RGVSPORTS.COM
Three of the Rio Grande Valley’s most talented male student-athletes are nominees for the Class 6A Male Athlete of the Year that will be named on June 14.
The winner will be recognized at the 2016 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet at DoubleTree Suites in McAllen. Dallas Cowboys legend Drew Pearson is the keynote speaker for the event.
Representatives from the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame, The Monitor, the Brownsville Herald and the Valley Morning Star voted on three nominations for each category.
Rio Grande Valley Chevy Dealers is the presenting sponsor of the banquet. Representing the Rio Grande Valley Chevy Dealers are Bert Ogden Chevrolet, Clark Chevrolet, Fiesta Chevrolet, Gillman Chevrolet, Payne Weslaco Motors, Rio Motor Co. and Tipotex Chevrolet.
“AIM Media Texas is extremely excited about this partnership with RGV Chevy Dealers,” said Stephan Winger, Regional Vice President and Publisher of The Monitor. “We have been recognizing the Valley’s top varsity athletes for many years, but with their help we are able to make this event something really special for the nominees across the Valley.”
Pearson, who was inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor in 2011 after a standout career defined by his performances in the clutch, will highlight the function hosted by RGVSports.com in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame.
The awards banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. and recognizes team and individual standouts in multiple sports over the past year. Tickets are $40. All nominees get in free.
To buy tickets to the banquet, log on to TheMonitor.com, BrownsvilleHerald.com, or ValleyStar.com and click on the rgvsports_banquet link on the toolbar on the home page of each website.
The nominees for Class 6A Male Athlete of the Year:
>> Joshua McGowen, McAllen High: In 2015, McGowen needed just a single season to set school records with 1,891 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 26 total touchdowns and 340 yards in a single game. He is also going to state in track and field in four events.
>> Trevor Speights, McAllen Memorial: Speights was one of only 25 players named to the Parade Magazine All-America first team, which has been selected annually by the magazine’s editors since 1963. Speights ran for 3,195 yards — the second-best season in Valley history — and a Valley-record 50 touchdowns in 2015 while finishing his stellar career as the fourth all-time leading rusher in the state. In February, Speights signed to continue his football career at Stanford University. Speights also competes in track and field.
>> Fred Villarreal, Brownsville Veterans Memorial: The University of Houston signee was 8-0 with 82 strikeouts through his first nine starts of this season. Villarreal was also a member of the Chargers’ playoff-qualifying football team.
=================
IF YOU GO:
What: 2016 All-Valley Sports Banquet Awards
When: Tuesday, June 14
Where: DoubleTree Suites, McAllen
Info: $40 for tickets, which includes a catered dinner. Nominees for all awards get in free.