HIgh School Sports Magazine-June 2008 Issue

Co HSSM mi ng Foot ba l Au l Prev gu iew st 6t h!

Volume Four Issue Four

INSIDE: UIL Track and Field

RGC Wins Gold Medal

Pg.6

The Pictures Best of the Best

Pg.22

The Coaches of the year

Pg.54

www.hssmonline.net

Volume 4 Issue 4

May 29-June 30, 2008 Publisher & CEO David A. Amador Brent Waters RGV Sales Manager Alec D. Amador HSSM Photographer Jason O. Martinez B.B.A., C.P.T. HSSM Columnist Daniel Silva HSSM Webmaster HSSM Online Photos www.hssm.photoreflect.com HSSM Online Subscriptions

www.hssmonline.net Website: www.hssmonline.net

New Phone Number: 956.929.4700 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. High School Sports Magazine

Contents The

MAY 29-JUNE 30, 2008 VOLUME 4, NO. 4

www.highschoolsportsmagazine.net

Pole Vaulter.

Maggie Rios of Brownsville Pace H.S. is pictured at the 32-5A District Championships.

(HSSM IMages)

F E A T U STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

44 The Dreams

8

54 The Coaches

Road To Track and Field

Harlingen South’s Kasandra Larios and Mercedes H.S. Alex Trevino shine at the State UIL Track and Field Meet.

Bianca Gonzales of Sharyland

19

S

McAllen Memorial brothers hope to find basketball at college level.

HSSM Awards Top Coaches. McAllen HS Roy Swift weeps top award. Harlingen South’s Engleman wins basketball coaching award.

GREAT ATHLETES

GREATEST MOMENTS

HSSM brings you the best photos of 200708 featuring teams from McAllen, Harlingen South, Weslaco, and more. Mishak Rivas leads Panthers in state football playoffs.

HSSM takes you back to the greatest wins and tough losses that fans will remember in 2007-08. Mission Veterans Memorial HS gets eliminated from playoffs.

22 The Pictures

The Mask

E

BASKETBALL FEATURE

6 The Eyes Of Texas

Rio Grande City’s Stephen Saenz wins gold medal in shot put event. Leads Valley qualifiers to end year.

R

61 The Losses and Wins

On the Cover: By HSSM IMages/David A. Amador

May 29-June 30, 2008

5

HSSM Brings you those who made it to the 2008 UIL State Track and Field Championships

The Eyes of TEXAS are Upon You! Photography By David A. Amador

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High School Sports Magazine

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

(McAllen, Tx)-Rio Grande City’s Stephen Saenz led the Rio Grande Valley on May 9-10th at the UIL Track and Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin by winning the gold medal in the shot put event with a throw of 64’09.75 on his fourth attempt. Saenz started the day by hitting 61’0 on his first attempt and then he would scratch on his next two throws. Houston Jersey Village’s Michael Barbas then took the lead with his best throw of 62’04.25.

“This is unbelievable. I worked hard all season long to get here. This win is for my parents,” said Saenz. Surprisingly, Rio Grande City would finish fourth overall with 20 points, just short of getting the bronze trophy in total team standings.

Saenz would set Valley records in the shot put with his best throw of 67’06.75 and in the discus throw, 204’0.

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Pure Gold. Stephen Saenz launches the winning throw in the Class 5A Shot Put Event at the 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

Road to State Track and Field Championships Austin, Texas Deandra Barroso Long Jump 7th Mercedes H.S. David Rodriguez Shot Put 3rd Raymondville H.S. Robin Torres 800m 3rd Weslaco East H.S. Alex Trevino 100m Dash 6th 200m Dash 3rd Mercedes H.S. Alex de la Garza 1600M 2nd Mercedes H.S. Mishak Rivas Long Jump 5th 400M 3rd Weslaco H.S. Laura Ochoa Shot Put 6th Brownsville Rivera H.S. Stephen Saenz Discus 3rd Shot Put 1st Rio Grande City H.S. Tricia Terry 3200M 5th 1600M 2nd Oscar Garza 800M 3rd La Joya H.S. Kasandra Larios 100M Hurdles 7th Harlingen South H.S. Katherine Trevino 400M Dash 6th Rio Grande City H.S. Brandon Broden 1600M run 8th Brownsville Hanna H.S.

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

Bronze Medal. Mishak Rivas of Weslaco H.S. finished third at the Class 5A Track and Field Championships with a time of 47.29 in the 400m dash.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

Flying High. Mishak Rivas of Weslaco H.S. ended his high school career with a jump of 23’02.50 in the Long Jump event at the Class 5A UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas. He will attend Texas State University in the fall semester. He finished fifth overall.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

A Sprint for Bronze. Oscar Garza of La Joya H.S. finished third in the Class 5A 800m run with a time of 1:54.44 at the 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

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High School Sports Magazine

Up and Over. Kasandra Larios of Harlingen South H.S. finished 7th with a time of 14.64 seconds in the Class 5A 100m Hurdles at the 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

May 29-June 30, 2008

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A Bronze Medal. Stephen Saenz of Rio Grande City H.S. finished third with a toss of 180’01 in the Class 5A Discus Event at the 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

Great Throw. Laura Ochoa of Brownsville Rivera H.S. placed fifth in the Discus Event with a throw of 126’03 in the Class 5A 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

www.texashighschoolsportsmagazine.com

May 29-June 30, 2008

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State 5A Top Eight. Gerardo Espinoza of Weslaco H.S. placed 7th in the 400m with a time of 48.31 seconds at the 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

State 5A Silver Medal.

Tricia Terry placed second in the 1600m with a time of 5:01.74 at the 2008 UIL Track and Field Championships held in Austin, Texas.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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“

I’m honored to have captured these moments fo

The Pict The Game. Football Friday Nights. The Sweat.

The Pictures. The Ropes.

HSSM captured these moments and now we take you back to 2007 and

2008. Each year, high school athletes are pushed to the limits for one quest: Victory. Many fans sometimes do not understand all the bruises players cover up on game day. Players will do whatever it will take to make sure

that they don’t let their comrades “fall from holding to the rope”. Head coach Mel Rios of PSJA says that he has a “rope” message for his players posted outside his office. It reminds his team every day of how it important it is to

or High School Sports Magazine

tures David A. Amador-HSSM Photographer

help each other no matter what the consequences will be. “If each player can help one another to hold on and not let go, this will build character and players will believe that helping each other is important,� added Rios. High

School Sports Magazine brings you the pictures and those moments displaying how players held on regardless of win or lose. Most importantly, they held on to the ropes of life.

www.hssmonline.net The Take Down. Rolando Salinas of Harlingen South grabs the face mask of PSJA Quarterback Juan Palomin.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

HSSM Football Player of the Year & All-Time RGV Rushing Leader. Mishak Rivas rushed for 3,300 yards in 13 games in 2008. He also led Weslaco to the State 5A Division II Region IV Semifinals game against SA Madison. The Panthers lost 59-42. (Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

Clash of Titans. Both Harlingen and Los Fresnos made the state football playoffs in 2008.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

Class 5A Division I Bi-District Champions.

The Donna Redskins defeated Laredo Nixon 28-21 to advance to the area playoffs. The Redskins also captured the 30-5A title.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Tough San Benito Greyhounds.

Celso Saldivar led his Greyhounds to the State 5A Division II football playoffs in 2008.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Fumble! Edinburg North’s John Erik Melchor recovers a lost fumble against the PSJA North Raiders. The Cougars made the playoffs in 2008.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Great Run! Edcouch-Elsa’s QB Erik Nino will return in 2008 to lead the 32-4A Yellowjackets to a possible sixth straight title.The Yellowjackets defeated Alice 18-17 in the Class 4A Division II playoffs. EdcouchElsa also finished the season with a 32-game district win streak. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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State 2A Quarterfinalist!

Santa Rosa made school history by advancing to the quartefinals in 2008.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

C HAM P I O N S AN D P LAY O F F S .

Too Frigid. No Catch! La Joya’s Eric Ochoa knocks down a pass to PSJA’s Jon Cavazos in the State 5A Region IV Area playoffs. The Coyotes won 28-14.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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R I V A L R I E S A N D

G R E A T N E S S.

Fumble or Touchdown?

McAllen Nikki Rowe’s Cameron Gatling fumbles the ball prior to crossing the goal line. The referee ruled it a touchdown. Harlingen South would win 30-24 in overtime to win the Class 5A Division II Area title.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Great Pitch. Lorena Rios of PSJA gets a pitch off.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

Another 32-4A Title.

Jessy Cadena of Mercedes led her team to the 32-4A title in 2008.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

T H E PI T C H E R S AN D CAT C H E S .

More Sports.

More Tacos.

More Smiles.

Get’em at the Counter!

Drops ball. Shortstop Kezia Cabrera of Sharyland drops a fly ball. The Lady Rattlers ended their season with a loss to PSJA North in the Class 5A Area playoffs. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

Gas. Breakfast Tacos. Great Service.

Open 7-Days Rio Grande Valley Locations May 29-June 30, 2008

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Got’cha. The Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets missed the playoffs in 2008. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

RGV BASEBALL AND SLIDES. No State Playoffs in 2008. The Harlingen South Hawks missed the playoffs after advancing to the State 5A title game in 2007.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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High School Sports Magazine

RUNNING CROSS COUNTRY. In Cross-Country, runners begin their races early in the dawn hours but races like these do not bother runners like Mercedes H.S. Alex De La Garza who brought home the Silver Medal with a time of 15:23.00 at the Class 4A Cross-Country Championships while Donna High School’s Richard Rubio placed 18th at the State 5A Cross-Country Meet held in Round Rock, Texas to lead the Valley. McAllen Memorial’s Tricia Terry finished ninth overall. PSJA North’s Ann Mora led the Lady Raiders with a 34th finish as they would captured 10th place in team standings.

Cross Country Runners.

Teams from across the Valley run in the early morning hours. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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“

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High School Sports Magazine

Players dream about playing college spo

The

orts, so they worker harder to achieve

eDreams David A. Amador-HSSM Sports Director

Many high school athletes dream about playing at the next level, whether college or professional sports. Dreams begin to come alive with self-determination and most importantly, parental support. These dreams have come true for basketball standout Ricky Masso, formerly of McAllen Memorial High School. He now plays for the St. Edwards Basketball team in Austin as a walk-on.

His brother Mark, a graduating senior from McAllen Memorial wants to follow in his same footsteps too. “I am just proud. Too proud to actually say how I really feel about

Ricky making the team as a walk on,” says their father Mr. Masso. “He was determined to make the team and now I hope that many other players who dream about playing at this level follow their dreams too,” he added.

Ricky, only 5’8” made the squad at St. Edwards this past season and played throughout the season coming off the bench. As for the younger brother, Mark had a successful year at Memorial leading the 30-5A District in assists in 2007-08 and now finds himself dreaming about playing college with no scholarship offers like his brother.

May 29-June 30, 2008

45

Rattler Defense. The Sharyland Rattlers made the playoffs in 2008. They would end their season in the first round to Laredo Nixon 78-68.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

G R E A T D E F E N S E A N D S W E E T S I X T E E N S. HSSM Basketball Player of the Year in 2008. McAllen High School sophomore J.J. Avila captured top honors as he led his team to the State 5A Regional Semifinals against SA Wagner where they lost 93-64. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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State 5A Region IV Semifinals. The Edinburg Bobcats played San Antonio Madison in the regional semifinals and ended their season with a 72-65 loss. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

Photograph by HSSMImages

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High School Sports Magazine

T O O T A L L A N D P R O U D. Too Tall and Too Sweet. The McAllen H.S. Lady Bulldogs made it to the Class 5A Region IV Basketball Semifinals in 2008 and played San Antonio Wagner. The Lady Bulldogs lost 65-43 after posting a great season. (HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Class 5A Region IV Tournament. The Harlingen South Lady Hawks basketball team advanced to the regional semifinals in 2008 and played San Antonio Madison. The Lady Hawks lost 72-51.

(HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

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High School Sports Magazine

“

Coaches are more than just educators, they bec

TheCoac

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High School Sports Magazine

come inspirations to players

ches David A. Amador-HSSM Sports Director

www.hssmonline.net Great Mentors. Longtime head coaches Roy Garcia of San Benito, Alan Cherry of Harlingen South, and Robert Capello of Edcouch-Elsa.

(Exclusive HSSM IMages/David A. Amador)

In 2007-08 many head coaches watched their teams win and lose. HSSM also lost a great friend, Robert Vela to cancer too.

Eitherway, HSSM captured these monments that showed why coaches keep coming back to the sidelines, courtsides, and track fields.

Teams like San Benito, Harlingen South, and Edcouch-Elsa advanced to the state playoffs looking for a state title. Only La Joya, Weslaco, McAllen, Los Fresnos, Harlingen South, and Santa Rosa almost made it.

In the process, football teams like Edinburg, Valley View, and Roma struggled throughout the season looking for progress.

Weslaco East did the unthinkable in 2007 by making the playoffs for the first time in school history, while sister school, Weslaco H.S. hosted its first-ever Class 5A Division II Regional Quarterfinals at Bobby Lackey Stadium before some 12,000 against San Antonio Madison. The Panthers also watched Mishak Rivas surpass the single season rushing mark of 3,000 yards.

HSSM takes you back to these coaching moments in 2007-08.

May 29-June 30, 2008 55

HSSM Football Coach of the Year Weslaco H.S. Tony Villarreal . (HSSM IMages)

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High School Sports Magazine

HSSM Softball Coach of the Year PSJA North H.S. Johnny Medrano. (HSSM IMages)

H SSM COACHES OF THE YEAR

HSSM Boy’s Basketball Coach of the Year McAllen H.S. Roy Swift. (HSSM IMages)

HSSM Girl’s Basketball Coach of the Year Harlingen South H.S. Dawn Engleman. (HSSM IMages) May 29-June 30, 2008

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A True Champion.

HSSM’s Baseball Coach of the Year Eliseo Pompa of McAllen H.S..

(HSSM/Images)

Top Spikers. HSSM’s Volleyball Coach of the Year Steve Lunsford of Harlingen South H.S..

(HSSM/Images)

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High School Sports Magazine

H S S M C O A C H E S O F T H E Y E A R. Undefeated Season. HSSM’s 30-5A Coach of the Year Manny Moreno led the Donna Redskins to the Class 5A Division I Area Finals in his first year.

(HSSM/Images)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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High School Sports Magazine

T H E G A M E S. T H E H U G S. T H E L O S S E S.

Tough Losses In Every Game, There are Winners and Losers...

The hardest part high school athletes endure are the tough losses that come with the victories.

The emotions that follow each game are speechless, especially when coaches are trying to comfort their own players.

Players find themselves looking for someone to cling to for support as the other team celebrates in victory.

The football game between Edcouch-Elsa and Mission Veterans was just an example of how one team fought, not just to win, but to make the playoffs as well. The Patriots would fall in the end.

At the Class 5A Girl’s Regional Semifinals basketball game between San Antonio Wagner and McAllen High School, the Lady Bulldogs were just steps away from advancing to the state tournament. Wagner would defeat the Valley team 65-43 and then they would shut down SA Madison to make it to the Class 5A tournament.

HSSM captured some of these moments in 2007-08.

No Bowl.

MisAll Super Smiles.

ThisThewression Veterans Memorial tler from La Joya H.S. Patriots fell short of maktook time to smile as he ing the Class 4A playoffs pinned his opponent at with their loss to Edthe La Joya Wrestling Incouch-Elsa . (HSSM IMages) vitational. (HSSM IMages) May 29-June 30, 2008

61

Bear Hugs. The PSJA Bears ended their season with a loss in the Class 5A Division I Area round to La Joya 17-28 playoffs. Despite the frigid weather, Justin Villanueva and Anthony Carrizales managed to comfort each other after the game. (HSSM IMages)

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Tough Year. The Edinburg Economedes Jaguars lost two of their final three games to miss the playoffs again. (HSSM IMages)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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A Daddy’s Love. Rebecca Valdez finds comfort with her father Robert after the McAllen Lady Bulldog’s loss in the State 5A Region IV Semifinals basketball game.

(HSSM IMages)

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High School Sports Magazine

A B U L L D O G BA T T L E L O S T A True Warrior. McHi Offensive linemen Tino Hong watches from the sidelines as his team lost in the State 5A Region IV area playoffs to Weslaco. (HSSM IMages)

Still Number One. The Edinburg North Cougars baseball team show their pride despite losing to Weslaco in the state playoffs.

(HSSM IMages)

May 29-June 30, 2008

65

Greatest Those who dared to achieve, found VICTORY at every level in 2008.

Moments Perhaps the biggest achievements high school athletes can accomplish are for those who work hard in the class-

room and practice long hours in every sport they participate and sometimes with luck, their greatest moments are achieved.

In 2008, we had many prep schoolers who did just that like McAllen Memorial’s Frankie Gonzales. At the 30-5A District Golf Championships at Martin Valley Golf Course he nailed a six-iron from about 165 yards uphill and watched his ball disappear somewhere around the green. “My ball just disappeared and when I approached the green on Hole No. 7 it was nowhere to be found. Then I looked in the hole and there it was; this was great,” said the Mustang golfer.

In baseball, McAllen High School found themselves down 0-1 in the best of three series in the Class 5A Baseball Regional Quarterfinals against La Joya. They would come back and win the next two games to advance to the regional semifinals.

Then it happened. Sharyland’s Ale Cantu surprised the field at the Class 5A Region IV Golf Championships by winning the title along with her team, who also advanced to the state championships. These are the moments. The greatest moments captured in 2008.

Hole In One. McAllen Memorial’s Frankie Gonzales holds his ball that went in at the No.7 Par 3 at the 30-5A District Golf Championships.

(HSSM IMages)

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High School Sports Magazine

LEAPING HEIGHTS TO VICTORY Two-Time Class 5A Region IV Quarterfinal Champions.

The McAllen H.S. baseball team defeated La Joya H.S. in come-from-behind victories 1-9,1-0, 6-2.

(HSSM IMages)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Class 5A Golf Finalists! The Sharyland Girls Golf team advanced to the state championships in 2008. Pictured l-r are Ana Choi, Alejandra Valdez, Ale Cantu, Lisa Garza, and Samantha Garcia. (HSSM IMages)

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High School Sports Magazine

M E DALS AN D TAR PO N S EAWALL V I C T O RY Port Isabel Tarpons Win! Players celebrate their win over the La Feria Lions in 2007. The Tarpons also won the Class 3A Bi-District title over Raymondville 28-7. (HSSM IMages)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Battle of the Arroyo Title! Under the lights, the San Benito Greyhounds defeated Harlingen in their annual match up.

This is what they play for every season.

(HSSM IMages)

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H A R D B A T T L E S F O U G H T F O R T H E P R I Z E.

Three-Time Defending Champions! The PSJA North Lady Raiders captured their third straight Class 5A Area title in 2008 with a victory over Sharyland in three games.

(HSSM IMages)

May 29-June 30, 2008

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Participating RGV Locations 7411 Padre Island Blvd-Brownsville 831-7161 3100 Boca Chica Blvd-Brownsville 544-4300 1300 Central Blvd-Brownsville 544-5475 3235 International Blvd-Brownsville 982-3945 1912 W. Tyler-Harlingen 428-7169 601 South Sam Houston -San Benito 361-9797 1102 North Main -La Feria 797-9546 419 1/2 S. International -Weslaco 447-8868 1617 N. Texas -Weslaco 968-3747 1702 W. University Drive -Edinburg 318-5130 4006 S. McColl -Edinburg 664-9142 2313 Military Hwy -McAllen 618-5030 2120 N. La Homa Rd -Palmview 584-0125 688 East Exp 83 -La Joya 583-2325 1100 E. Main -Rio Grande City 488-1402 390 East Grant -Roma 849-5806

Hartrmi 2007

Have It

Your Way! OPEN LATE!