Field impressive for Boys Athlete of the Year

Several multi-sport stars and two one-sport specialists make up this year’s Boys Athlete of the Year nominees for this year’s RGV All-Star Sports Awards.

The winner will be revealed on Tuesday at Yeckel Auditorium in Harlingen.

The nominees include Harlingen High junior Randy Bermea, Weslaco East senior Bobby Gonzalez, Brownsville Lopez senior Moises Gonzalez, Raymondville senior Skylore Janes, Rio Hondo senior Tony Jaramillo, Sharyland senior Ricky Mata and Edinburg High senior Aaron Olvera.

Although Bermea played football for the Cardinals, he made his biggest impact on the track where he won two medals at the state meet. In addition, he broke two long-standing Valley records 110- and 300-meter hurdles. His 36.46-second time in the 300 hurdles at state not only earned Bermea a third-place medal, but it broke a 24-year old record that was held by his coach, Harvey Noyola. He also broke a 23-year old mark in the 110 hurdles (13.62) at the Meet of Champions.

Bermea was a second-team All-Valley as a receiver with 42 receptions for nearly 600 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Bobby Gonzalez earned Valley Freedom Newspapers All-Valley football Player of the Year honors and snagged a spot on the Class 4A Associated Press Sports Editors’ All-State team after rushing for 2,023 yards and 22 touchdowns. In nine regular season games, Bobby Gonzalez’s lowest rushing total was 134 yards. He rushed for more than 200 yards six times and scored at least two touchdowns in seven games.

Another Gonzalez earned All-Valley Player of the Year honors, too. Moises Gonzalez was named VFN’s Player of the Year in soccer. He was also a unanimous MVP in District 32-5A. Moises Gonzalez led the Lobos to Region IV-5A final, where they lost to intra-city rival, Brownsville Porter. Moises Gonzalez scored 34 goals during his fourth season as one of Lopez’s central midfielders.

Janes had his hands — and feet — in almost everything the Bearkats did this season. Janes played football, track and field, basketball and soccer. He shined the most in football, where he primarily played wide receiver. He had 48 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns. He occasionally played quarterback and he finished with 746 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Valley and honorable mention All-State pick in football. In addition, Janes was named District 31-3A football MVP. Janes was also a first team all-district selection in basketball and reached the regional meet in the triple jump.

Like Janes, Jaramillo excelled in several sports, including cross country, track and basketball. He qualified for state in cross country and the 800 run in track. At the state track meet, Jaramillo finished seventh. In basketball, Jaramillo was a third-team All-Valley selection after he averaged 15,0 points and 8.0 rebounds.

Mata earned All-Valley honors in football and soccer. As a football player, Mata lined up at halfback and rushed for 1,513 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 272 yards and six touchdowns. He earned first team All-Valley honors and was a unanimous first team All-District 30-5A selection in football. Mata earned second-team All-Valley honors in soccer. He was a midfielder for the Rattlers. He signed to play soccer at Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

Olvera is the second one-sport star among the nominees. Olvera averaged 19.9 points en route to winning VFN’s All-Valley basketball Player of the Year. Olvera was also the only player named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 5A All-State team. He was only one of two players in any classification to earn All-State honors in any classification.

Olvera also won District 31-5A MVP honors for the second season in a row, and the Bobcats advanced to the regional tournament.

David Hinojosa covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via email at dhinojosa@themonitor.com.

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