AUSTIN — The University of Texas at Austin is the mecca for Texas athletics. The university itself has one of the top athletic programs in the nation, producing some of the best athletes in professional sports. Thus it is with pride that some of the state’s top athletes will convene there this weekend to compete for the wrestling and swimming and diving state championships.

The athletes convening consist of the top athletes coming out of the four regions of the state. The local athletes here in the Rio Grande Valley compete in Region IV and needed to place in the top four of their respective event in order to move on to state.

Read more: Wrestlers headed to state championships

Below is the initial list of The Progress Times’ All-Big Six basketball team for boys and girls. In the March 2 hardcopy edition of the paper, we will announce the official first and second teams, as well as the Big Six Player of the Year.

Read more: The All-Big Six Basketball Teams

Larry Cavazos, catcher and outfielder for the VMHS varsity baseball team, started playing baseball at the age of 5. He saw it as something new and fun to do. Coached by his father, Cavazos was inspired by him to play better and to be successful in life. His favorite player growing up was Craig Biggio, second baseman for the Astros. Larry, himself, hopes to play professionally some day.

Read more: Patriot baseball star loves baseball, has high hopes for season

Editor’s Note: The Big Six Rankings have changed. Instead of ranking the top three teams of a sport for both the boys and the girls, we will now rank the top six teams but encompassing all the sports. The rankings will be based on which team is playing the best and appears to have the best outlook for the foreseeable future. Now that the spring sports season is upon us, the rankings will be based on baseball, softball, track and field, boys and girls soccer, etc.

Read more: Monday’s “Big Six” Boys and Girls Rankings

MISSION – The Sharyland Lady Rattlers could not have asked for a better start in their bi-district matchup with the Harlingen Lady Cardinals. Behind the solid play of Monica Salinas, Clarissa Suarez and Savannah Prichard, Sharyland jumped out to a 16-2 lead before turnovers doomed them the rest of the way, allowing Harlingen to escape with a 51-45 win on the road.

Read more: Big Six Friday Game of the Night: Turnovers doom Sharyland in loss to Harlingen