By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
The Port Isabel Tarpons 7on7 squad had a great season competing this summer against numerous Rio Grande Valley teams. The team looked sharp and won more than their share of games, even against some of the bigger schools in the area.
After honing their skills during the summer, the team captured their State Qualifying Tournament championship to earn a berth in the Texas State 7-on-7 Division II Tournament. Unfortunately, their return to the state tournament did not go as well as they had hoped for.
In Pool Play, the Tarpons lost to Sweetwater 40-6 in their first game. Then in game two, they lost to Hitchcock 35-13. They closed out the day with a loss to Pilot Point, 26-19.
After seeding was set by Pool Play results, the Tarpons were set to face #1 seed Stephenville on the following day. After a grueling battle, their season came to an end with a 32-18 loss to the Yellow Jackets.
Head coach, Felix Bennett enjoyed his first season coaching the team. “I am beyond Proud of the boys. They started this season not knowing what to expect. Hard work, and a determined group of boys allowed them to make it to College Station for the 2nd year in a row.” Said Bennett. “The tournament was awesome! There was great competition and the boys rose to the occasion time after time. Not just at the tournament but ever since we started playing here in the valley. These boys have a lot of talent. They proved they can throw and catch with the he best of them. l am excited to see them carry this into the regular (football) season.”
As summer competition ends for some, for others it continues.
Last week, siblings D’Anthony and Jayda Howard competed against the best athletes in the region at the AAU Region 19 Championships.
Competing in the 8 & Under division, D. Howard captured the regional championship in the Shot Put event with a personal-best throw of 24’-6.25”. He also took the top spot in the Javelin throw with a distance of 58’-5” and marks the first time D. Howard will advance to the Junior Olympics in both events.
Sibling J. Howard, who is on her fourth year competing in summer track, was also crowned a double champion and will be headed to the Junior Olympics as well. Competing in the Discus event, J. Howard outthrew the competition with a whopping throw of 94’-4”. She also beat out the competition in the Shot Put with a throw of 36’-7.75”, setting a new personal best.
The AAU Junior Olympics will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, running from July 29 to August 8, 2026.