'Historic' press conference slated for today

HIDALGO — Strong and unpredictable winds, flat terrain and humidity that’ll make a steam bath feel like a cool breeze.

This is Valley golf.

Welcome, Region IV.

Hidalgo athletic director Albert Guerra confirmed on Tuesday that the Valley will host the Region IV-5A golf tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“This will have a positive impact in so many ways,” Guerra said. “It’ll help economically, but it’ll also help out athletes. They’ll get to sleep in their own beds the night before and believe it or not, that makes a big difference.”

Guerra also confirmed that a news conference will take place today at Dodge Arena at approximately 11 a.m.

Sites and contact persons for the regional golf tournaments will be announced today.

Guerra also said a five-year plan by the UIL that would detail other regional tournaments would be unveiled today.

“This is going to be a very historic press conference,” said Guerra, also the Region 7 athletic director.

Region 7 is a designation used by the Texas Education Agency while Region IV is used by UIL for academic and athletic competitions.

“This is going to be huge for every student, coach and athletic director now and in the future,” Guerra added.

Harlingen golf coach and Valley veteran Hector Zamora called hosting the regional golf tournament an “equalizer” for Valley and Coastal Bend schools alike.

“San Antonio and Austin schools don’t like playing in the wind,” Zamora said. “They’re not used to it. Plus we get to sleep in our own beds and that’ll be a big advantage for us too. Now these other teams are going to deal with what we have to deal with when we go up there.”

Zamora said the regional golf tournament was held in Corpus Christi in the early and mid 1980s, where wind also played a role.

This historic announcement comes nearly nine months after a Valley contingent comprised of ADs, coaches and business and civic leaders in October made its way to Austin to urge the UIL Legislative Council to put all Region IV tournaments on a rotating basis.

The concern for bringing regional tournaments to the Valley has been around for years.

But last September, McAllen school board member Conrado Alvarado asked business and civic leaders to help address the issue again. In less than a month, a group of about 20 made its way to Austin.

There the group made an adamant presentation on the Valley’s need to host regional tournaments.

There were several components that led to the Valley’s trip to Austin. Besides the rising cost of fuel and other budgetary constraints, the loss of classroom instruction time were listed by the group as the major reasons why the Region IV tournaments should be placed on a rotating basis.

Currently, basketball (University of Texas-San Antonio), volleyball (St. Mary’s) and track & field (Alamo Stadium) Region IV-5A and IV-4A tournaments are all held in San Antonio.

Class 5A and 4A soccer and tennis tournaments also take place in the Alamo City.

Eladio Jaimez is a sports writer for Valley Freedom Newspapers