March 5, 2015

Volume 71, No. 21 March 5, 2015

Page 4Final homecoming as UTPA

The last stampede

panamericanonline.com

ONLINE CONTENT

Tokyo Ghoul

Anime Blog

Medical schooltakes step toward

accreditation

FESTIBA

Daily coverage

STORY ON PAGE 7

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utbcollegian.com

Spring Break

Events for South Padre Island

Adrian Castillo/ The Pan American

March 5, 20152 opinion

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ediTors-in-chief: Andrew VeraMay Ortega sPorTs ediTor: Marco TorresarTs & Life ediTor: Nerio CelayaPhoTograPhy ediTor: Jon Nutt design ediTor: Alicia Rangel muLTimedia ediTor: Michael AguilarsociaL media ediTor: Nathaniel MatacoPy ediTor: Andy De Llano adviser:Dr. Greg SelberadminisTraTive associaTe: Anita Reyes adverTising manager: Verónica RodríguezWebmasTer: Sharath Kumar Aitha

In 1997 he became the youngest competitor to reach the No. 1 spot at age 22, in Professional Golf Association history. Ratings were through the roof for the world’s best and most intruiging golfer. Now, almost 20 years since his pro-fessional debut August 1996, Eldrick “Tiger” Woods is almost irrelevant.

According to Tigerwoods.com he has won 105 tourna-ments since 1996, 79 during the PGA Tour. Along the way he became the first golfer to hold all four professional major championships at the same time. Since turning professional there has been no golfer more known or more popular than Tiger Woods. Through 2013 he won $109,504,139 on the PGA tour and $132,349,133 worldwide.

But Woods was limited in nine events during the 2013-14 season due to a recurring

back injury. In early February, he withdrew from competition due to injuries for the sixth time since 2010. He has had a long list of problems with his Achilies Tendon, knee and back, which have prevented him from sur-passing the great Jack Nicklaus in all-time major victories.

As Woods has faltered, the game itself has as well. Last year the U.S. Open had a broad-cast rating of 3.3 which is a 35 percent decrease from the same event in 2011, according to Aus-tin Karp, assistant managing ed-itor of the Sports Business Daily.

As of now Woods is taking an indefinite leave from the game due to his health, saying that his game is not up to his standards. He has also expressed the desire to spend time with his children.

Before his recurring injuries, according to ESPN.com, golf ratings from January 2007 to December 2009 there were 21 instances where golf telecasts

drew a rating of 4.00 or better and Woods was involved in ev-ery one of them. In 2009 alone, 19 tourney ratings were 3.00 or higher; Woods played 17 of them. His popularity was unri-valed.

Woods has been on his downslope since the mid 2000s and so has the sport.

But golf is at an all-time low for ratings. The owners of vari-ous companies suggested that golf should be reinvented and representatives are pushing to change the sport and increase participation. Golf has been trying new ways to get younger generations involved in the sport.

Ideas to increase t h e popu-l a r -ity of the sport are be-ing pushed by Adidas

and TaylorMade, as of increasing the size of the hole to 15 inches in diameter, which is currently 4 ¼ inches, and trying to popularize foot golf, a version of the sport in which a soccer ball is used instead of a golf ball.

These techniques are meant to speed up the game and lower scores, which they be-lieve will bring in newcomers.

At age 39, Woods has four

majors victories behind the all-time leader, Nicklaus. The question is not whether he will surpass Nicklaus, but if he can even compete with current golf-ers like Rory Mcilroy, who is currently No. 1 in the world. The question is: will golf be the same without a person like the Tiger Woods of old?

Marco TorresSports Editor

Is golf done without Eldrick “Tiger” Woods?

Students playing football as they kill time before their next class on the quad March 4.

Juanita Renée Rivas/ The Pan American

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Before his recurring injuries, ac-cording to ESPN.com, golf ratings from January 2007 to December

2009 there were 21 instances where golf telecasts drew a rating of 4.00 or better and Woods was involved in every one of them.

3news March 5, 2015

More than half of Texans, 59 percent to be precise, believe all undocumented individuals should be deported, according to a Texas Tribune poll cited by its CEO and editor-in-chief, Evan Smith.

This was his opening state-ment as moderator at “Immigra-

tion: The Next Five Years” at the University of Texas at Brownsville’s Student

Union Feb. 27. The school hosted the Tribune’s second installment of a series of statewide discussions on various major topics. The im-migration event was set in Brownsville due to its proximity to the U.S.-

Mexico border, according to Smith.

The discussion was held by a panel of four individuals: Chair of UTB’s Government De-partment Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera; Sen.

Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville; his son Sen. Eddie Lucio III, D-Harlingen; and Rio Grande City Mayor Rubén Villarreal. There was also an audience of 200 in attendance.

The hour-long discussion pertained to President Barack Obama’s November 2014 ex-ecutive order on immigration, the economic impact that de-

porting more than 11 million undocumented persons would have on the country and the condition of border security, among other issues.

Smith had a series of poll re-sults and questions ready for the panelists, including how each speaker believed extended assis-tance from the National Guard would help with future security. Lucio Jr. said he supports Gov. Greg Abbott’s belief that beefing up the presence of state police and National Guard forces has improved local safety and their presence keeps it that way.

For seven years, Villarreal has been in charge of a city that sits right on the border in Starr County. He explained that in an effort to decrease unlawful en-trances into the country and to eradicate other illegal activity, se-curity forces have been stationed “every 2, 2 ½ miles,” in Rio Grande City. He provided in-formation on how the additional help has improved safety in the town, citing a decrease in reckless driving cases from 199 in 2013

to 80 the following year. Howev-er, he saved “the most impressive number” for last.

“(In) January of 2014 … we confiscated 7,600 pounds of marijuana. In January 2015, 695 pounds of marijuana (were) seized,” he said. “I can give you practical numbers but the sense that (Lucio Jr.) says about safety is absolutely true. It works.”

Correa-Cabrera, however, be-lieves government funding for increased security is not being allocated in the right ways, and she finds it “worrisome.” She cited a February 2013 report by the Congressional Research Service which found there is no single, quantitative method to measure a score on border secu-rity enforcement.

“You’re throwing out money, what is your objective? Are you complying with your objec-tive?” she said to Smith. “DPS reports say that for the past four years, the border is secure. You’re throwing out money, multiplying your money and you still have a problem … then it’s a matter of competency. Your authorities are not competent, that’s why you’re throwing out money and your border isn’t secure.”

Another subject Smith touched on was how undocu-mented immigrants affect the nation’s labor pool. Earlier in the conversation, Lucio III stated that undocumented individuals make up 6 percent of the U.S. workforce before alluding to the struggles DREAMers may face in their mission to become “produc-tive members” of American soci-ety. These are people who came to the U.S. at a young age and attended school in the country as well. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would have granted some of them citizenship, but it has failed to pass in Congress several times since 2001.

In addition, Smith called the subject of in-state tuition for un-documented students a “hot but-ton issue” among Texans with 42 percent in favor and 43 percent against. Lucio III said revoking in-state fees would put college beyond the DREAMers’ reach.

“We live along the border. We have some excellent, high-performing students who are undocumented,” he said. “They are offered scholarships to go all over the country to school, es-pecially since they’re first-time Hispanic college students. They can’t get past the checkpoint to go to those schools. They have to remain local. We have great

alternatives to that, but there’s so many barri-ers for these students already.”

He went on to explain how mak-ing progress when it comes to immigra-tion is “tough” on a large scale, so any further action would require small steps. The Harlingen senator’s father, Lucio Jr., said immigra-tion reform presents obstacles for lawmakers and undocumented resi-dents alike. He filed Sen-ate Bill 838 the morning of the event to strengthen the right departments in the future.

“It requires the Office of Im-migration and Refugee Affairs to work with the Secretary of State and statutorily designates the Secretary as the office’s co-ordinator. It improves the effec-tiveness of the office by requir-ing it to apply for the maximum amount of federal funds for use in assisting state agencies, local government, nonprofit organi-zations and faith-based organi-zations in addressing immigra-tion-related matters,” he said. “And it maximizes the opportu-nity for Texas to receive federal assistance by requiring the office to seek reimbursement from the federal government for any costs incurred by state agencies, local government, nonprofit organi-zations and faith-based organi-zations in addressing immigra-tion-related matters.”

He said the bill’s purpose is to provide the state with additional funds to avoid another humani-tarian crisis. It is also meant to improve the structure on how immigrant-related issues are han-dled. Its progress in the Senate is currently at 25 percent while pending review.

Mayor Villarreal said having good structure when it comes to immigration is key, adding that saving lives is of utmost importance. F i n d i n g d row n e d i m m i -grants in the Rio G r a n d e R i v e r , which sits less than a mile from parts of Rio Grande City, is a c o m m o n

ending to the immigrant search for what he called the “land of milk and honey.”

“I think that the process (as a whole) needs to be reformed. We need an immigration policy that is made by Congress, that way it has the strength of law,” he said. “And even if it’s done piecemeal, but make it in one piece of legis-lation where you don’t have to be waiting and guessing to see what the next cycle of politics is going to look like.”

The session wrapped up with panelists taking questions from the audience after discussing whether the terms “illegal,” “un-authorized,” or “undocument-ed” are appropriate to apply to such people.

“We’re talking about human beings … (with) heartbeats. When you’re talking about some-one who came here at six months to be a great person … and his whole life he’s been labeled as ‘illegal’ and he goes to school with that mentality, what is his confidence going to be?” Lucio III said. “Let’s talk about them as human beings and let’s use the word ‘undocumented.’”

DISCUSSING IMMIGRATION Texas Tribune hosts current issues forum at UTB

By May OrtegaThe Pan American

Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American

THE PAN AMERICAN THE PAN AMERICAN March 5, 2015 March 5, 2015 Page 5Page 4

UTPA is holding the ninth annual Festival of In-ternational Books and Arts March 2-9 with the theme “Entre Dos Mundos: Unit-ing Communities through Arts and Literacy.”

FESTIBA 2015’s theme coincides with the monu-mental changes to be seen in the near future: the creation of UTRGV as well as the addition of a new school of medicine which will be located on the Ed-inburg campus. The event will explore how leaders in arts and literature are key in uniting the South Texas region and elevating the quality of life in the local community.

The week long Festival was preceded with multiple

exhibits such as “Smithson-ian Journey Stories” which began Feb. 17 and contin-ues through FESTIBA. The exhibit tells of what it was like to be mobile from colonial to modern times in America.

Led by Dahlia Guerra, dean of the College of Arts and Hu-manities, the fes-tivities are made to celebrate creativity and promote literacy, being that the Rio Grande Valley has a low literacy rate. Only 50 percent of adults were English liter-ate in Hidalgo

County as of 2013, accord-ing to Valley Central.com.

The week’s activities lead up to GEAR UP Days, or Gaining Early Awareness

and Readiness for Under-graduate Programs, March 5 at the UTPA Campus as well as the Texas Book Fair March 6. Both events

epitomize the core values of

FES-TIBA

by first inviting

GEAR UP students from all over South Texas to participate in presentations that illustrate how they can turn their pas-sion for art into a lifelong sustain-able profession.

The Texas Book Fair will engage elemen-tary school stu-

dents from Berta Palacios Elementary, E.B. Guerra Elementary, Emiliano Za-pata Elementary, Robert E. Lee Elementary and Wood-row Wilson Elementary schools through a literacy program where authors across the country such as Carlyne Dee Flores, Laura Lacamara and Libby Marti-nez will present their work to local economically disad-vantaged public schools.

With an expected turn-out of more than 7,000 people throughout the eight days, FESTIBA is alive and will continue to be so as UTRGV becomes its own entity.

By Nerio CelayaThe Pan American

FESTIBAUTPA’s annual celebration of art and literacy

This year’s Homecoming comes as a bittersweet celebration for the UTPA community as they enjoy the final se-mester as the Broncs before becoming UTRGV in the fall 2015 semester. Homecoming, an annual tradition for UTPA since 1963, kicked off Feb. 22 this year with “Color Me Bronc,” a window painting contest where stu-dent organizations compete for prizes by painting the windows around the Student Union. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transexual Alliance came in first place with their window, which featured a Bronc with a rainbow-

colored mane, and won $150 for spending at the Bronc Dining Hall. Later in the week the Homecoming Parade and Spirit Rally took place in the quad where students and orga-nizations marched around campus cheering and dancing to the sounds of UTPA’s pep band. Finally, the week-long event came to a conclusion with the tailgate and barbecue contest be-fore the Bronc mens basketball game, which was postponed due to incli-mate weather Feb. 28.

Photos by Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American

UTPA’s Homecoming 2015 is last before UTRGVBy Jon NuttThe Pan American

Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American

THE PAN AMERICAN THE PAN AMERICAN March 5, 2015 March 5, 2015 Page 5Page 4

UTPA is holding the ninth annual Festival of In-ternational Books and Arts March 2-9 with the theme “Entre Dos Mundos: Unit-ing Communities through Arts and Literacy.”

FESTIBA 2015’s theme coincides with the monu-mental changes to be seen in the near future: the creation of UTRGV as well as the addition of a new school of medicine which will be located on the Ed-inburg campus. The event will explore how leaders in arts and literature are key in uniting the South Texas region and elevating the quality of life in the local community.

The week long Festival was preceded with multiple

exhibits such as “Smithson-ian Journey Stories” which began Feb. 17 and contin-ues through FESTIBA. The exhibit tells of what it was like to be mobile from colonial to modern times in America.

Led by Dahlia Guerra, dean of the College of Arts and Hu-manities, the fes-tivities are made to celebrate creativity and promote literacy, being that the Rio Grande Valley has a low literacy rate. Only 50 percent of adults were English liter-ate in Hidalgo

County as of 2013, accord-ing to Valley Central.com.

The week’s activities lead up to GEAR UP Days, or Gaining Early Awareness

and Readiness for Under-graduate Programs, March 5 at the UTPA Campus as well as the Texas Book Fair March 6. Both events

epitomize the core values of

FES-TIBA

by first inviting

GEAR UP students from all over South Texas to participate in presentations that illustrate how they can turn their pas-sion for art into a lifelong sustain-able profession.

The Texas Book Fair will engage elemen-tary school stu-

dents from Berta Palacios Elementary, E.B. Guerra Elementary, Emiliano Za-pata Elementary, Robert E. Lee Elementary and Wood-row Wilson Elementary schools through a literacy program where authors across the country such as Carlyne Dee Flores, Laura Lacamara and Libby Marti-nez will present their work to local economically disad-vantaged public schools.

With an expected turn-out of more than 7,000 people throughout the eight days, FESTIBA is alive and will continue to be so as UTRGV becomes its own entity.

By Nerio CelayaThe Pan American

FESTIBAUTPA’s annual celebration of art and literacy

This year’s Homecoming comes as a bittersweet celebration for the UTPA community as they enjoy the final se-mester as the Broncs before becoming UTRGV in the fall 2015 semester. Homecoming, an annual tradition for UTPA since 1963, kicked off Feb. 22 this year with “Color Me Bronc,” a window painting contest where stu-dent organizations compete for prizes by painting the windows around the Student Union. The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transexual Alliance came in first place with their window, which featured a Bronc with a rainbow-

colored mane, and won $150 for spending at the Bronc Dining Hall. Later in the week the Homecoming Parade and Spirit Rally took place in the quad where students and orga-nizations marched around campus cheering and dancing to the sounds of UTPA’s pep band. Finally, the week-long event came to a conclusion with the tailgate and barbecue contest be-fore the Bronc mens basketball game, which was postponed due to incli-mate weather Feb. 28.

Photos by Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American

UTPA’s Homecoming 2015 is last before UTRGVBy Jon NuttThe Pan American

Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American

March 5, 20156

By Ena CapucionThe Pan American

arts & life

Former Marine Bonnie Tis-dale served two seven-month tours in Iraq in 2007 and an-other in Afghanistan in 2010. After leaving the Marine Corps in 2012, she returned to the Rio Grande Valley to pursue a de-gree in nursing at UTPA. Now a senior, she is going through a different kind of boot camp.

Tisdale is currently partici-pating in H-E-B’s annual Slim Down Showdown, a competi-tion that encourages healthy weight loss and a more benefi-cial lifestyle. From training in Fit Camp to cooking in culi-nary school, the 2002 La Joya High School graduate is work-ing her way back to the health and fitness of a Marine.

Before the showdown and college life, Tisdale pledged her loyalty to the Marines. She was 9 years old when she decided to dedicate herself to becoming a Marine after she saw her cousin in his dress blues, or uniform. Throughout her time in the U.S. Marine Corps, she felt that comrades became her fam-ily and that life as a Marine was humbling.

“I miss (the Marines) every day,” the 30-year-old said. “I miss my friends. We drive each other crazy, but nobody’s going to have my back like a Marine. We would die for each other. I miss being a part of something bigger than myself. There’s no better feeling in the world than being a Marine. You have the respect of a nation. It’s some-

thing you’ve earned and no one will ever be able to take that away from you.”

During her 2010 tour in Af-ghanistan, Tisdale realized what she wanted to pursue at UTPA. A fellow Marine stepped on a 38-pound explosive device and she remained by his bedside for five hours.

“He had his left leg and his testicles amputated,” the nurs-ing major said. “He was basi-cally on his death bed. I sang to him and cleaned the sweat off his brow. No one thought he was going to make it. But fast forward five years later and I found him on Facebook and he has a little girl who’s 2 years old.”

While Tisdale’s primary fo-cus as a nursing major is to help people, she’s also taking the initiative to live a healthier lifestyle.

THE SHOWDOWNAccording to Tisdale’s biog-

raphy on H-E-B’s Slim Down Showdown website, she said that one of two things happen when you leave the military: you get fit or you gain weight. Since she left the Marine Corps to pursue her education, the 5 foot 6 inch McAllen native gained an additional 80 pounds, now weighs 230 pounds.

The former Marine is one of 15 contestants in the state of Texas participating in H-E-B’s fifth annual Slim Down Show-down, which began in January. Tisdale was encouraged by her best friend of 24 years, Andie

Gonzalez, to enter the compe-tition.

“(Andie) is a registered dieti-tian who works for H-E-B and she posted an application on her Facebook page open to any-body who wanted to apply,” the journalism minor said. “(She) told me that the support system was great and that I’d learn so much. I had all of these doubts when I sent in the application, but now I’m one of 15 out of about 5,000 applicants.”

The Showdown is a 16-week long journey that began Jan. 18 and is designed to provide com-petitors the education and tools with which to live a healthier lifestyle. The grand prize win-ner will receive $10,000 based on performance in three catego-ries: health screening improve-ment, online engagement with the community and overall participation. The contestant with the most improvement in health will receive $5,000.

H-E-B and its sponsors equipped Tisdale with her own personal registered dietician, a health coach, a one-year mem-bership to Gold’s Gym, custom running shoes known as Brooks from Fleet Feet and a FitBit One bracelet, an accessory that keeps track of physical activity and sleep quality.

Not only did H-E-B supply her with gear, but reps from the company took Tisdale to San Antonio Jan. 5 to partici-pate in Fit Camp, a five-day event where the participants were educated about nutrition, physical activity and weight

management. During the camp, Tisdale and the other competi-tors attended H-E-B’s Culinary School where they learned to cook healthy dishes like center cut sirloin roast and spicy pork with pasta and green beans.

The competition’s grand fi-nale will take place May 9 at the H-E-B Health & Wellness Expo in San Antonio. Two winners will be revealed fol-lowed by the contestants walk-ing down a runway to reveal their new looks to family and friends. While Tisdale is aiming for the grand prize to help with her education, she understands that regardless of winning, she’s a living testimony for others that have struggled with their weight.

“It’s not just about weight loss. It’s about an overall bal-ance: mind, body and spirit,” she said. “And don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s a slow process. I know we want results fast, but you really have to be patient. And you need the support sys-tem because there’s going to be temptation everywhere and when you fall you’re going to need to have that. You can do it. I know it’s hard, but it’s worth it.”

Once the showdown ends Tisdale said she will be con-tinuing her healthy lifestyle and preparing for the half marathon at South Padre Island Nov. 14. During July the future nurse will also reunite with Michael Gonzales and his family, the former Marine that clung to life with Tisdale by his side.

A Marine’s odysseyUTPA student recalls journey to Showdown

Alicia Rangel/ The Pan American

EVENT CALENDARMarch 5 - 8

Borderfest 2015 McAllen Art Walk Truck & Car Show + Tattoo Expo

Burger Revolution Cyclonia South Padre Free F i lm Screening

One-day advanced tick-ets are $8, available at Stripes stores in Hidalgo County. Guest artists in-clude Pierce the Veil and Sleeping with Sirens.

Time: 5 p.m. - MidnightPlace: State Farm Arena, Hidalgo

Arts and crafts, vendors and the live outdoor music series. There is music af-ter hours as well. Free and open to the public.

SPI to host car & truck show with tattoo expo.

Pazuzu, Winter Texan, The Cycles and more perform.

Free admission and pop-corn for a different film every week.

Time: 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Time: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Time: 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. Time: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Time: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.Place: Archer Park, Main Street, McAllen

Place: SPI Convention Center

Place: Thirsty Monkey, McAllen

Place: Padre Blvd, SPI

Place: Cine El Rey, McAllen

Padre Boulevard will be-come a Car-free space for families to bike, walk, run and play.

March 6 March 9March 7 - 8March 7 - 8 March 10

Until last weekend, Bronc baseball hadn’t swept a sea-son series against Lamar Uni-versity since 1988, but that was not the only milestone achieved recently. UTPA’s final 11-8 come-from-behind win over Lamar University Feb. 28 marked the 600th win for Head Coach Manny Mantrana in his college coaching career. He kept things business as usual after the sweep.

When asked about the 600-win accomplishment, the Bronc coach of seven years was quick to shift the praise to his athletes and assistants.

“At the end of the day it’s all about the players. If you get good players and put them in a good system you’re going to be successful,” said Mantrana who has led the program since 2009. “I’ve been very blessed throughout my career to have very good players and really, really good assistant coaches. My thought is that you do the best you can, you try to do things the right way and the

wins will come along.”And the wins have come,

following Mantrana wherever he has gone. The game after his 600th win was Sunday’s fi-nale against Lamar where the Broncs earned a sweep and the team’s sixth straight home triumph. The 6-4 victory also counted for Mantrana’s 150th win in a Bronc uniform. His first 11 years of coaching were spent at Saint Thomas Univer-sity in Miami Gardens, Fla. He said getting to number 600 in UTPA colors was special be-cause of the legacy left before him. He gave his respect to the winningest Bronc in program history.

“I couldn’t think of a bet-ter place because this is where Coach Al (Ogletree) spent most of his career,” Mantrana said. “He did such a wonderful job. It’s humbling to know I’m wearing the same uniform. It’s a great treat for me to be able to coach his Broncs.”

Ogletree led UTPA to 1,084 wins in his 29 years in charge of UTPA baseball through 1997. The Al Ogletree Clas-sic, is held annually to honor

his time. Plans were also an-nounced Feb. 27 to build the Coach Al and Joann Ogletree Plaza in front of the main en-trance to the Edinburg Base-ball Stadium. It will be named after the famed coach and his late wife. Last weekend, Ogle-tree was named a Presidential Pillar of UTPA for all he con-tributed to the program and school.

On the current coaching staff, assistant coach and re-cruiting director Norberto Lo-pez has been a part of Bronc baseball as long as Mantrana. Lopez added that the head coach’s success is not limited to what happens on the baseball diamond.

“You don’t say what (Man-

trana’s) longevity is because of his wins; it’s because of the person he is,” Lopez said after the series. “He’s going to do things right and when you do things right, the wins are go-ing to come. That’s why I’ve seen progress every year. It’s not about the results or perfec-tion. It’s about progress. That’s what we’ve been doing every year, having progress. I believe

it’s because of the vision (Man-trana) has.”

This year UTPA’s running start of 8-3 overall has been led by a strong showing from young student-athletes. Fresh-man designated hitter Manny Loredo, McAllen Memorial High School graduate is hit-ting .400 with seven RBI.

Freshman pitchers Ryan Jack-son, graduate of Nikki Rowe High School in McAllen and Corpus Christi Calallen’s Rob-ert Quinonez have both earned wins in their home starts. Sophomore business adminis-tration major Andrew Padron, also from Nikki Rowe High School has earned six saves in nine appearances as well as a win in his new role as closer.

Lopez said the responsibil-ity given to young players is a reflection of Mantrana’s trust.

“He preaches mental tough-ness and he doesn’t care if you’re a freshman or a senior,” said Lopez, a 1999 draft pick of the Anaheim Angels after a career at Nova Southeastern University. “I’ve seen what coach does in our practices and he really pushes them to be mentally tough and focus on the process and not the result. I think that’s why (the young players) are doing so good. At this level everyone has talented young freshmen, but what are you stressing in practice?”

With only five seniors on the roster, redshirt sophomore Jacob Huckabay is already

stepping into a leadership role as the everyday catcher. He pointed toward winning at home as a key to making the season in which Mantrana reached 600 wins.

“It’s huge getting these first few going,” the kinesiology major said. “Until (Western Athletic Conference) games start you definitely want to start at home with these wins, trying to get as many as you can. It’s good to get that con-fidence.”

The Broncs will try to keep the confidence going when they travel to No. 11 Texas A&M University for two games against the Aggies March 10 and 11.

The next home match is March 13 when they host Arlington Baptist for a three-game set at the Edinburg Base-ball stadium. The Broncs are currently 8-3 in the season and a perfect 6-0 at home.

March 5, 2015 7sports

You don’t say what (Man-trana’s) longevity is because of his wins; it’s because of

the person he is.- Norberto LopezAssistant coach

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Hot start, Mantrana milestones

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