Regional soccer heads Herald's 2011 list of top sports stories

The city of Brownsville enjoyed a wild sports year in 2011, from the highs of playing host to the Class 5A regional soccer tournament for the first time — with two city teams in the final, no less — and the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College’s volleyball NAIA national championship, to the lows of the recent decision to cut the UTB-TSC baseball program and the retirement of a local coaching legend.

Here’s how the sports staff of The Brownsville Herald ranked all that was accomplished in the area this past year.

1. SOCCER MANIA

The Porter Cowboys soccer squad qualified for state in 2011 by defeating Southmost rival Lopez 2-0 in the Region IV-5A Tournament final in April at Brownsville Sports Park before 4,000 spectators.

It was first time the regional tournament was played outside of San Antonio, and after years of Rio Grande Valley teams traveling north, they got to sleep in their own beds and make the other teams come down here. With Porter’s win, against its rival in Brownsville, no less, the move certainly paid off.

The District 32-5A runner-up Cowboys advanced to state for a Rio Grande Valley-record third time and finished 32-4 after losing 2-1 in the state semifinals to Round Rock McNeil on April 15 in Georgetown.

The Cowboys were led by state all-tournament selections Hector Gonzalez and Jorge Ariceaga, both senior midfielders. The Cowboys won the 5A state title in 2006 after reaching state the first time in 1984.

2. NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College volleyball team captured the NAIA national championship earlier this month at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Scorpions finished 32-2 under third-year coach Todd Lowery, who guided teams to two previous NAIA titles at a college in South Dakota. On a snowy day at Sioux City, the second-seeded Scorpions defeated top-seeded Concordia (Calif.) University 25-15, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20 in the final.

The Scorpions were led by All-America selections middle blocker Ana Guerra, outside hitter Danica Markovic, setter Amber Brooks and libero Paula Barros. It was the first national championship for the Scorpions in any sport.

3. LOSS OF A PROGRAM

In what was a sudden and shocking move, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College announced earlier this month that it was cutting the baseball program after the 2012 season.

Officials explained that since athletics receives its funding through student fees, the department will face up to a 50 percent loss in funding due to the upcoming split between UTB and TSC. The economics, timing and handling of the matter were all for a debate that will drag on for the entirety of the season. The news also came as a surprise to many — both at the school and in the community.

“It’s a very difficult situation,” UTB-TSC baseball coach Bryan Aughney said. “What’s very unfortunate about it is we were not given any options.”

4. BI-DISTRICT CHAMPS

In a game five years in the making, the Pace Vikings football team finally broke through a won a playoff game for the first time at the Class 5A level with a 42-21 triumph over PSJA North in November.

It was Brownsville’s first playoff win since Porter did it in 2003 and it was Pace’s first since the 1983. The Vikings went 8-2 this season and 5-2 in District 32-5A. They swept through their fellow Brownsville teams and picked up a thrilling upset win over previously unbeaten Weslaco High in Week 10. One week after the bi-district victory, the Vikings lost to Laredo Alexander in McAllen.

“It’s good, it’s good for the program,” Pace coach Rene Medrano said of the bi-district win. “We’ve been knocking on the door all this time, getting there and (not doing it), and finally we got to knock that first door down.”

5. SAN ANTONIO BOUND

In November, the Los Fresnos volleyball team beat Harlingen South to advance to the Region IV-5A Tournament for the first time in school history at the Class 5A level.

The Lady Falcons won in straight sets over the Lady Hawks and wound up going 36-3 on the season. But it was the third game on that monumental night at a packed Falcons gym that stood out, as Los Fresnos rallied for an eight-point hole to secure the victory.

“This is something we worked for all year,” Los Fresnos coach Becky Woods said. “This is our dream and we want to keep it going.”

6. DENSON RETIRES

Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Denson retired in early June after 33 seasons as the Hanna Golden Eagles’ head coach.

He finished with a 673-369 career head coaching record at Hanna. Along with his only team to advance to the Region IV-5A Tournament in 2002, Denson’s squads reached the regional quarterfinals three times, won three area championships, 11 bi-district titles and six district crowns. Under Denson, the Golden Eagles won the city championship 19 times. He received coach of the year awards nine times. Over his final 25 seasons, Denson’s teams advanced to the playoffs 17 times, including eight of the last 11 years.

“The time has gone by pretty fast,” Denson said. “It’s been an extremely wonderful job. I wish I could go on for another 30 years, but all good things must come to an end in any profession.”

7. A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER

After Hanna baseball player Steven Garza was diagnosed with Stage 4 testicular cancer in March, shortly after pitching the Golden Eagles to victory over Porter, the Brownsville and Rio Grande Valley baseball communities rallied behind him.

There were different kinds of fundraisers, shows, Facebook messages and an outpouring of love both on and off the field. Garza, who is doing well now and lives in San Antonio, was quite appreciative of the support.

“It’s crazy, everyone came together,” Garza said. “People I don’t know putting me in their prayers, it’s nice.”

8. A YEAR IN THE POOL

What seemed like an exciting 3-point win for Hanna in the District 32-5A boys swim meet in April wound up having a fairly ugly aftermath.

Brandon Tovar, who competed in the 1-meter diving competition, earned seven points, which helped Hanna edge Los Fresnos 167-164. But, due to a couple of paperwork issues that he was not responsible for, Tovar was later ruled ineligible by the 32-5A District Executive Committee, which gave the Falcons the title. Hanna planned to appeal that ruling to the UIL, but later decided not to.

Later in the year, in what was much better news, Alberto Flores became the first Rivera swimmer to qualify for the UIL state meet by winning the 500 freestyle at the Region VIII-5A meet at Brownsville’s Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center on Feb. 8

9. BIG VEGAS WIN

Brownsville bantamweight Jerry “Chicanito” Guevara was frustrated after not being able to fight on a Julio Marines boxing show in Pharr in November when an opponent could not be found.

Guevara then took a chance just a few days later by accepting a fight in Las Vegas on short notice to face undefeated Filipino fighter Juan Miguel Elorde (10-0) about a week later. Elorde is sponsored by Manny Pacquiao, and the Top Rank promoters wanted to bring in someone so Elorde could pad his record. But Guevara surprised Elorde and everyone else by earning a four-round unanimous decision victory to stay unbeaten at 7-0 with five knockouts. The bout was televised on Fox Sports Net from Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Pacquiao fought the next night at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

“They brought in Jerry as bait, and he wound up freaking everyone out (by winning),” said Robert Campos, Guevara’s trainer.

10. BIG COMEBACK

One of the most amazing football games ever played in Brownsville took place in October at St. Joseph Academy’s Canales Field as the Bloodhounds rallied from a 28-7 deficit with 11:02 left to win 35-28 over TAPPS nemesis San Antonio Central Catholic.

The Bloodhounds were sparked by sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Adrian Guerra, who made three interceptions and hauled in two touchdown receptions, all during the final quarter. Two of the three interceptions set up St. Joseph scoring drives, and the third allowed the Bloodhounds to run out the clock to earn a win that eventually propelled them to the TAPPS playoffs.

“When I can do something to help my team win, that’s what makes me happy,” Guerra said. “(When I saw that third fourth-quarter interception coming my way, I said,) ‘Wow, God loves me today.’”

HONORABLE MENTION

Port Isabel’s Armando Fierro picking up a silver medal with a time of 16:10.35 in the Class 3A boys state meet; Tom Campos getting reassigned as Hanna athletic coordinator/football coach; John Danielson stepping down as Los Fresnos girls soccer coach; UTB-TSC women’s soccer enjoying a banner year; Rio Grande Valley Ocelots FC winning the Southern Premier League Summer Cup .