Sports – Page 9 – The Bridge News

26Oct

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Men's Basketball, Sports, Women's Basketball

Basketball in the time of COVID-19

Basketball in the time of COVID-19 By Troi LucasBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 Uncertainty looms across the Dustdevils basketball court this season. Texas A&M International University athletes were previously told their season will be postponed until Spring 2021. Basketball players, in particular, now deal with a longer pre-season and more protocols due to the effects of COVID-19. The athletes were allowed back on campus on Aug. 24. A select few decided to “opt out” this season. Some chose to focus on school, while others felt uncomfortable with the idea of playing during the pandemic. Men’s sophomore guard Darian Gibson said he finds it difficult to put in the necessary extra work on his own because of the required precautions. “[It’s had a...

26Oct

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Baseball, Sports

Dustdevils baseball rolls with changes

Dustdevils baseball rolls with changes By Nadia HerreraBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 It's been a long and winding road for coach Kevin Griffin and the TAMIU baseball team. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Dustdevils veered in a different direction as they return and prepare for the upcoming season. Last season was cut short after playing only 22 of their 50 scheduled games. "It was frustrating,” Griffin recalls of the spring events. "It happened to everyone, not just us. Everybody got shut down.” He said many sophomores were big contributors to the team and needed the experience to "breakout" and develop but, "It slowed down for those guys.” In terms of eligibility, the NCAA granted players an extra year due to the pandemic and some w...

27Apr

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Baseball, Men's Golf, Softball, Sports

Sports games a no go; TAMIU athletics continue

Sports games a no go; TAMIU athletics continue By David Gomez Jr.Editor-in-chiefPublished Monday, April 27, 2020 Dustdevils athletics ceased games and practices due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that is not stopping the department from continuing to recruit, train and be ready to play at any moment. With Texas A&M International University on lock down, spring sports programs such as golf, baseball and softball were cancelled for the remainder of the semester. That speed bump did not completely stop the work the Athletics Department continues to do on a daily basis. “With the majority of our staff and coaches working from home, our coaches are spending most of their time recruiting over the phone and evaluating video of potential recruits,” Athletics Director Griz Z...

27Apr

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Men's Basketball, Sports

Espinosa reflects on season

Espinosa reflects on season By Julynne da Silva SaBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, April 27, 2020 Coach Jeremy Espinosa took over coaching responsibilities for the men’s basketball team, following the absence of coach Joel Taylor. On the transition from assistant coach to calling the shots, he talks about the challenges he overcame in order to be seen differently by his players. “The biggest challenge was changing the vibe of the team in a positive way,” Espinosa said. “At the same time not being too soft on the players. Creating that balance took time, but now it's at a place where I can have fun with the players off the court and be strictly business once it's time to get to work.” Before he started coaching, Espinosa played junior college ball in Oklahoma an...

20Apr

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Intramurals, Sports

Intramural all-star team faces defeat

Intramural all-star team faces defeat By Cesar NeiraBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, April 20, 2020 Short-handedness contributed to a two-game loss for TAMIU’s recreational men’s basketball team during the intramural all-star tournament. The annual National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association Region IV tournament took place from March 7 to 10. The Recreational Sports Intramural Open Basketball League All-Star team from Texas A&M International University is composed of the best players from the league’s open tournament. TAMIU suffered defeats against Stephen F. Austin and Trinity universities at the all-star event. The team already faced an uphill challenge due to its shorthanded roster of six players. This, along with the team being composed primari...

20Apr

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On Campus, Sports

Division II football team debate

Division II football team debate By Karla JuarezBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, April 20, 2020 Despite its identity as a popular Texan sport, TAMIU is devoid of a football program. After all, Texas is the only state with an NFL team named after the people who live in it: the Texans. Texas A&M International University’s Athletic Department offers most of the major sports one can think of. There’s men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, there’s even a golf team and a cross country team. Nearly every semester, students wonder why TAMIU lacks a football team even though it’s often considered “America’s sport.” While baseball continues to be called “America’s pastime,” football continues to rise in popularity for the pa...

13Apr

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Cheerleading, Dance Team, Sports

National Cheer Association event canceled, converted to online media

National Cheer Association event canceled, converted to online media By Karina MendozaBridge contributing writerPublished Monday, April 13, 2020 This would have been the final countdown before TAMIU’s cheer and dance team took off for Daytona Beach, Florida. The teams were scheduled to compete in the National Cheer Association and National Dance Association Collegiate Championship competition, which was canceled due to the coronavirus. “They’re not getting to compete at all and all practices have been canceled, as well,” assistant coach Rose Troche said. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted from the effects of the coronavirus. As a result, numerous events across the nation became canceled, including many Texas A&M International University functions. “In order to help pre...

12Apr

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Men's Basketball, Sports

Dustdevils fall to Rattlers

Dustdevils fall to RattlersEspinoza: ‘It’s all about heart’ By Angela CarranzaBridge Staff WriterPublished March 30, 2020 The Dustdevils men’s basketball team came up short against the Rattlers on Feb. 8, after losing 70-77 in overtime. Despite losing, the team holds optimism. Texas A&M International University started the game on a high note against St. Mary’s University. The first half of the game was undeniably close with neither team obtaining a two-possession lead. After the intermission, the score between both teams stayed close. Shortly after, the Dustdevils began to build points and took their first lead since the early half with the scoreboard at 43-41 and 12 minutes left in the game. Slowly, they began to build the lead to 60-53 with only 6:44 left to spare. Ma...

11Apr

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Features, Humans of TAMIU, Sports, Women's Golf

Golfer showcases talent on green with every swing

Golfer showcases talent on green with every swing By Gabriella PratherBridge Staff WriterPublished March 30, 2020 At a young age, her life altered when a sport gravitated to her and it changed everything, Natchawan Serisamran, a TAMIU senior golfer. Serisamran majors in psychology and minors in computer science. She is originally from Bangkok, Thailand, and decided to come to Texas A&M International University because of the hot weather Laredo has to offer, so she can play year-round golf. She was introduced to golf by her parents, who were players as well and she decided to give it a shot and play. Since beginning, she found a coach who helped her hone her game her for 12 years. Coach Kitipong Srithongkul said he is one of the top-10 golf coaches in the country. He coa...

11Apr

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Features, Humans of TAMIU, Sports, Volleyball

New Volleyball Coach Joins TAMIU

New volleyball coach joins TAMIU By Itzel LunaBridge Staff WriterPublished March 30, 2020 After a 6-19 overall record for the 2019 volleyball season at Laredo College, Brittany Harry has been named coach of the Dustdevils. Harry comes into TAMIU with 14 years experience. Director of Athletics Griz Zimmermann looks forward to Harry’s addition. “I am confident that the best days of our program are ahead of us, and I believe that Harry is the right person to take us there,” Zimmermann said in an interview with TAMIU athletics. Harry’s last five seasons at Laredo College accumulated an 84-65 record. Before that, she served as volleyball coach at Vincennes University for three seasons; her team took an 88-38 record throughout the seasons. Harry coached four players to All-Reg...

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