By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Of all the awards Daniella Murchison has earned during her stellar track & field career, the recent Port Isabel graduate has received one additional honor to usher her into the next phase of her athletic career in college.
Murchison, an SMU signee , has been named the girls All-Valley Most Valuable Performer for the 2015 season after winning the Class 4A shot put at the UIL state meet in May in Austin . Coupled with her pair of Class 3A state titles in the shot put as a sophomore and a junior, Murchison became the only Rio Grande Valley athlete, boy or girl, to capture a UIL state championship three straight years in track and field.
“That’s really awesome, and I’m so honored to have been chosen,” said Murchison upon learning about her most recent award.
“Definitely, (it’s a good way to transition into college),” added Murchison, who plans to leave for Dallas on July 31 to prepare for her fall semester at SMU.
Murchison won the 4A shot put at state in May with a throw of 44 feet, 1 inch and took sixth in the discus with a throw of 120-10. Also, Murchison set an all-time Valley best with a shot put toss of 46-1 1/2 at the Meet of Champions in March. It was a mark that set a new standard in the Valley for current-era girls competing with the 8-pound, 9-ounce shot put.
Murchison was named the sub-Class 6A Female Athlete of the Year at the eighth annual RGVSports.com and RGV Sports Hall of Fame awards ceremony in June at Harlingen’s Marine Military Academy.
The All-Valley team was selected by South Texas track historian Carlos Vela of San Juan. The former PSJA High coach and current meet official annually compiles the Valley bests during the track season.
In addition to Murchison, a number of other East Valley standout athletes were selected to the All-Valley team.
Among the other Metro-Area honorees is St. Joseph Academy ’s Gaby Garza, who was named the All-Valley Newcomer of the Year for girls.
At the TAPPS state meet in May in Waco, Garza, then a freshman, took second in the 300-meter hurdles (45.07 seconds) and second in the 100-meter hurdles (14.83). Last July at the state TAAF meet, Garza clocked a 44.13 in the 300 hurdles to record the third-fastest time ever in the event by a Valley female athlete.
“It really feels cool to be recognized,” Garza said. “It feels cool because both me and (SJA) Coach (Meme) Garza worked really hard to do well this year.”
Besides Murchison and Garza, other area athletes earning first-team recognition on the All-Valley team are Los Fresnos’ Christian Perales (100 and 200 dashes), Los Fresnos’ Jaleah Calvillo (triple jump) and Port Isabel’s Gabriyella Torres (high jump).
The All-Valley Coach of the Year for the girls is Weslaco High’s Pablo Almaguer, and the same honor for the boys belongs to Edinburg Vela’s Hernan Figueroa.
Also for the boys, the Most Valuable Performer is Vela’s Brendon Rivera, a high jumper, and the Newcomer of the Year is La Joya Juarez-Lincoln’s Yariel Matute, a standout in the 400 meters.
All-Valley Track & Field – Boys
Most Valuable Performer
Brendon Rivera, EdinburgVela
Newcomer of the Year
Yariel Matute, La JOya Juarez-Lincoln
Coach of the Year
Hernan Figueroa, EdinburgVela
FIRST TEAM
100 meter dash: Christian Perales, Los Fresnos
200 meter dash: Christian Perales, Los Fresnos
400 meter dash: Yariel Matute, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
800 meter run: Reagan Olguin, Edinburg Vela
1,600 meter run: Jayven Cordova, Weslaco East
3,200 meter run: G.J. Reyna, Mission Veterans
110 meter hurdles: Vince Castillo, Donna High
300 meter hurdles: Vince Castillo, Donna High
Shot put: John Belmarez, San Benito
Discus: Angel Espinoza, Rivera
Long jump: Michael Boltie, McAllen Memorial
Triple jump: Raudel Alvarez, PSJA North
High jump: Brendon Rivera, Edinburg Vela
Pole Vault: Albert Villareal, HarlingenHigh
SECOND TEAM
100 meter dash: James Cole, Sharyland High
200 meter dash: James Cole, Sharyland High
400 meter dash: Reagan Olguin, Edinburg Vela
800 meter run: Carlos Rodriguez, La Feria
1,600 meter run: Rene Guillen, Sharyland High
3,200 meter run: Christian Machuca, Rivera
110 meter hurdles: Marcus Pena, Sharyland High
300 meter hurdles: Rene Pecina, La Joya Palmview
Shot put: Mike Zuniga, Rio Hondo
Discus: Lucas Rios, McAllenMemorial
Long jump: Sean Landez, Sharyland High
Triple jump: Isiah martinez, La Feria
High jump: Victor Bocanegra, La Joya Palmview
Pole Vault: Michael Boltie McAllen Memorial
THIRD TEAM
100 meter dash: Gabe Vasquez, San Benito
200 meter dash: Christopher Rosales, Harlingen High
400 meter dash: Sean Landez, Sharyland High
800 meter run: Fransisco Flores, PSJA Southwest
1,600 meter run: Victor pedraza, PSJA Southwest
3,200 meter run: Jose Aleman, Sharyland Pioneer
110 meter hurdles: Omar Silva, Port Isabel
300 meter hurdles: Jorge Cantu, San Benito
Shot put: Anthony Esparza, McAllen Memorial
Discus: Mike Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial
Long jump: Leonardo Lara, Santa Rosa
Triple jump: Pete Perez, Los Fresnos
High jump: Devin Rosas, Harlingen High
Pole Vault: Jose Garcia, Mission High
All-Valley Track & Field – Girls
Most Valuable Performer
Daniella Murchison, Port Isabel
Newcomer of the Year
Gaby Garza, St. JosephAcademy
Coach of the Year
Pablo Almaguer, WeslacoHigh
FIRST TEAM
100 meter dash: Cierra Pena, Harlingen South
200 meter dash: Cierra Pena, Harlingen South
400 meter dash: Angela Villareal, Weslaco High
800 meter run: AlexandriaCruz, Edinburg High
1,600 meter run: AlexandriaCruz, Edinburg High
3,200 meter run: Thalia Polanco, Lyford
100 meter hurdles: Gaby Garza, St. JosephAcademy
300 meter hurdles: Alyssa DeLeon, Weslaco High
Shot put: Daniella Murchison, Port Isabel
Discus: Nora Monie, Sharyland Pioneer
Long jump: Cierra Pena, Harlingen South
Triple jump: Jaleah Calvillo, Los Fresnos
High jump: Gabriyella Torres, Port Isabel
Pole Vault: Sydney Salinas, WeslacoHigh
SECOND TEAM
100 meter dash: Valerie Mancha, PSJA High
200 meter dash: Mia Hinojosa, La Joya Palmview
400 meter dash: Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest
800 meter run: Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest
1,600 meter run: Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa
3,200 meter run: Brianna Robles, La Joya Palmview
100 meter hurdles: Jaleah Calvillo, Los Fresnos
300 meter hurdles: Gaby Garza, St. JosephAcademy
Shot put: Nora Monie, Sharyland Pioneer
Discus: Clarissa Chavez, BrownsvilleVeterans Memorial
Long jump: Gabriyella Torres, Port Isabel
Triple jump: Kassy Rocha, Roma
High jump: Jaleah Calvillo, Los Fresnos
Pole Vault: Megan Lopez, St. JosephAcademy
THIRD TEAM
100 meter dash: I’Dasha Sorrell, Donna North
200 meter dash: Caitlin Alaniz, Weslaco East
400 meter dash: Juliana Guerrero, Harlingen High
800 meter run: Krysta Martinez, Edcouch-Elsa
1,600 meter run: Adriana Cruz, Rio GrandeCity
3,200 meter run: Lizette Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer
100 meter hurdles: Gabriyella Torres, Port Isabel
300 meter hurdles: Thanya Garza, McAllen Memorial
Shot put: Brittany Vielma, PSJA Southwest
Discus: Daniella Murchison, Port Isabel
Long jump: Jaleah Calvillo, Los Fresnos
Triple jump: Jovannie Solis, McAllen Rowe
High jump: Joan Cepeda, PSJA Memorial
Pole Vault: CarolinaCarrillo, PSJA North
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.