Seven schools vying for Program of the Year
The nominees for the coveted Athletic Program of the Year for this year’s RGV All-Star Sports Awards includes two past winners and five schools looking for their first win.
The 2011 nominees are Sharyland (2009 winner), McAllen High (2010 winner), Edinburg High, Harlingen High, Mission Veterans Memorial, Rio Hondo and Weslaco High.
The fourth-annual awards take place Tuesday at Yeckel Auditorium in Harlingen.
Sharyland is a strong contender again this year after winning 14 district titles, the most in school history and the most in the Valley this past school year. Two of the district championships — softball and girls basketball — were co-championships. The Rattlers also finished as runner-ups in four sports and third in three others.
Sharyland’s boys track and field team sent the 400- and 800-meter relay teams to the state meet, setting Valley record in both relays along the way. The Rattlers also had three athletes sign NCAA Division I scholarships — pole vaulter Ian Aikman (The Citadel), softball player Dru Marmolejo (Prairie View A&M) and track and field hurdler Kayla De La Pena (UTPA).
McAllen High, which is looking to be the first repeat winner, had another big year, sending football, girls and boys basketball, baseball and girls soccer to the playoffs. The McHi girls soccer team advanced to the regional tournament and won the District 30-5A championship.
The baseball team was the last Class 5A Valley team standing in the playoffs and the softball team won a bi-district championship for the first time in school history.
Edinburg High was the only program to send four teams — football, girls basketball, boys basketball and softball — to the sweet 16 of the state playoffs in what was a memorable year for the Bobcats. The Bobcats also sent teams qualified teams for the playoffs in volleyball, baseball, girls soccer and boys soccer.
In total, the Bobcats, produced four district championships and three district runner-ups. The Bobcats also produced two state qualifiers. The girls cross country team and girls golfer Jessica Tamen qualified for their respective state events.
Weslaco High finished with undefeated titles in football, boys basketball and baseball. The football team won its first outright district title in 19 years and finished 10-2. The Panthers advanced three rounds in boys basketball and two rounds in baseball.
Weslaco also made the playoffs in girls basketball and softball. RC Cervantes won district and regional championships in the 400-meter run and qualified for state.
Harlingen High was led by two-time track and field state medalist Randy Bermea. The Hurdler medaled in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. The Cardinals football team finished as the area’s top team for a second straight season, winning the District 31-5A championship and advancing three rounds deep in the playoffs. The boys basketball team finished as the District 31-5A runner-up and advanced to the Sweet 16.
The only Sub-5A teams nominated are Mission Veterans and Rio Hondo.
The Patriots won six district championships, including a football team, which finished with a 10-2 record after going two rounds in the playoffs. The other Patriots District 32-4A titles were in volleyball, girls cross country, girls swimming, boys golf and girls track and field. In wrestling, Rudy Gonzalez earned a bronze medal at state and the boys swimming team produced a pair of state qualifiers.
Class 3A Rio Hondo shared the District 32-3A football championship with Port Isabel. In basketball, both the girls and boys teams won district titles. The boys track and field team took home its first team championship. Cross country and track and field standout Tony Jaramillo advanced to state in both sports.
THE NOMINEES
GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
>> Amanda Garza, Sr., San Benito
>> Ashley Benavides, Sr., Los Fresnos
>> Brittanie Best, Sr., McAllen Rowe
>> Emily Perez, Jr., La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
>> Jessica Tamen, Jr., Edinburg High
>> Laura Torres, Sr., Edinburg High
>> Samantha Sepulveda, Sr., Grulla
BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
>> Aaron Olvera, Sr., Edinburg High
>> Bobby Gonzalez, Sr., Weslaco East
>> Moises Gonzalez, Sr., Brownsville Lopez
>> Randy Bermea, Jr., Harlingen High
>> Ricky Mata, Sr., Sharyland
>> Skylore Janes, Sr., Raymondville
>> Tony Jaramillo, Sr., Rio Hondo
COACH OF THE YEAR
>> Clarisse Arredondo, San Benito Girls Basketball
>> David Gilpin, Mission Veterans Football
>> Eddie Serna, Weslaco High Baseball
>> Jose Espitia, Brownsville Porter Boys Soccer
>> Juan Hernandez, La Feria Tennis
>> Lorena Lopez, McAllen Memorial Volleyball
>> Manny Gomez, Harlingen High Football
GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR
>> Harlingen South Basketball
>> Hidalgo Basketball
>> McAllen High Soccer
>> McAllen Memorial Volleyball
>> McAllen Rowe Volleyball
>> Mission Veterans Track & Field
>> San Benito Softball
BOYS TEAM OF THE YEAR
>> Brownsville Porter Soccer
>> Edinburg High Basketball
>> Harlingen High Football
>> PSJA Memorial Track & Field
>> Sharyland Baseball
>> Sharyland Track & Field
>> Weslaco East Football
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
>> Edinburg High
>> Harlingen High
>> McAllen High
>> Mission Veterans
>> Rio Hondo
>> Sharyland
>> Weslaco High
MOMENT OF THE YEAR
>> Bermea breaks 23-year Valley record in 110 hurdles and 24-year mark in 300 hurdles.
>> PSJA Memorial wins 65-58 offensive showdown against La Joya Palmview during Week 1.
>> La Villa’s Garza eclipses Detmer’s all-time Valley single game passing mark.
>> Porter beats Lopez in battle of Southmost at regional soccer final in Brownsville.
>> Casas’ buzzer beater at end of regulation keeps Edinburg High’s season alive.
>> Garza’s hit on Gonzalez makes statement in Mission Veterans’ win against Weslaco East.
>> Edinburg High scores 17 unanswered in final eight minutes to stun Sharyland in playoffs.
SPIRIT AWARD
>> Brownsville Porter
>> Edcouch-Elsa
>> Edinburg High
>> Harlingen High
>> Los Fresnos
>> San Benito
>> Weslaco High
SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT
>> Bobby Barker, Sr., Port Isabel
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT
>> Joe Rodriguez, Brownsville ISD
