Sports – Page 7 – The Bridge News

Putting the backswing into tennis court construction

3Apr

By Staff/GuestNo Comments

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

By Staff/GuestNo Comments

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

By Staff/GuestNo Comments

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...

26Oct

By Staff/GuestNo Comments

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

By Staff/GuestNo Comments

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...

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