Sports – Page 8 – The Bridge News

10Sep

By Staff/GuestNo Comments

Sports, Women's Basketball

Women set up a challenging schedule

Women set up a challenging schedule By David SolisBridge contributing writerPublished Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 After a successful 2020-2021 season for the TAMIU women’s basketball program, teammates seek to improve through a tougher schedule. Coach Nate Vogel has been adamant in playing tough competition year in and year out. This upcoming season may be the perfect time to add Division I opponents and challenge the Dustdevils early in the season. “It’s a lot easier to schedule tougher opponents when you’ve had success. Last year, we beat TAMIU-CC and Weber State University in back-to-back games—both Division I programs,” Vogel wrote in an email. “So, we want to test ourselves early on against bigger schools to prepare us for conference games.” Having to replace Nicole Heyn, wh...

10Sep

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Men's Cross Country, Sports

Two runners look to new season

Two runners look to new season By Isabela Barrientos Bridge contributing writerPublished Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 Hopeful to accomplish what they began during the 2020 cross country season, juniors Nicholas and Ruben Martinez prepare for this season. After having their previous season end abruptly, as the result of their teammate’s false positive COVID-19 test, the two runners are eager to begin the 2021-2022 season. Both Martinezes used the off-season to focus on improving and preparing for what lies ahead: The Sept. 18 Westside Classic in San Antonio and the Sept. 25 Texas A&M Invitational at College Station. “Around this time last year, I hadn’t started running,” Nicholas Martinez said during the off-season. “I am now training a little more on my own, and am als...

5May

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Men's Basketball, Sports

Men’s basketball finishes season 1-13

Men's basketball finishes season 1-13 By Cesar OldhamBridge contributing writerPublished Wednesday, May 5, 2021 After a difficult season, the men's Dustdevils basketball team limped away with only one Lone Star Conference win. The success was a 81-68 win against Oklahoma Christian University. Andrea Arias | Submitted Tre Thomas drives the ball in his game against Angelo State University on Feb. 26. Men's basketball coach Rodney “Mac” McConnell joined Texas A&M International University in March 2020 as the seventh coach for the team in Dustdevil history. “We showed glimpses of what we can be and [can] build on for the future,” McConnell said. “No head coach wants to win only one game in a year, no matter the circumstances. Therefore, I would say that this year's team had...

5May

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Men's Golf, Sports, Women's Golf

Golf team works to keep safe

Golf team works to keep safe By Eric PeraltaBridge contributing writerPublished Wednesday, May 5, 2021 As pandemic concerns continue, the TAMIU golf team follows policies to keep its athletes safe. Redshirt sophomore Yuliana Yapur, of Morelos, Mexico, plays on the Texas A&M International University women's golf team. The team is led by coach Rudy Gonzalez, who oversees both golf teams. courtesy godustdevils.comGolf coach Rudy Gonzalez “For our practice, we now are separated from the men's team,” Yapur said. “This means that while the men's team goes out to play nine [or] 18 holes, the women stay, putting or at the range hitting balls and vice versa. “For competitions, we used to play with other schools in the same group. Now we play our rounds of 18 or 36 holes with o...

22Apr

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Baseball, Sports

Dustdevils swept by Buffs

Dustdevils swept by Buffs By David Gomez Jr.Editor-in-chiefPublished Thursday, April 22, 2021 The Dustdevils baseball team fell to the Buffs during Sunday’s cool, overcast game. The Buffs held their No. 5 spot after taking the lead early on during the afternoon game at Texas A&M International University’s Jorge Haynes Field. T. Rob Brown | BridgeTAMIU senior outfielder Phillip Sanchez heads for home before scoring a run against West Texas A&M University on Sunday afternoon, April 18, 2021, at Jorge Haynes Field. TAMIU lost 9-4. By the dugouts, remnants of flower seeds covered the nearby floor on both sides of the field. Hollering distractions, and support, resounded from both teams since fans are still not allowed on the bleachers. Business started to pick up duri...

9Apr

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Features, On Campus, Softball, Sports

Making Dustdevil history

Making Dustdevil history By Jhoanna AngelesBridge Staff InternPublished Friday, April 9, 2021 After pitching a perfect game, one Dustdevils softball pitcher was named Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week. Sophomore Erika Cortez went on the field with the intention to help her team win the game against West Texas’ Lady Buffs. In that, she succeeded perfectly and made Texas A&M International University athletics history. “I was just trying to take it inning-by-inning, and go in there calmly,” Cortez said. “I wasn't trying to overpower myself. I was just trying to get my team ahead so we [could] score and win this game and I just took it inning-by-inning.” David Garcia | BridgeTAMIU pitcher Erika Cortez warms up before taking the field recently. She said she left eve...

Putting the backswing into tennis court construction

3Apr

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On Campus, Sports

Putting the backswing into tennis court construction

Putting the backswing into tennis court construction By Leslie Villafana MartinezBridge contributing writerPublished Saturday, April 3, 2021 The construction of 21 tennis courts defies the COVID-19 pandemic and cold temperatures to bring back outdoor activities and sports for summer 2022. In a joint effort, Texas A&M International University and the City of Laredo create a sports complex on campus, which highlights 21 new tennis courts. Senior Director of Campus Safety and Planning Trevor Liddle said the Laredo Engineering Department and other professional organizations oversee the design and construction of the tennis facility, while TAMIU provided the land. “This is an exciting collaboration between TAMIU and the city to bring access to a world-class tennis facility th...

Freshman soccer player takes conference honor

28Mar

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Sports, Women's Soccer

Freshman soccer player takes conference honor

Freshman soccer player takes conference honor From Staff Reportswith content from David J. Garcia Jr. Bridge Staff InternPublished Sunday, March 28, 2021 Despite her status as a newer member of the team, one Dustdevil freshman received conference recognition in part due to her nature as a team player. Achieving recognition from the Lone Star Conference, Texas A&M International University women’s soccer goalkeeper Alicia Huerta, of Laredo, said she was taken by surprise when it was announced. In her first collegiate start, she received the LSC Goalkeeper of the Week honor. “It took me by surprise,” she recalled. “It has always been one of my goals to be recognized. It was especially shocking because it was my first debut. Overall, I’m very grateful because the team and the c...

12Feb

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Men's Basketball, Sports

A court 7,000 miles long

A court 7,000 miles long By Cesar NeiraBridge Contributing WriterPublished Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 Being a student athlete poses the challenge of having to balance studies with athletic responsibilities. Junior Texas A&M International University men’s basketball forward Tom Higgins does all this while being more than 7,000 miles from home. Higgins, a criminal justice major, played basketball for most of his life. Born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, he said his childhood was “great.” “You can go to the beach, mountains, cities in a heartbeat,” Higgins said. “I was lucky enough to experience most aspects of life.” Courtesy TAMIU Sports InformationTAMIU forward Tom Higgins When the opportunity to play for TAMIU came, he and his family grew excited. “It was my goal to pla...

TAMIU women’s cross country makes history

16Nov

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Men's Cross Country, Sports, Women's Cross Country

TAMIU women’s cross country makes history

TAMIU women’s cross country makes history By Bella E. ContrerasBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 For the first time, a TAMIU cross country team competed on the national level as two members of the women’s team and one of the men placed in the top 25. During the 2020 Division II Cross Country All-National Invitational women’s 6K race in Lubbock on Nov. 14, Texas A&M International University senior Abril Escamilla led the Dustdevils at 18th of the 95 runners with 23:15.7. Sophomore Faith Kiprotich placed 20th with a time of 23:21.4. Two other women also competed: senior Karla Resendez, 40th, and freshman Julissa Garza, 73rd. For the men’s 10K race, freshman Gideon Kipon took 19th place and junior Nicholas Martinez took 55th. This was a historical...

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