Staff

-Eagle Pass

The next meeting of the EPISD Board of Trustees will probably include discussion on whether or not the district will be going to an accelerated program for our secondary level schools.

Samuel Mijares, Assistant Superintendent, informed The News Gram that he has traveled to San Antonio and Laredo where schools there have proven to be successful.

The plan is for students to remain longer in classes with their teachers and less time in the hallways exchanging classes.  They will be able to finish with courses in one semester and take their end of course exam prior to beginning their next class after the Christmas vacations.

Students will have 80 minute blocks of their classes every day with a different group of classes and a different schedule the next semester.

Mijares feels that the system can be implemented locally, but the key in his perception is to get buy-in from the faculty as well as to inform the board what exactly it entails and how it will be better than the existing traditional schedule in place today.

If approved by the board, it could be implemented on a trial basis as soon as next year.

The accelerated Program allows students to receive more instruction in a shorter period of time and thus should perform better on their end of course exams because of this.

The item was brought upon the board at the last meeting, but the issue was tabled in order to allow the board members to be better informed on the details of the program.

By Rey Sifuentes Jr.

     Before losing 7-4 to Donna on Friday afternoon, the Lady Mavericks varsity softball team crushed PSJA Southwest 11-1 earlier that day during pool play games of a tournament hosted by La Joya Thursday through Saturday.

     The Lady Mavericks scored two runs in the first inning, five n the third, one in the fourth and closed things out by scoring three in the fifth inning.

     Brittany Perez (winning pitcher) struck out three batters, and allowed three hits in four innings of work. Neftali Sanchez allowed two hits in her one inning on the plate.

     At the plate, Natalie Garcia hit four for four and batted in two runs. Ari Ruiz went two for four and brought in a run. Alyssa Lopez hit two for three and batted a run in. Lorena Sanchez went one for three and brought a run in. Caridad Garcia hit one for two and batted in a run. Daisy Diaz hit one for one and brought two runs in. Ronnie Valdez hit one for two and batted in a run. Rose Mary Hernandez batted in a run. Giselle Cerda, Karla Lopez and Leslie Salinas also played.

     CCWN previously blasted Kennedy 12-1 in five innings on Tuesday (February 19).

     The Lady Mavericks scored a run in the second inning, two in the third, and another nine in the fourth.

     Brittany Perez pitched all five innings for CCWN in which she struck out seven batters and allowed six hits.

     Rose Mary Hernandez hit two for four and brought in two runs. Ari Ruiz went two for four and batted in a run. Giselle Cerda hit two for three and brought in three runs. Amberly Garza hit two for three and brought in two runs.

     Natalie Garcia went one for three and batted in a run. Caridad Garcia hit one for three and batted in a run. Alyssa Lopez hit one for three.

     The Lady Eagles varsity and junior varsity softball teams visit Del Rio on Tuesday with the first game beginning at 5 p.m.

 By Rey Sifuentes Jr.

VARSITY BOYS

     A large portion of last year’s varsity boys track team is back and ready to recapture the District 29-5A title that Del Rio won in 2012.    

     “I would say we have about seventy five percent of the boys from last year back for this season,” Head Coach Roger Olivas said. “All of that experience coming back is very valuable. We have a goo bunch of seniors this season who work hard and set the example for their teammates.”

     The Eagles were district runner-ups last year after winning two consecutive titles the previous two years. Olivas is confident his boys will be among the top contenders for this season’s 29-5A crown.

     “I think we will be n the running,” Olivas said. “I am very positive about that. I also feel that United Del Rio and Alexander will be in the mix too.”

     The season got off to a good start on Saturday (February 16) when EPHS’a varsity boys won their bracket, with a score of 216.5,  of a meet hosted by Laredo Independent School District. 

     Evan Gloria won the Discus event with a throw of 137-04, while Armando Rodriguez came in fourth (122-04).

     Martin Lopez was the victor of the 3,200-meter Run with a time of 9:58/07, while Hector Alvarez came in second (10:06.5) and Michael Espinoza placed fourth (10:20.29.

     Louis Cortez won the 400-meter Dash with a time of 52.77.

     Jorge Ortiz won the 800-meter Run (with a time of 2:03.49), while Saul Vasquez finished second (2:04.85) and Carlos Elizondo finished fourth (2”05.49).

    Arum Borrego came in fifth in the Shot Put event with a toss of (37-02.00).

     R.J. Valdez finished sixth in the Long Jump with a leap of 18-01.25

Placing at the top of the 1,600-meter Run were Michael Espinoza (first, 4:40.11) and Hector Alvarez (second, 4:42.59).

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS

     The Eagles junior varsity boys track and field team finished second (with a score of 158) in their division.

     Trey Robledo won the Triple Jump competition with a leap of 38-02. Robledo was also the victor in the 400-meter Dash (with a time of 54.73), while Rolando Montez came in third (56.50).

     Making the top ten of the Shot Put event were Cesar Perez (with a throw of 38-11.5) and Sam Torres (34-05.5).

     Alex Mason finished third n the Discus competition with a distance of 97-07.

     Colin Byrne came in second in the Pole Vault (with a distance of 9-06), while Kevin Rivera finished third (9-00).

     Luis Vielma came in second in the 3,200-meter Run (with a time of 2 10:57.2), while Oscar Mendoza placed third (10:58.30) and Josh Zurita came in fourth (10:59.35).

     Oscar Mendoza came in third in the 1,600-meter Run (with a time of 5”05/48), while Josh Smith finished fifth (5”07).    

     Saul Garza finished fifth in the 300-meter Hurdles (48.69 5).

VARSITY GIRLS

     The Lady Eagles also have a multitude of last year’s team back for this season. 

     “On the girls side, we have about eighty percent back,” Olivas said. “Last year the girls came out at about fifth in a ten team district, but some of those teams are no longer in our district. A lot of our returning girls went to regionals last year and it is going to be harder to advance to regionals now because we have to compete at district, and then are, and then regionals.”

     District 29-5A was cut down to seven teams, from a previous ten, following a statewide realignment by the University Interscholastic League back in February.

     “The smaller schools are the ones that left, and the bigger ones stayed,” Olivas said. “So the competition pretty much stayed tough for our girls team. We expect Alexander to be a tough girls team, and so will Del Rio and United.”

     The Lady Eagles finished fourth (with a score of 99.5) hosted at Shirley Field by Laredo Independent School District meet on Saturday (February 16).    

     Aiden Garcia was the victor in the Discus competition with a throw of (113-07), while Breana Salinas came in fourth (99-03). Garcia also placed third in the High Jump (4-10).

     Sierra Melachee won the Pole Vault competition with a distance of (8-00).

     Competing in the 1,600-meter Run were Karina Velez (third, 5:39.04) and Kim Reyna (sixth, 6:02.09.

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS

     EPHS junior varsity girls track and field team placed third at the LISD meet, while the Lady Eagles junior varsity (white) team came in twelfth.

     Dube Perez won the Discus competition with a distance of 83-06.

     J. Rodriguez won the 3,200-meter Run with a time of 12:51.85.

     Selinda Vallejo placed second in the 800-meter Run (2:45.53.

     Jazmin Torres finished fifth in the Shot Put with a toss of 26-00.0.

     Brianna Jimenez finished third in the 300-meter Run (56.45) and fifth in the 100-meter Hurdles (20.74 5).

     Placing in the top ten of the 1,600-meter Run were Jezabelle Rodriguez (winner, 6:06.67), Ruby Briones (fifth, 6:19.38), and Cindy Vallejo (sixth, 6:19.43).