout season for me and the team. It was amazing thanks to Coach Robles, the other coaches and all the players on the team.

“Coach Robles conditioned us and put us through drills (that helped us),” Lerma added. “The amount of time and work we all put in helped us out a lot.”

Receiving his MVP awards for the All-STAR Team and for all-district is something Lerma won’t soon forget.

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “I never thought something like this would happen to me. During all my younger years in high school I would always see these great players get these (MVP) awards, and finally I’m able to be one of them, so it’s really a blessing.

“I always tried to keep my team motivated, and that included keeping our heads up when the odds were against us,” Lerma added. “I never tried to be mean, but I always tried to get the best out of my teammates. If it did happen (and there was a misunderstanding), it was just to get the best out of them.

“I’d just like to thank everybody that supported the team and supported me throughout my four years, especially this last year. Thank you to all of my teammates who were there from Day 1. Even if we had a bad game or I had a bad game, we never gave up on each other.”