Sophomore Garza keeps golden tradition alive for RGC at state

AUSTIN — Tradition lives in Rio Grande City. Right next door to the Saenzes and now the Garzas.

On his last attempt, RGC sophomore Alex Garza unleashed a beast of a throw Saturday that sailed 63 feet to win the Class 5A boys shot put state title at the UIL State Track & Field Championships in Austin.

Garza who went over 60 feet on his last three attempts, won the third straight state title in the shot for RGC. Former Rattlers thrower Stephen Saenz won it as a junior in 2008 and last year as a senior.

Garza kept the tradition alive with the biggest throw of his life. The 63-0 is a new personal best for Garza.

“I’m speechless right now,” Garza said shortly after picking up his gold medal. “I just treated it like it was practice and I was at school. It was another day in the office.”

RGC throws coach Larry Howell revealed the secret of Garza’s big win at state.

“We cheated,” Howell said. “We had an extra person in the ring. Alex had God in there with him.”

Garza, who competed in the discus earlier that day, knelt and made the sign of the cross before every discus and shot put throw.

“He didn’t pray to win.” Howell said. “He prayed for strength and to do his best. And he did his best on that last throw. He’ll go 65 or 67 next year as a junior.”

Amongst other healthy work habits, Howell said Garza learned to trust God from Saenz.

“You just gotta have faith and give it your all,” Garza said. “You have to give it your best shot.”

Garza tried during the discus. He came in sixth with a throw of 153-1. But that didn’t deter him from getting his prize about an hour later.

And if needed any more motivation, he just needed to look into the stands as see a small sea of red shirts screaming and cheering for him. Wearing shirts that read: “Alex Garza’s fan club,” the new shot put king didn’t disappoint them.

The fan club’s been there all season. At the Meet of Champs, at district and at regionals. They made the trip to Austin in hopes of witnessing greatness. And they did. For Garza, seeing them there was just as rewarding as winning the gold.

“I was a little down after the discus,” Garza said. “But when I saw everyone in the stands I knew I would be OK. I knew I had to go out and try my best. I’m glad they were here.”

Garza wasn’t the only representative from District 30-5A and he wasn’t the only Garza.

McAllen Memorial’s Jake Garza ran in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles with his best finish in the 110s. The sophomore came in sixth with a time of 14.21 seconds. De Soto’s Kenneth Minkah won the race in 13.62. The Mustangs hurdler finished seventh in the 300 with a time of 38.51. Northside Warren’s Gregory Coleman was first in a time of 36.86.

McAllen High’s Nick Garza ran in the 400 dash for the second straight year. This time the Bulldogs’ senior came in seventh with a time of 49.61. Round Rock Stony Point’s Bralon Taplin won gold with a time of 47.03.

Eladio Jaimez covers track & field for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 430-6285 or via e-mail at eladioj@valleystar.com.