MHS senior signs to play baseball with UTRGV

Steve Villarreal is taking the next step in his athletic and academic journey.

Villarreal, a senior at Mission High School, signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Wed. Nov. 13. Surrounded by his family, coaches and peers, Villarreal was congratulated and cheered on as he signed.

A three-sport athlete, all of Villarreal’s coaches got the opportunity to speak. Koy Detmer, the athletic coordinator and head football coach at MHS, said Villarreal was a great example for other student athletes to follow.

“It’s a big deal, that [the fellow students] they see it is attainable,” Detmer said. “They see him every day, and to see him have that opportunity, hopefully it inspires them to work hard and do all the necessary things education-wise so hopefully they can go on and do the same type of thing.”

Head Baseball Coach Rick Lozano was proud of Villarreal.

“It feels great,” Lozano said. “He’s put a lot of hard work, time and dedication to the sport since he was knee-high, so it was well-deserved.”

Daniel Longoria, a special teams coordinator for the football team and the head track coach, said Villarreal worked hard to achieve his accomplishments.

“He’s made a big impact [on the program],” Longoria said. “He’s a great kid. The thing I admire most about him is that he is always positive, always working hard.”

Villarreal thanked each of his family members individually, and also thanked his coaches and teammates.

He said he was grateful for the opportunity and what comes in the future.

This article originally appeared in the Friday Nov. 15, 2019 issue of the Progress Times.