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MISSION — The Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame inducted five teams as part of its 2023 Class at the Mission Event Center on Saturday.
A similarity the teams shared when looking back on their outstanding seasons in their respective sports was the connections and relationships made, which were brought back to life at the 35th annual Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“It’s just such an honor. When we found out we were going to do this, we were just blown away,” said Donna Gossett, a member of the 1976 Weslaco High girls basketball team. “I never ever thought that those days would lead to this. It’s an honor and the whole team deserves it.”
Gossett was part of the 1976 Weslaco High girls basketball team that won the first regional title in program history and qualified for the Class 4A state semifinals. The Panthers were ranked No. 4 in the state in Class 4A during the season.
Cathy and Sharon Fuller both averaged north of 20 points per game, leading the Panthers to a 27-4 overall record and a District 15-4A championship under head coach Jimmie Campbell.
“The key component is a good coach — one who’s got vision and strategies to get us into a fighting, performing condition,” guard J. Hobart said. “Kindness, patience, a teacher, and with the 1976 Weslaco Pantherettes, our coach Jimmie Campbell and assistant coach Marge Taylor, really brought us a complete package of how we can not just win on the court, but win off the court, and that was a key in my experience with respect to getting there.”
Members of the 1976 Weslaco girls basketball team included Sylvia Alvarez, Cynthia de la Pena, Anna Christensen, Joy Smith, Janet Martin, Sharon Fuller, Donna Gossett, Valerie Guess, Jean Hobart, Jammie Campbell, Shirley Brinson, Laura Manning, Jere Horn and Marcia Casas.
1961 SAN BENITO FOOTBALL
The 1961 San Benito Greyhounds upheld a tradition as one of the Valley’s most dominant units from 1957-1962 under the direction of head coach J.W. Helms. The Greyhounds went 53-9-1 during that time and the 1961 squad advanced all the way to the Class 3A state semifinals. San Benito went undefeated during the 1961 regular season and were the No. 1-ranked team in the state in Class 3A.
The Greyhounds picked up playoff wins over Port Lavaca Calhoun and Del Rio before falling in the state semifinals against Nederland, 22-15.
1972 ROMA BOYS BASKETBALL
The 1971-72 Roma Gladiators made a historic run to the Class 2A state semifinals and compiled a 36-3 overall record in the process.
The Gladiators, coached by Eleuterio Garza Jr., played with speed and turned it into scoring with more than 100 points scored in five games during their 39-game campaign.
Jesus “Chuy” Guerra led Roma with 25.2 points per game and earned all-state recognition for his play. Fellow standouts Wenche Garcia and Mike Villarreal were pivotal to Roma success. Guerra was inducted into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and UTRGV Hall of Fame in 2013.
Members of the 1971-72 Roma boys basketball team include Jaime Escobar, Santiago Gomez, Mike Villarreal, Wenche Garcia, Arturo Perez, Roberto Escobar, Lupe Villarreal, Adrian Guerra, Heraldo Garza, Jesus Guerra, Roel Gonzalez and Benjamin Escobar.
1978 SHARYLAND HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL
The 1977-78 Sharyland Rattlers won more than 30 games and advanced to the Class 2A state tournament. Head coach Vic Benter coached the Rattlers to a 32-3 record and captured the District 32-2A title.
Sharyland defeated Roma in the playoffs, 76-66, rolled past San Antonio Cole, 67-48, and defending regional champion Weimar, 69-58, to win the Region IV-2A tournament for a spot in the final four.
Sharyland saw its 21-game winning streak end in the state semifinals against Dimmitt, 60-50 at the state tournament in Austin. Dan Townsend led the Rattlers in scoring on the year and was named District 32-2A’s Most Valuable Player.
Members of the 1977-78 Sharyland boys basketball team include Dan Townsend, Ruben Flores, Noe Gomez, Louis Hernandez, Arcadio Navarro, Andy McCormick, Arnie Villarreal, Jose Martinez, Juan Rocha and Robbie Gillette.
1990 MISSION HIGH FOOTBALL
The Mission Eagles soared into the 1990 Class 5A Division II state semifinals and now into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame. Head coach Sonny Detmer, a 2009 RGV Sports HOF inductee, led the Eagles to a 12-2 overall record and won the District 31-5A championship while outscoring opponents 579-213.
Mission quarterback Koy Detmer and the Eagles threw the ball all over the field and scored points with the best teams in the state. During their playoff run to the final four, the Eagles defeated Donna High, 42-15, Alice, 24-14, and San Antonio Madison, 59-17.
The Eagles’ season came to an end in the state semifinals in a 55-21 loss against eventual state champion Houston Aldine at the Astrodome in Houston. The younger Detmer went on to play quarterback at Colorado from 1992-96 and spent 10 years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings.
To see more, view Monitor photojournalist Delcia Lopez’s full photo gallery here:
Photo Gallery: 35th annual Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony
