RGVSports.com
The Valley qualified one boy and one girl to the state tennis tournament in the form of Sharyland High’s mixed doubles team, but that accomplishment may not be enough to secure Girls Tennis Player of the Year and Boys Tennis Player of the Year.
The winners will be announced at the 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet on June 19 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission.
Sean Elliott, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who now works with the team as a broadcaster, will be the keynote speaker at the event.
The nominees for Girls Tennis Player of the Year:
>> Andrea Fernandez, Sharyland High: Fernandez, a freshman, qualified for state in mixed doubles with teammate Michael Davis. Fernandez and Davis clinched a second-place finish at the regional tournament to earn a trip to the state tournament in College Station.
>> Jennifer Garcia, Donna High: The senior dominated on the court once again, winning four singles titles this year. Garcia won her first-round meeting during the regional meet in San Antonio.
>> Kara Lemarr, Harlingen South: LeMarr was a perfect 18-0 in the fall season and in the spring had several tournament wins, including a solid finish in the District 32-6A tournament, which landed her a spot in the Region IV-6A tournament. She reached the quarterfinals in doubles action at regionals.
The nominees for Boys Tennis Player of the Year:
>> Michael Davis, Sharyland High: The junior teamed up with Andrea Fernandez for Sharyland High’s mixed doubles squad. The two competed in the state tennis tournament in May.
>> Jorge Garcia, Harlingen South: In singles action, Garcia was a perfect 17-0 during the fall season, and he had three tournament wins in the spring. He was also the District 32-6A singles champion as he advanced to the Region IV-6A tournament in San Antonio.
>> Michael Howell, Mission Veterans: Howell won the District 31-5A singles title in a two-set sweep. He was one of the few Valley representatives to win his first-round match at the regional tournament in April.
The banquet, hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, will see 33 awards presented to athletes, coaches and teams across all 12 UIL sports. The prestigious Tom Landry Award of Excellence will honor a student-athlete for outstanding achievements on and off the field.
The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, The Brownsville Herald, Mid-Valley Town Crier and RGV Sports Hall of Fame will vote to determine the winners in the sports categories. While The Monitor, the Star and the Herald have previously named their All-Area teams in certain sports, the All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet will recognize the very best across all three coverage areas.
The banquet, which will run approximately 6 to 8 p.m., returns to Mario’s for a second consecutive year. The venue has a seating capacity of more than 500 people. Tickets will be on sale soon at a cost of $40 per person. For sponsorship opportunities, call Marcia Kitten at 956-683-4463 or email [email protected].