On Monday, San Benito’s JR Gaitan and Armando Medrano inked letters of intent to play sports at the next level.
Gaitan, a standout on the Greyhounds baseball squad, committed to Southeastern Community College in Burlington, Iowa. Meanwhile, Medrano, a star wide receiver for the ’Hounds’ football team, pledged to play for the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa.
“It’s an accomplishment to be here,” said Gaitan as a bevy of family and friends, all donned in SCC Blackhawks T-shirts, looked on in the San Benito High School Varsity gymnasium.
“It was a dream to play baseball at the next level, and now I’m here and I’m ready to go.”
The SCC Blackhawks compete as part of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
This past season, the Blackhawks’ season ended in the regional championship where they fell to North Iowa Area Community College to finish the year at 41-20.
Gaitan said he was drawn to SCC because of the baseball program’s coaching staff and his belief that he can help make the program better.
And while Burlington, Iowa, which is located about 165 miles southeast of Des Moines, is a long way from home, Gaitan said he doesn’t think that will be too much of a problem.
“I’ll miss home a little bit, Texas in general, especially the weather here, but I’ll adjust,” he said.
San Benito head baseball coach Ram Partida said he believes Gaitan should prosper at the next level.
“I think he’s going to do OK. He’s always been a special player,” Partida said. “Since the day I first saw him play when he was 5 years old, I knew that he was going to be a special player. He’s gonna be OK.”
As for Medrano, his dream to play at the next level will take him to Odessa where he will play for the UTPB Falcons, who compete in the NCAA Division II Heartland Conference.
“Today is a dream come true,” Medrano said as friends and family looked on with pride. “I’ve been dreaming about signing with a college since I was small.”
Medrano said that UTPB’s coaching staff played a major role in his decision to become a Falcon.
“The coaches are awesome up there,” he said. “I went up there to visit and the head coach (Justin Carrigan) was telling me that I looked pretty good on film, and he wanted to see me on their team.
“I’m looking forward to competing up there. I’ll miss my parents, of course, but my older brother is going to be gong up there, too, so I’m just excited and ready.”
Greyhounds head football coach Dan Gomez said Medrano has what it takes to succeed.
“Mando is a perfect example of hard work paying off, so with the work ethic that he has, he’ll take it up there with him and he’s going to go out there, and compete for a starting position and also be the best student he can be,” Gomez said.
Medrano said he plans on studying kinesiology while at UTPB.
The Falcons open the 2016 season at home on Sept. 3 against Sul Ross.
UTPB plays its home games at Ratliff Stadium, which is also home to Odessa Permian High School.