McALLEN — McAllen ISD played host to the first major media day in the RGV on Sunday, with media outlets from across the Valley gathering at the McAllen Rowe Gym for the 2022 Boys and Girls Soccer Media Day.
Sports writers from RGVSports.com, an affiliate of The Brownsville Herald, The Monitor and Valley Morning Star, as well as sports reporters from KRGV, KNVO and Telemundo were present at the event.
“Our athletes and coaches deserve a media day,” McAllen ISD Athletic Director Brian McClenny said. “Trying to get all the media outlets together as a one-stop shop for our student-athletes, I think, is a positive. We have some great soccer teams here in the Valley, so to start it off with soccer, I think that is a plus. If we can come up with a template and duplicate this throughout the different seasons, I think it’ll be great for our kids and our coaches in promoting all of these great programs throughout the Valley.”
A total of 24 boys and girls soccer teams made appearances at the media day, ranging from Class 4A to 6A programs from across the Upper Valley.
Girls teams included Edinburg High, Edinburg North, Edinburg Vela, McAllen High, McAllen Memorial, McAllen Rowe, Mission Veterans, La Joya Palmview, PSJA High, Sharyland High, Sharyland Pioneer, Weslaco East and Weslaco High.
“It is just a great thing to give our kids that exposure that they don’t normally get,” McAllen Rowe girls soccer head coach John Martinez said. “Volleyball and basketball and football, they get all that exposure. To have something like this done for our soccer kids, it is truly a great thing. I heard nothing but good words from other coaches and players. Everybody is just fired up about it.”
On the boys side, 11 teams were represented at the media day. Edinburg Vela, Edinburg High, Hidalgo, La Joya High, McAllen High, McAllen Rowe, Mission High, Mission Veterans, PSJA High, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer made appearances.
“If you look at the last years, soccer has been a huge sport for the Valley,” Hidalgo head coach Zeke Morales said. “Every year we’re in the regional or state finals. The fact that they are doing this for us, it means a lot. The kids get to see they’re getting acknowledged. They get to see themselves in the media. The parents get to see their kids getting showcased. I’m very grateful for The Monitor and all the media and everyone in charge of these media days because it is special to us, the parents and just the community to see them get recognition that is well-deserved.”
Brownsville ISD is set to host a similar event for Lower Valley boys and girls soccer teams Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Brownsville Veterans Gym at a time to be determined.
