High School Sports Magazine-April 2008 Issue

THE BEST AT THEIR BEST www.highschoolsportsmagazine.net

P.11

FELICIA ESPERICUETA 2 STATE GOLF APPEARANCES

ROXANNE RODRIGUEZ

75 PITCHING SOFTBALL WINS

STEPHEN SAENZ

DISCUS AND SHOTPUT RECORDS

April 27-May 28, 2008

Softball , Region IV

Class 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A

>>>>

fs Playofid s e!

UIL STATE

Brackets In

RGV STATE TRACK & FIELD QUALIFIERS Page 11 www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

April 27-May 27, 2008

Alejandra Cantu Wins Region IV Golf 5A Title

BASEBALL PLAYOFFS Page 16

TOO GOOD! Sharyland Girls Golf Team Headed to 5A State Meet

>>>HSSM FOOTBALL COMBINE at www.hssmscout.com

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

Volume 4 Issue 3 April 27, 2008

Publisher & CEO David A. Amador HSSM Sales Manager Brent Waters Chris LaRock Alec D. Amador HSSM Photographers Daniel Silva HSSM Webmaster Jason O. Martinez B.B.A., C.P.T. David R. Smith HSSM Columnists Emails hssmonline@yahoo.com Web www.highschoolsportsmagazine.net HSSM Online Photos www.hssm.photoreflect.com

Corporate Phone Number:

956.929.4700 Office 956-971-0185 Fx High School Sports Magazine 2416 Frontera Road McAllen, Texas 78504 All stories and photos published by High School Sports Magazine may not be reprinted without written premission. All stories may be submitted for consideration in the upcoming issues. High School Sports Magazine prints 13 issues annually beginning in August and ending in July. Mail all inquiries to: 2416 Frontera Road McAllen, Texas 78504

Copyright Protected 2008. a company of HSSMMedia Group L.L.C.

Lineup Starting

APRIL 27 , 2008 VOLUME 4, NO. 3

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High Fives.

Dylan De Leon of Weslaco hits a home-run at a recent game.

The Panthers will play PSJA in Class 5A Bi-District Baseball Championships.

(HSSM IMages)

F E A T U STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Sharyland Leads Pack

Lady Rattlers Golf Team head to State 5A Championships; 30-5A District Champions Ale Cantu and Abraham Ancer leads team

R

E

S

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

16 Howling Coyotes?

La Joya wins final District 30-5A title before splitting; McHi, Mercedes, lead the pack of hopefuls.

11 Track and Field Qualifiers 19 Softball Playoffs Mishak Rivas of Weslaco qualifies for state meet for the third time; RGC’s Stephen Saenz gunning for gold medals; McAllen Memorial’s wants two medals. See list of qualifiers.

PSJA North Wins Third Bi-District title; Harlingen South moves to second round; Mercedes ready for area playoffs. The quest begins this week.

FOOTBALL COMBINE

ON THE SIDELINES with TDDAVE

More than 600 football athletes attend annual photoday and football combine. New website, www.hssmscout.com posts results nationally.

Top athletes awarded.

With the cost of fuel rising, school districts might have to resort to a new student fee for athletes to travel. Corporate sponsorships could be the key to offset costs.

22 HSSM Hosts Combine

State Softball Playoffs Ace on the Mound: PSJA North’s Roxanne Rodriguez 2008 Pitching Record: 27-2

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31 New Student Fees?

On the Cover: Felicia Espericueta of Edinburg North; Roxanne Rodriguez of PSJA North; Stephen Saenz-RGC; Ale Cantu of Sharyland/HSSM IMages/David A. Amador

Now Accepting High School Athletes for Off-Season Training/Conditioning

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UIL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

State-Bound UIL Class 5A Title Hopefuls are Abraham Ancer and Ale Cantu of Sharyland H.S.; and Felicia Espericueta of Edinburg North. They will travel to Austin, Texas on May 8-9th. (HSSM Images)

UIL Golf 5A Championships

Ale Cantu Defeats Felicia Espericueta in Three-Hole Playoff for Title

(San Antonio, Texas)-A sweet victory it was for parents Pedro and Sylvia as they rushed to hug and cry with their daughter Alejandra Cantu of Sharyland after she sank her three-foot par putt on Hole No.3 to win a threehole playoff over Edinburg North’s Felicia Espericueta to become the Class 5A Region IV Golf Champion at the Olmos Basin Golf Course in San Antonio, Texas.

Cantu, the 30-5A District Champion, fired a 2-under par 70 on her final day by birding holes No. 2, 4, 7, 11 to come-from-behind, one-stroke down, to win her first

title. “I have to thank my parents for all of their support throughout these years. I thank them and God for this day,” said Cantu.

The four-time regional appearance golfer will now play in the State 5A Golf Championships this week at the Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin, Texas on May 8-9th.

“This is amazing and I am looking forward to playing at state,” added Cantu.

In team results, the Sharyland High School Lady Rattlers will also travel to Austin as they qualified as the Class 5A IV Runners-up. The Lady Rattlers took a one shot lead after 18 holes over Austin Westlake with a 314 to 315 on the first day but squandered their lead to finish second overall. Head coach Susan Lopez, says that HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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Class 5A Region IV Golf Champions. Pictured are the Sharyland Lady Rattlers golf team qualifying for the State 5A Golf Championships from l-r are Ana Choi, Alejandra Valdez, Ale Cantu, Lisa Garza, and Samanta Garcia. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages) “runner-up” still gets you to state. “This is unbelievable.

I knew we had the team to get to state but this is my first state appearance as a coach in twenty years. Wow, this is awesome.” The Lady Rattlers shot a final team round of 313. Team members advancing are Ana Choi (7979), Ale Valdez (83-84), Samantha Garcia (79-80), Lisa Garza 83-93), and Cantu (73-70). Espericueta advances as the second place medalist along with SA Churchill’s Jessica Borth, who won in a playoff over SA Reagan’s Alana Jean Keith.

In Class 5A Boys Regional action, Abraham Ancer of Sharyland made a great comeback after shooting a 73 on the first day at Pecan Valley Golf Course in San Antonio,

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Texas. Ancer finished third overall after firing a 70 to qualify for the state championships. Also advancing is Corpus Christi Ray’s Daniel Sciantarelli as the fourth place medalist with scores of 69-74.

The Class 5A State Golf Championships tees off this week at the Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin on May 8-9th with tee times set for 7:30 a.m. Only eight teams from all four regions are invited to play in the state championships, along with the top two scorers, not on the playoff teams. Rattler head coach Fernando Rodriguez of Sharyland said, “Abraham has a good chance but it will be tough. This will be a talented field of golfers. He will have to play smart golf.”

SPORTS

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Ground shipping on orders over $99 Restrictions apply www.hssmonline.net

Best of the Best UIL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

R

Rio Grande Valley High School Athletes set to com- for 1A-4A schools and on pete at the State Track and Field meet to be held at Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for 2A5A. Saenz set Valley records the Mike Myers Stadium in Austin this week (McAllen, Tx)-Rio Grande City’s Stephen Saenz will lead 15 Region IV Track and Field qualifiers from the Rio Grande Valley on May 9-10th

at the UIL Track and Field Championships to be held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. Field events will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday

Kassandra Larios Harlingen South

Tricia Terry McAllen Memorial

2008 State Track and Field Qualifiers Laura Ochoa, Bro Rivera, Discus Tricia Terry, McAllen Memorial, 1600 meter, 3200 runs Kassandra Larios, Hgn South, 100 hurdles Kathy Trevino, RGC, 400 run

Starla Garcia, PSJA North, 3200 Stephen Saenz, RGC, Discus-Shotput Mishak Rivas, Weslaco, 400 run, long jump Jerry Espinoza, Weslaco, 400 run Oscar Garza, La Joya, 800 run Brandon Broden, Hanna, 1600 run Deandra Barroso, Mercedes,

in the shot put and discus throws and is favored to win medals in both events.

Also returning to state is McAllen Memorial’s Tricia Terry in the 1600 and 3200

Stephen Saenz Rio Grande City Long jump Alex Trevino, Mercedes, 100, 200 run Alex De La Garza, Mercedes, 1600 run Jesus Alvarez, Mission, shot put Robin Torres, Weslaco East, 800 run David Rodriguez, Raymondville, shot put

For final track and field results: www.hssmonline.net

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UIL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS meter runs. In 2007, Terry placed 4th in the 3200 run with a time of 11:05.59 and missed winning the 1600 meters title by one second with a time of 5:03.13. Terry surprised the entire field when she decided to run in both events at the 30-5A District championships with a hobbled foot.

In Class 4A, Alex Trevino of Mercedes qualified in the 100 and 200 meter runs. Trevino has been untouchable throughout the season, almost eclipsing Bobby Morrow’s 200 meter record by .1 seconds. Like Terry, the Mercedes speedster earned a bronze medal with a time of 21.42 in last year’s state championships. Teammate Alex De La Garza will run the 1600 meters.

Weslaco’s Mishak Rivas earned a full scholarship to run track and play football with Texas State University in the 2008 Fall Semester and he returns for the third time vying to win a state title in the 400 meters and long jump. In 2006, Rivas placed fourth in the long jump with a mark of 23’05.25”. He will compete in the same event again. Rivas brought home the bronze medal last year in the 400 meter run with a time of 47.77. “I’m looking forward to competing in both events. This is my last stop before I go to college,” says Rivas.

Back to State. Mishak Rivas of Weslaco High School will head back to state for the third straight year. He will compete in the long jump and 400 meter run. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages) For final track and field results: www.hssmonline.net

Howling Coy UIL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

La Joya Wins 30-5A Championships

by logging on to www.hssmonline.net 16

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yotes!

Photo by David A. Amador

For more log on to: www.hssmonline.net

(La Joya, Texas)-The Coyotes clinched the 2008 District 30-5A baseball title by defeating McHi 5-4 with pitcher Miguel Pena (8-2) fanning 16 Bulldogs at the plate. Either way, both teams qualified for the state playoffs set to begin this weekend. The La Joya Coyotes will face

Laredo Johnson in the first round of the State 5A playoffs while McAllen will play Eagle Pass in the upper bracket. Both teams could meet again the regional quarterfinals.

In more playoff action, the Weslaco Panthers will be facing PSJA in bi-district and the winner will then play Laredo Johnson/La Joya in the area playoffs. The Panthers lost to the Hawks in the regional quarterfinals in a three-game series in 2007.

As for the Harlingen South Hawks, they were eliminated from contention after finishing 6th in District 30-5A. The Hawks advanced to the State 5A Finals in 2007 in Round Rock, Texas. The new 30-5A championship title went to the Edinburg Bobcats with a perfect 14-0 finish. They will face Los Fresnos in the first round.

ATTN: TEXAS MOMS YOUNG DRIVER DISCOUNTS UP TO 40%

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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Class 5A Bi-District Champions!

The PSJA North Lady Raiders softball team defeated Weslaco to captured their third straight title.

(HSSM IMages)

UIL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

For more log on to: www.hssmonline.net

PSJA North Lady Raiders Win Title (Pharr, Texas)-The PSJA North Lady Raiders (295) made captured their third straight Class 5A BiDistrict trophy as they defeated Weslaco 11-0 behind the superb pitching of junior ace Roxanne Rodriguez (27-2). The Lady Raiders will now face Sharyland in the area playoffs this week.

The Lady Panthers held the Lady Raiders scoreless in the first two innings but then the third inning sting of hits by the Lady Raiders and costly errors by the Lady Panthers allowed PSJA North to move on to the next round. Yessenia Torres belted three hits, scoring two runs and one RBI and Crystal Escobedo added three more hits to lead the Lady Raiders.

In more playoff action, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks downed Los Fresnos in three games to advance to the area playoffs. They will face top-ranked La Joya this week. In a big upset, Edinburg North

disposed of Brownsville Porter in three games to move on to the next round.

In Class 4A action, both Mission and Mission Veterans were eliminated in the first round, thus leaving the 32-4A champions, Mercedes alone and alive, after getting a bye in the first round. The Lady Tigers have won four straight district titles and they will now face Beeville Jones in the Class 4A Area Championships.

Class 5A State Softball Championships-Region IV Bi-District Lar Alexander Sharyland

Area

Regional-Quarters

Sharyland

PSJA North Weslaco

PSJA North

Harlingen San Benito

San Benito

Eagle Pass McA Memorial

Eagle Pass

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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For more sports: www.highschoolsportsmagazine.net

State 5A Bi-District Champions. The Harlingen South Lady Hawks softball team members pictured (not in order) are Joslynn Benavides, Chelsea Wray, Alex Guerrero, Miranda Garcia, Calire Galindo, Bubba Romero, Krystal Leon, Brianna Martinez, Camille Waters, BC Canales, Chelsie Alejandro, Ariel Guevara, Ari Perez, Alexis Leon, and manager Sylvia Arismendez.. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages)

We Finance Funerals. Easy Plans.

Monuments and Pre-Needs Sales Available

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Class 4A State Softball Championships-Region IV Bi-District

Area

SA Southside Beeville Jones

Beeville Jones

BYE Mercedes

Mercedes

Robstown Mission

Robstown

BYE CC Moody

CC Moody

Regional-Quarters

For more state tennis results: www.hssmonline.net

Duo Aces

On Court

BY DAVID AMADOR

Photograph by HSSM IMages

Headed to the State 5A Tennis Championships are Cristobal Ramirez and Nathan Alhalel of Sharyland at the Lakeway World of Tennis in San Antonio, Texas.

T

he biggest decision tennis head coach Mike Salinas of Sharyland H.S. had to make in late January was to replace one of his tennis doubles players with a freshmen.

His decision, a painful one, paid off and now he

will take Nathan Alhalel and new doubles teammate Cristobal Ramirez to the State 5A Tennis Championships.

Both players defeated Austin Westlake’s top-seeded players, Alex Durham and Russell Bader in the semifinals to win 6-4, 6-4 to move on and claim the Region IV title. “Cristobal

stepped up and he played great. He handled himself well for an underclassmen,” laughs Alhalel. Head coach Salinas decided to make a change and moved junior classmen Alex Tajonar to singles and moved up Ramirez to play doubles. “The move paid off and sometimes making these choices

Sharyland’s Cristobal Ramirez and Nathan Alhalel captured the Class 5A Region IV Tennis Doubles Title.

Both will head to state for looking for GOLD. are the hardest,” says Salinas. For Alex Tajonar, he will travel with the team to state as an alternate.

Alhalel and Ramirez both captured the 30-5A title and this earned them the No.4 seed at the Region IV Championships. At Regionals, the Sharyland tennis duo found themselves behind 3-0 in the semifinals but Salinas regrouped his team and they would win in straight sets. “I play tennis atleast four hours a day,” says the freshmen ace. “This is a really great program here at Sharyland and I’m excited,” added the soft-spoken Rattler. In the finals, Alhalel and Ramirez escaped another nail-biter, this time a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over the second-seeded team of Cody Howard and Dylon Bodet from SA Clark.

The pair will face Robert Voss and Chris Hoffman of Houston Clear Lake in the first round of the state championships with winners playing El Paso Coronado/Plano West.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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The Ultim PHOTODAY AND COMBINE Log on to: www.hssmscout.com for results...

Who will become the next NFL Draftees like former Rio Grande Valley Hi Garza, Harlingen’s Leo Araguz, Johnny Jackson, or McAllen’s Roland Ca Photographed by David A. Amador/HSSM Images

Log on to: www.hssmscout.com for results...

The HSSM Ultimate Football Combine sponsored by Dairy Queen began with the 40-Yard Dash and Vertical Jump. Pictured are (left photo) Adan Garcia of Edinburg North and La Feria Prep Ethan Rodriguez.

(David A. Amador/HSSM IMages)

BY DAVID A. AMADOR HSSM SPORTS DIRECTOR

mate Test 2008

High School

Sports Magazine

Turn Page for Story

igh School Preps Mission’s Koy Detmer, Tom Landry, Rio Hondo’s Robert antu? RGV High School athletes came to Weslaco to begin their quest...

Log on to: www.hssmscout.com for results...

(Weslaco, Texas)-Like former NFL punter of the Oakland Raiders, Leo Araguz, a graduate from Harlingen High School has inspired Valley athletes like Donna H.S. punter Jesus Vargas. The problem is getting Vargas’s name exposed nation-wide so that colleges will see that he can punt footballs 65yards out with hang times of 4.67. “That’s NFL standards already,” said Ricky Lopez, an assistant football coach with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor of Belton, Texas who watched Vargas punt.

More than 600 football athletes came with the same dreams from high schools across the Rio Grande Valley to attend the Fourth Annual High School Sports Magazine Football Photoday and Football Combine held at the Bobby Lackey Football Stadium in Weslaco on April 19th.

The annual event kicked off spring football for most high schools, an event sponsored by Dairy Queen/Lynn Lee Inc. of Pharr, Texas on Saturday.

“This is great,” said Jerry Cook, Dairy Queen Director of Operations as he welcomed players from across South Texas.

Cook said that he was proud to be part of this community event. “Next year this combine and photoday will be bigger and Dairy Queen will be 24

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The Best Punter in the State? Prep punter Jesus Vargas of Donna HS drew attention from college scouts with his 65-yard punt with a 4.67 hang time.

He averaged 54.0 yards on four attempts. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages)

PHOTODAY AND COMBINE 2008

right here to make this happen again. I want every athlete to get national recognition from this event,” added Cook.

South Texas football athletes traveled to Weslaco looking for national exposure from High School Sports Magazine’s national scouting prep web site at www.hssmscout.com.

As temperatures started to hit the high 90’s, athletes wore their football jerseys and one by one had their pictures taken by HSSM Sports Director, David “Touchdown Dave” Amador. The annual High School Sports Magazine will publish all photos in their upcoming 2008 Football Preview slated for publication in July. “I’ve been doing this for four years now and this event just keeps getting bigger. We had 31 high schools who came today and next year we hope to have every high school here,” said Amador.

The Weigh-In and Bench Test. Ultimate Speed School coordinator Gina Martinez (top photo) weighed in athletes and took their height measures at the combine. Below, althetes were also tested in 185-Max Bench Press. (Chris la Rock/HSSM IMages) HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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In conjunction with HSSM Media Photoday, High School Sports Magazine hosted its first HSSM Ultimate Football Combine. “It just made sense to combine both events.

Last year, other entities were charging these high school athletes a fee to attend a football combine and so I decided to host a free combine to give every athlete the opportunity to participate with hopes of getting national exposure on our web site at www.hssmscout.com,” said Amador. “The Ultimate Speed School and Jason Martinez made this football combine event happen and together, we planned this event with Dairy Queen. The Weslaco School District also opened their doors to us. We thank them for this,” says Amador.

Prior to the football combine, many coaches and players were confused after an article ran in the The Monitor featuring another football combine being held on the same day at Weslaco East HS. This football combine was charging up to $250 per player. “Again, I was stunned after reading about this combine. It was outrageous. What bothered me the most was when the individual hosting the combine was quoted saying that he wanted at least 200 athletes to attend because he was doing this for the kids,” said Amador.

“We teamed up with High School Sports Magazine because they have been successful with their coverage of high school sports in the Valley...” Jason Martinez Ultimate Speed School

“That’s almost a $50,000 payday for him. Unbelievable,” added Amador.

Players started registering at 8:00 a.m. at Bobby Lackey Stadium. Schools from as far as Zapata, Raymondville, Roma, Valley View, Port Isabel, and even Brownsville Porter H.S. attended and one by one players had their

The Champions. Ultimate Speed School director Jason Martinez congratulates bench press overall champion Jacob Garza of Edinburg; Marco Adriana of Edinburg North for 40-yard dash; and Mike Blackmon of Weslaco for the vertical jump and shuttle.

(David A. Amador/HSSM IMages)

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PHOTODAY AND COMBINE 2008

The Athletes. More than 500 football players from across the Rio Grande Valley attended the High School Sports Magazine’s Football Photoday and Ultimate Football Combine sponsored by Dairy Queens/ Lynn Lee Inc. (Chris la Rock/HSSM IMages) photos taken and then many participated in the football sense when Touchdown Dave approached me on this combine. “We teamed up with High School Sports event,” said Martinez.

The Ultimate Speed School and High School Sports Magazine because they have been successful with their coverage of high school sports in the Valley. It just made Magazine awarded the top athletes in each category and

H.S. FOOTBALL

PROGRAMS WHO PARTICIPATED

HARLINGEN H.S. HARLINGEN SOUTH PSJA NORTH PSJA MEMORIAL EDINBURG EDINBURG NORTH ECONOMEDES (1) BROWNSVILLE PORTER LOS FRESNOS

SAN BENITO WESLACO SHARYLAND MCALLEN ROWE DONNA LA JOYA HS LA JOYA PALMVIEW LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN MISSION VETERANS

VALLEY VIEW EDCOUCH-ELSA ROMA MERCEDES WESLACO EAST LA FERIA PROGRESO RIO HONDO RAYMONDVILLE

ZAPATA PORT ISABEL SANTA ROSA LA VILLA SANTA MARIA

32 HIGH SCHOOLS MORE THAN 500 ATHLETES...

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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Log on to: www.hssmscout.com for results...

FAST FACTS ALEX TREVINO Mercedes High School Postion: Running Back 2008-09 Classification: 12

HSSM Photoday. Port Isabel football players traveled to Weslaco to get their photos taken at the annual event. The High School Sports Magazine Football Preview 2008 is set for release in July in stores Valleywide. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages)

2008 UPCOMING GAME

Mercedes vs Port-Lavaca Calhoun HS Dave Campbell’s Football Classic Game 2008 Alamodome-San Antonio, Tx Date: August 30, 2008 7:30p

2007 STATS 1,204 rushing yards “He’s fast and mature...” head coach Gilbert Leal

LAST BI-DISTRICT TITLE vs Rockport Fulton 14-7 1999 The Mercedes Tigers could be the team to beat in 2008 28

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Mike Blackmon of Weslaco was the top athlete in the vertical jump with a leap of 35” and he also won the shuttle run with a time of 4.28 seconds. In the max bench press of 185 lbs., Jacob Garza had 34 reps to win and the fastest man alive award went to Marco Adriana of Edinburg North with a time of 4.44 seconds. “He’s real fast,” said head coach Roy Garza of Edinburg North.

High School Sports Magazine also hosted a 16-team HSSM/Dairy Queen Seven-on-Seven Football Tournament. Edcouch-Elsa defeated Edinburg North 28-6 in the finals. Head coach Joe Solis of Edcouch-Elsa was impressed with the entire event as teams gathered to play and participate. “I was surprised to see how organized this event was, so our hats off to High School Sports Magazine for making this successful,” said Solis.

“This is awesome to have an event this big in South Texas and High School Sports Magazine did a great job...” Wayne Schroeder Sul Ross State University Head Football Coach

The event also drew interest from Sul Ross University, Lindenwood University, Mary-Hardin-Baylor, and TSTC of Harlingen. Head football coach Wayne Schroeder of Sul Ross State University was amazed. “This is awesome to have an event this big in South Texas and High School Sports Magazine did a great job organizing this event. This is going attract many more colleges in the future,” said Schroeder.

Log on to: www.hssmscout.com for results...

PHOTODAY AND COMBINE 2008

Jackets Win 7-on-7 HSSM Tournament

Championship

(Weslaco, Texas)-The Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets of District 32-4A made a statement as they defeated 305A Edinburg North 28-6 in the High School Sports Magazine’s Seven-on-Seven Football Tournament sponsored by Dairy Queen/Lynn Lee Inc. of the South Texas held at the Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.

Sixteen teams participated in the single-elimination tournament with PSJA Memorial, Rio Hondo, EdcouchElsa, and Edinburg North advancing to the semifinal round.

Teams participating in the event were Port Isabel, Valley View, La Joya, Progreso, Santa Rosa, Nikki Rowe, Brownsville Porter, Harlingen South, La Villa, PSJA North, Mission Veterans, and Zapata.

According to Weslaco High School head football coach Tony Villarreal, “Seven-on-Seven football is big in Texas Great Catch. Sixteen teams played in the HSSM 7-on-7 and teams can play up to a 100 games if players hook up Football Tournament sponsored by Dairy Queen/Lynn with traveling teams.”

Lee Inc. of Pharr, Texas. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages)

7-on-7 Champs. The Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets defeated Edinburg North in the first annual High School Sports Magazine’s 7-on-7 Tournament held recently at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco. (David A. Amador/HSSM IMages) HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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OnTheSideLines

For more on “corporate ideas,” log on: www.thebreakoutgroup.com Like colleges, school districts will eventually be forced to start charging “student fees” in order to maintain their annual fuel budgets. In sports, we might even see higher ticket prices to off-set sport trips too. b y D a v i d A. A m a d o r So what’s the solution?

Corporate Sponsorships. School districts like Edinburg, Weslaco, and San Benito have invested in Mega-Scoreboards with Video/ TV Screens. These scoreboards have brought in commission-free advertising revenues for schools and this revenue could help offset fuel costs too.

Another source of income could come from “corporate logos” on school sport uniforms. Better yet, big income could from selling “Stadium Name Rights.” Instead of naming a football stadium after a person, let “Pepsi” pay for the sponsorship and name it “Pepsi Coyote Stadium”.

One high school football coach says that “the time is coming for schools to start selling corporate sponsorships to the big boys,” in turn, this will save taxpayers lots of dollars and increases. “Athletes $11 million in 2008.

One school district has seen their should not pay to play,” says the diesel fuel prices jump 215% football coach. “The bus rides over a period of three years. should always be free.”

Athletes Pay To Play?

U

School Districts To Add Bus Fees... nbelievable!

A school district from the state of Utah is adding a $20 student transportation fee because of the rising gas prices. This will affect all student activities, including sports. According to the Davis School District, they bus students to 19 different Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) a year. Each bus ride can cost up to $350 with the rising diesel prices. These fees are paid by the parents. Yikes!

In Texas, schools districts are beginning to feel the pinch too.

The Pasadena School District watched their fuel budget in 2005 increase from $800,000 annually to $1,000,000 dollars in 2008 and still unpredictably, climbing.

So how can you project a fuel budget if it’s so unpredictable?

Pasadena ISD also noted that their electricity costs surged from $6.7 million in 2005 to almost

“the time is coming for schools to start selling corporate sponsorships ”

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

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