Two weeks from now, the district soccer season will be concluding for the Big Six schools of districts 61-4A and 30-5A. With no games next Friday due to Spring Break, the local teams only have four games remaining to secure their playoff spots and work towards a district championship.

For the boys, the district championship won’t be easy as both defending district champs are currently in second.

Sharyland was upset by Donna a week and a half ago, losing 3-2. Officially, the Rattlers are tied with Donna in the win/loss column and also in their point total, but the team’s two losses have come at the feet of the Redskins and thus relegating the defending champs to second place.

With only home games left on the schedule, Sharyland has a great opportunity to win the rest of their games. However, the Mission Eagles will pose a challenge to that strong finish.

Read more: Crucial soccer matches as end of district appears within sight

Another Big Six basketball season has come and gone, leaving in its path the memories of a district championship, the rise of a new playoff contender, thrilling overtime victories, late season comeback and heroic defeats.

To honor the concluding season, the Progress Times Sports Page recognizes the top coaches and players from the Big Six schools. The recognition comes via the on court performances, giving honors to the boys and girls coach of the year, player of the year and first and second teams.

Big Six Boys
Coach of the Year:
Andy Saenz, PHS

The second year coach turned around a district cellar dweller and took them to never before seen heights, winning 24 games and finishing fourth in district play. Saenz also competed well with the district’s traditional powerhouse teams, sweeping McHi and splitting with Memorial. The coach worked his boys hard during the offseason and it paid off as Mario De La Garza, Dominick Garza and the rest of the team helped make basketball relevant at Palmview.

Read more: All-Big Six basketball teams named

Spring is just around the corner and it’s time to make good on January’s New Year’s resolutions by putting on a pair of running shoes and joining South Texas College in the inaugural Spring Break Stampede 5K/10K run on March 10 at Bentsen Recreational Park, located at 2500 S. Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission.

“This is a community event for health and fitness,” said STC Student Life Coordinator and race event co-organizer Armando Ponce. “Something as simple as walking or jogging has lots of health benefits.”

The race is partially sponsored by STC’s Health & Wellness Center, and includes 15 men’s and women’s divisions from age 10-and-under to 75-and-over. The pre-registration entry fee is $15 for the general public and $10 for STC affiliates, or $20 the day of the event.

Pre-registered runners can pick up their race packet the day before the event on March 9 from 2 to 8 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Health & Wellness Center, located at 2515 Pecan Plaza in McAllen.

Race-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. on March 10, and the race will start at 7:30 a.m.

The top three men’s and women’s finishers in each age division will be given an award. The categories are: 0-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, and 75-plus.

For more information contact Janice Perez at 956-872-3839 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

EDINBURG, Texas--- The Edinburg Roadrunners of the North American League announced today the hiring of Ed Nottle as their new manager for the upcoming 2012 season.

Nottle is a veteran of the baseball wars having spent 10-years in the Chicago White Sox organization as a player. He moved to the coaching lines in 1972 and became Field Manager in the Oakland As minor league system in 1978.

Read more: Nottle excited about move to Edinburg

MISSION—For nearly the entire night the Mission Eagles dominated the ball in their District 30-5A soccer match with Palmview High School. The Lobos, however, scored an early goal and a late goal to force the game into a shootout before the Eagles took home the win. The scorers for Mission were Eduardo Davila and Eder Velasquez. Lobo scorers were Efrain Duran and Miguel Ponce.

Read more: Big Six Friday Game of the Night: Mission gives up lead then wins in OT over Palmview

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