Summer has come and gone for high school athletes across the state, with Monday marking the first official day of practice for the University Interscholastic League’s three fall team sports: football, volleyball and water polo.
The sounds of whistles and coaches echoed across football fields as early as 12:01 a.m., with teams such as Santa Maria and St. Joseph’s taking to the gridiron for “Midnight Madness” practices.
Other football programs, such as Harlingen High, Harlingen South, PSJA Southwest, San Benito and Lyford, waited until the crack of dawn to begin the new year.
“There is just an excitement knowing we’ve worked all offseason since the day we lost to Edinburg Vela,” San Benito safety DeAnthony Mireles said during RGV Sports’ football media day Thursday. “We’ve been counting down the days until Aug. 1 knowing we get to strap it up again and get ready to go battle someone else in a different color.”
Only some of the Valley’s football teams hit the field Monday. Class 1A-4A schools and 5A-6A schools without spring training were allowed to begin training Aug. 1. Other teams are allowed to start practices Aug. 8.
Although Monday marked the start of three of the UIL’s five fall sports, cross-country and team tennis have been in full swing since early June, both gearing up for their first event mid-August.
The 2022 cross-country season kicks off Aug. 12 with a pair of meets in the Edcouch-Elsa Invitational at David Ybarra Middle School in Edcouch and the Rio Grande City Invitational at Ringgold Middle School in Rio Grande City.
The first week of cross-country competition continues with the Weslaco Invitational on Aug. 13 at Mary Hoge Middle School in Weslaco, featuring reigning District 32-5A girls team champion Weslaco East.
“Coming off a district championship season last year, we have to see who can step up,” Weslaco East girls cross country head coach Joshua Davis said. “We lost three of the six girls from that championship team so there are some question marks on who will be the next ones to step up. We are putting the trust in some of our young runners, as well as one of the top 400-meter sprinters in the district who is coming on board to help in cross country her senior season.”
UIL team tennis begins for most squads on Aug. 16, including an early season matchup between McAllen Memorial and Harlingen South at McAllen Memorial’s tennis courts.
Elsewhere, the echoes of volleyballs pounding into the hardwood rang through gymnasiums across the Valley. Volleyball faces a quick turnaround from practice to games, with the first day of scrimmages set for Aug. 5, followed by the first day for official matches on Aug. 8.
While some took to the football field or volleyball courts, others splashed into the pool in preparation for the UIL’s inaugural water polo campaign, with 11 Valley teams set to compete.
Los Fresnos, Mission High, Mission Veterans, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer are in District 31-6A, while Harlingen High, Harlingen South, PSJA High, PSJA Memorial, PSJA North and PSJA Southwest make up District 32-6A.
PSJA Southwest sophomore Joseph Mendoza and the Javelinas are coming off winning the boys RGV club championship title in April. Now that the sport is sanctioned by the UIL, he hopes the program and sport continue to grow and be recognized.
“It’s exciting to be a part of this. We’re spreading more information, getting out to other people who find it interesting and want to join,” he said.
The newly sanctioned UIL sport will see its first action with scrimmages beginning on Aug. 5, followed by the first official games on Aug. 8.
