Former Hanna standout Pineda now playing in Hawaii
Former Brownsville Hanna All-Valley guard Eileen Pineda (5-foot-6, sophomore) is currently playing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Pineda transferred this fall from McLennan Community College, where she played last season as a true freshman. Pineda poured in a season-high 12 points for her new school earlier this season against Chaminade University.
The Vulcans, who compete in the NCAA Division II West Region, travel Jan. 20 to Phoenix to play Grand Canyon University. Pineda is averaging 8.0 points, playing an average of 22 minutes coming off the bench.
After playing volleyball at Texas Lutheran this fall as a true freshman, McAllen High alum Rebecca Valdez (5-10, forward) has taken up a second sport as a member of the Lady Bulldogs basketball team. Valdez has one start in four games this season for TLU. She is scoring 3.3 points and pulling down 2.8 rebounds.
The men's basketball team at Sul Ross State lists Ruben Vela (6-1, freshman) on its roster. Vela, a four-year letterman at Santa Rosa, has appeared in four games this season, scoring 2.5 points per outing.
The Lobos visit Texas Lutheran on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Seguin.
Two former Valley players are on the roster for the Sul Ross State Lady Lobos. Harlingen South grad Rosa Cruz (5-2, guard) and Harlingen High's Jamie Angulo (5-5, guard) are competing in Alpine. Cruz has played in seven games this season, averaging 2.6 points and dishing out 1.3 assists per game. Angulo has yet to see playing time.
Baseball
Guillermo Cienfuegos (6-2, 225) was named to the Region XIV all-conference team last spring. A right-handed pitcher, Cienfuegos played at Valley View before attending junior college.
He helped the Alvin Community College Dolphins advance to the JUCO World Series in 2008.
Football
Sharyland product Charlie Wiebusch (6-2, 340) made three starts at guard this season for Rice. A redshirt junior, Wiebusch made his first career start at left guard in the opener against SMU. The Owls play Western Michigan University Dec. 30 in the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The game will be televised live nationally on NFL Network.
Eddie Tovar (6-2, 190), who played at Mission Veterans Memorial, led Sul Ross State in receiving as a true freshman. He appeared in seven games, catching 20 passes for 200 yards while scoring one touchdown.Tovar also returned three kicks for 45 yards.
McAllen Rowe's Manny Gatling (6-2, 208) completed his second season at Mississippi State, appearing in all 11 games. Playing on special teams his sophomore season, Gatling recorded three solo and one assisted tackle.
McAllen High's Josh Saenz (5-11, 185), a senior starting quarterback for Mary Hardin-Baylor, has guided the Crusaders into the NCAA Division III National Semifinals. The Crusaders will host Wisconsin-Whitewater at noon Saturday at Tiger Field in Belton. The Warhawks are the defending national champions and the two teams will meet for the second straight season. The winner advances to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III National Championship game.
Soccer
Rebekah Valenta (5-7, freshman) from McAllen High was named to the NAIA Association of Independent Institutions 2008 Women's Soccer All-Conference honorable mention team. Valenta, a defender, plays for Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
Pikey Rodriguez is a longtime sportswriter in the Rio Grande Valley. His column appears every Tuesday. For information on Valley athletes, he can be reached at (956) 683-4450 or via e-mail at wbaker@themonitor.com.
