Raiders find that strength in numbers means success

PHARR - The PSJA North boys cross country team is best described as a strong group of runners with no one individual standout.

Almost all of the Raiders this season are seniors, and they've been running together since they were freshman for veteran coach Hernan Figueroa.

After capturing their school's seventh Region IV championship last weekend in San Antonio, the state-ranked Raiders are advancing to Saturday's UIL state meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock for the 15th time. The Class 5A boys are scheduled to run at 1:40 p.m.

"It's great to see a group of runners who have stuck with it and done so well like these guys, especially without an incredible talent on the squad," said Figueroa, the Raiders' coach since PSJA North opened in 1992. "As a team, they've accomplished so much together, and I'm just thankful to God for that. It's very rewarding.

"These guys really define just what a team is."

The squad consists of Joey Garza (11th in the regional), Hilario Coronado (17th), Joshua Olivarez (19th), Alvaro Velasco (20th), Jesus Martinez (21st), Richard Borhardt (28th) and Salomon de la Rosa (36th), the lone junior.

Other team members include Danny Gutierrez, Heriberto Caraveo and Sergio Mireles.

"It's an honor to run with these guys," Olivarez said. "I've stuck with them since Day 1, when we were freshmen. We've all been a part of this, and no one has quit on us. We've been waiting for a year like this to come, and now we're having it."

Added Borhardt: "We may not be the most talented bunch, but we're all hard workers and we've tried our best and trained very hard to get where we're at. It's just a great feeling to be associated with these guys."

The Raiders have won all their meets this year, including the inaugural Meet of Champions and the District 31-5A meet. Those victories set the stage for their strong performance at the regional meet, where the Raiders captured first place with 81 points, three points better than runner-up Del Rio.

It was an impressive display of team strength since not one of the Raiders finished in the top 10.

"Teamwork is what has worked for us a lot," Garza said. "If we're staying up there together in the race, of course, we're going to be pushing each other. If one of us is at the front, then the rest of us all know we have to do it for our team and stay up there, too, so we can get the fewest points possible.

"We're hoping to continue to improve and finish as one of the top three teams at state and make it to the Nike Team Nationals." 

Figueroa said the best team finish for the Raiders at state came in 2004, when they tied for second.

Velasco believes the Raiders are capable of that type of showing Saturday because the team members rely upon each other.

"We've been blessed to do so well this season," he said. "(A strong finish at state) would be awesome. I love this group of guys and my coach. This is my life - running."

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.