High School athletes now need digital presence to get noticed

As competition for talented high school athletes increases, social media is having a bigger impact in helping prospects stand out with college recruiters. Athletes often put together their top films in one video that they make themselves and post them on social media. For others, their families pay marketing businesses to manage digital promotion efforts. “I think it works for the kids who don’t know how to promote themselves through social media or whose families don’t know how to use social media”, says Margie Cortez, a parent and coach. Another option is going the old school way and pay for recruiting services that can be very pricey.

Borderland fishing club reels more desert dwellers into the sport

El Paso’s desert climate is not stopping anglers from finding a local fishing hole in the borderland thanks to the El Paso Texas Fish & Game fishing club. “El Paso is not known for fishing, but there are lots of spots where you can go cast a line and catch some fish,” said El Paso Texas Fish & Game founder Pete Chavez. What started off as a simple Facebook group for locals interested in fishing, has turned into one of El Paso’s most well-known fishing organizations. El Paso Texas Fish & Game brings together men and women, anglers, not only to enjoy fishing in canals, rivers, and lakes around the borderland, but to also give back to the community. “We are in a desert, but there are a lot of us out here who love fishing and the acknowledgement for what we do makes us love what do even more,” Chavez said.

The Kentucky Derby has a secret Latino history

By E. Gabrielle Kuenzli, University of South Carolina
This Triple Crown season, which opens on May 4 with the Kentucky Derby, horses with Latin American bloodlines are among the top favorites. Two 2019 derby contenders – Vekoma and Game Winner – are half brothers and the offspring of Candy Ride, one of Argentina’s most famous thoroughbreds. Now retired, Candy Ride shares his winning genes freely – well, for a stud fee of US$80,000 – at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky. That two top Derby contenders have their roots in Latin America is no surprise for those who study, as I do, the history of the sport. Many past Kentucky Derby champions hailed from the region – as have their trainers, owners and jockeys.

Motocross: Un deporte extremo pero popular entre jóvenes

Considerado un deporte peligroso e impactante, el motocross consiste de carreras de motociclismo en donde los pilotos realizan trucos en el aire a altas velocidades. Con una combinación de obstáculos de terreno, curvas extremas y una superficie de tierra mojada, los pilotos necesitan tener destreza, resistencia y fortaleza para coronarse como campeón. A pesar de ser considerado un deporte extremo y de alto riesgo, últimamente el deporte se ha convertido en uno de los favoritos de chicos y grandes en el condado de El Paso. Desde hace ocho años existen tres lugares al este de la ciudad en donde se puede practicar motocross. “Hay riesgos en toda la vida, y este es un [deporte] que a mucha gente le gusta”, dijo el propietario de XMotoball Gabriel Gaytan.

El Paso’s Segundo Barrio Futbol Club scores U.S. Soccer Foundation award for impact

The U.S. Soccer Foundation this week honored an El Paso program based in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods for making a difference in sports-based youth development. The Segundo Barrio Futbol Club was presented the 2019 Urban Soccer Symposium Award for Impact at the foundation’s 13th annual Urban Soccer Symposium March 18 in Washington, D.C. Awards for organizations or individuals were presented in three categories: influence, innovation, and impact. Related: Love of Segundo Barrio leads Englishman to form soccer club

“It is with great pleasure that we present the third annual Urban Soccer Symposium Awards to We Can Kick It, Segundo Barrio FC, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel,” Ed Foster-Simeon, President and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation said in a press release. “It is because of the innovations of organizations and individuals like these that we continue to grow as a community and, in turn, are able to positively impact more and more young lives through sport.”

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel received the 2019 Influence Award, which was awarded to an individual holding public office who has leveraged his or her position to support, advocate for, and champion sports-based youth development efforts in underserved communities. We Can Kick It received the 2019 Innovation Award for using soccer as a tool to inspire and empower children and their families affected by cancer. 

Segundo Barrio FC received the Impact Award for its work using soccer as a tool for social change by developing programs that foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth in the El Paso, Texas neighborhood, Segundo Barrio. Founded in 2011, Segundo Barrio FC is a volunteer-run organization and started with just one team.

Las malas condiciones de los campos de fútbol en El Paso afectan la práctica del deporte

Con el crecimiento de ligas amateur de fútbol en El Paso, también hay una creciente preocupación entre jugadores y entrenadores respecto a las malas condiciones de los campos en los que se practica este deporte. “Hay muchos campos que si están en mal estado y los jugadores corren muchos riesgos, sobre todo los jugadores que trabajan, tienen su familia, chavos que juegan en la escuela”, dijo Joel García, de 36 años, entrenador y jugador de fútbol en la liga Del Valle Soccer League. “Y, sí, es muy riesgoso jugar en esos campos.” Esta es parte de la razón por la que varias de las ligas amateur locales, requieren que sus jugadores sean mayores de edad. Estas ligas estan conformadas por 18 a 22 equipos, cada uno con un promedio de 15 jugadores.

UTEP legends honored as women’s basketball team celebrates 45th anniversary

Sporting a Miners long-sleeve navy T-shirt and a matching cap, Gloria Estrada – a member of the first UTEP women’s basketball team – stepped foot on the court in Memorial Gym where she once stood more than four decades ago. “It brings back so many memories,” Estrada said as she looked around the gym. Estrada – now a member of the UTEP and El Paso Sports Halls of Fame – was one of the founding members of the UTEP women’s basketball team. Little did she know, that as a young woman from the farming community of Fabens, Texas, she would leave her mark in UTEP history and pave the way for young women just like her. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the founding of the women’s basketball team.

Boxing champion Jennifer Han fights for equality in prize money payouts

El Paso is a boxing mad city. It always has been. The Sun City has hosted great boxers like Erik Morales, Fernando Vargas and Oscar De La Hoya over the years. But, El Paso has only ever had one world champion to call its own. Recently, IBF World Featherweight Champion Jennifer Han (17-3-1, 1 KO) won her seventh fight in a row – her sixth successful title defense.

Wrestling takes Sin Cara from El Paso’s Segundo Barrio to WWE stardom

 El Pasoan Jorge Arias has been called by many names. The name the masked professional wrestler goes by now is Sin Cara, or without face in English. Before he was able to settle on his current moniker, there was Mistico – his original masked luchador persona that attained a measure of fame across Mexico in the early 2000’s that seemed downright meteoric. Then there was Mistico and Mistico de Juarez following the first of many harsh professional wrestling lessons for then 27-year-old Arias. While working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (Consejo) in Mexico City, the company trademarked the name Mistico, meaning that the only name that Arias had ever wrestled under, the name that he created – “Mystic of a religious nature” – was no longer his.

Youth football injuries can stay with children well after wins and losses

As a football player, Ed Stansbury led El Paso’s Irvin High School to four district championships, was named MVP by the El Paso Times and the El Paso Herald-Post, won a bowl game with UCLA and then went on to play three years in the NFL for the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks. But he said if he had the choice to do it all over again and relive his glory days on the field, he probably wouldn’t. “I’ve been 10 years away from football, but it’s now that I’m feeling all the effects,” Stansbury said. “I read about the symptoms that I’m suffering from now—loss of memory, short-term memory, things aren’t coming to me as quick anymore and I blank out sometimes.”

Now, Stansbury is the director of operations for the Greater El Paso Football Showcase, where he gives speeches to El Paso football players and helps them along the way in their careers. He also provides expert analysis for high school football on KTSM Channel 9’s Overtime show.

Broken records highlight Michael Saruni’s early track career

The 2018 indoor campaign was a breakout season for UTEP distance runner Michael Saruni. As a sophomore, the Kenya native has a national title and has broken several facility, school, and world records. “I prepare well and focus every time out. Nothing to fear just go for it,” Saruni said. “I have nothing to complain about, it’s been great.

El Paso basketball brothers scoring a lot of college teams’ interest

Just a few years after turning out two future NFL players who were brothers, an El Paso high school is gaining attention from college basketball scouts looking at another set of standout siblings. Burges High School basketball players Jawaun and Tristen Newton are the talk of the town and also with college coaches as they are hot prospects for Division I teams.

When the Newtons started playing for the Mustangs together, they finished 86-11 in their career – a whopping 90 percent winning percentage – and have won several district titles and have reached back-to-back regional tournaments. Jawaun, who is 6’3″ is a senior and Tristen, who is one year younger, is a 6’4″ junior. The brothers began playing together on the varsity squad in 2015. Burges was known as a football school prior to the Newton brothers’ arrival.

UTEP’s pride, Will Hernandez, readies for NFL Combine

Despite UTEP’s first winless season, there’s been one constant bright spot—former offensive lineman Will Hernandez. After showing what Hernandez can do with the nation’s best seniors at 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl, the back-to-back All-American received an invite to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to compete at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. The combine will run from March 2 to March 5. Offensive lineman workouts will be on the first day of the Combine on March 2. All the action can be caught live on the NFL Network.

New dance team the Coyote Girls brings new pro dance opportunity to El Paso

The city of El Paso welcomes a new professional-level dance platform known as the El Paso Coyote Girls, the official dance team of the El Paso Coyotes soccer team. For dancers all around the community, the addition of the new team brings more opportunities for local dancers who aspire to perform on for a large audience and engage in community outreach. The women are not paid for their work. The Coyote Girls debuted the team on Nov. 4 at the home-opener match against the Dallas Sidekicks, where the El Paso Coyotes fell 14-7 at the El Paso County Coliseum.

El Paso’s new arena soccer team ready to start season

EL PASO – This Texas city will soon have another professional sports team, the El Paso Coyotes. This time the opportunity will be for an arena soccer team from the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), an international league for the United States and Mexico. Founded in 2008, the MASL has 21 teams. The El Paso Coyotes inaugural season officially starts on Saturday October 29th when they travel to Allen, Texas to face the Dallas Sidekicks. Their first home game is November 9, when the Dallas Sidekicks travel to the El Paso. The Coyotes will play in the 5,250-seat El Paso County Coliseum, 4100 East Paisano, in the South Central area.

San Diego Padres’ Mexico, borderlands strategy fitting well with El Paso Chihuahuas

The San Diego Padres are aiming to appeal not just to San Diego crowds, but also to fans in Mexico and border cities. With TV and radio broadcast deals in Tijuana. and playing two games in Mexico earlier this year, the Padres traveled to El Paso and faced their minor league affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, to bring the major league experience to the border. The Padres were just coming off from playing two games against the Houston Astros in Mexico City before coming to El Paso March 31. The idea ended up being a successful attempt to expand on the relationship Major League Baseball has with Mexico.

5 routes bicycle riders should try around Ciudad Juarez

Although cycling is not one of the most popular of sports in the Ciudad Juarez area (not even close to being one), there are great spaces in this border community for people to go out on their bikes and have a good time. Whether just for pleasure or as a way to train for a cycling race, our Mexican sister city has different zones where this sport, for both road and mountain bikes, can be practiced on a daily or regular basis. Here are five places in or near Juarez for a cycling enthusiast. Valle de Juárez

According to cyclist Juan Carlos Salayandia, Valle de Juárez is a 90 kilometer route that cyclists can really enjoy due to the great views, especially with the green landscapes abound during the spring and summer. Dunas de Samalayuca

This is a mountain bike training trail.

Jugger – the battle sport inspired by a B-movie – attracts friendly warriors

The referee stands in the middle of the field and signals both teams to get ready. “Three …Two …One… jugger!” The teams run at each other, brandishing their weapons like medieval warriors. In fact, this is not very different from a battle from the Middle Ages; just add a little rugby, hockey, fencing and martial arts. But before the battle both teams gathered in a circle, reminding themselves that it is all about having fun. Then they broke the circle and went to a large stack of padded weaponry: spears, staffs, shields, chains and swords.

There’s more to minor league ball than who wins and loses

The El Paso Chihuahuas are back after what could only be considered a successful debut season for the Triple-A franchise. The beautiful new ballpark was a hit with locals and tourists, the initial name controversy simmered down and the attendance was through the roof. The brand new, state of the art Southwest University Park broke El Paso’s minor league single season attendance record half way through its first year, which might have played a part in the city receiving the Triple-A National Championship. Now that the novelty is over, my fear is that casual fans will lose interest, especially if the team doesn’t win most of the time. The Chihuahuas did some winning in 2014, but also did plenty of losing.

Juarez team riding water polo wave in Mexico

CD.JUAREZ — An unusually cold and rainy morning here welcomed the public to a training session at the diving pool of Centro Acuatico Universitario of the University of Juarez that is usually closed to outsiders. Yellow balls float in the water, and two goals are set up at the edges of the pool. What was once one of the best diving facilities in Mexico, the diving pool that is still equipped with trampolines and platforms and has a depth of more than 50 feet has been repurposed to fit teams of aquatic warriors that play a sport unknown to many: Water polo. A sport conceived in England and Scotland, water polo still enjoys wide popularity in Europe,the United Stated, Canada, China and Australia. Now Mexico joins the list as the popularity of this water sport grows here.

Mexicano busca regresar a Grandes Ligas

EL PASO – Son nueve los jugadores nacidos en México que actualmente forman parte de un equipo de Grandes Ligas. Ramiro Peña, actual parador en corto de los Chihuahuas de El Paso, busca volver a la Gran Carpa y aumentar la cifra, tomando un camino poco común para él. A sus 29 años Pena afronto esta pretemporada sin la certeza de un contrato garantizado, solo uno de ligas menores. “Fue un poquito diferente (la pretemporada) porque ya tenía varios años con un puesto asegurado en Grandes Ligas”, dijo Peña. “Pero aquí estamos trabajando duro para regresar a Grandes Ligas”.

From Mexico to the majors to the border, Chihuahuas shortstop keeps swinging at big league dream

EL PASO – There are nine Mexican-born baseball players currently on a major league roster. Ramiro Peña, El Paso Chihuahuas shortstop, is looking to increase that number and return to the majors taking a route uncommon for him. At 29 years old Peña went into this year’s spring training without the security of a guaranteed contract, all he had was a minor league one. “It was a little different (spring training) because I had already had various years with a guaranteed spot in the major leagues,” said Peña, who has played with the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. “But here we are working hard to return to the major leagues.”

En español: Mexicano busca regresar a Grandes Ligas

Born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Peña had little choice when developing affection for the sport — he had it in his blood.

Positive outlook helps El Paso boxing trainer go the distance

EL PASO — If the school of hard knocks had a dean’s list honor roll, Terry Green would hold a spot at the top of that roster. The 30 year-old boxing trainer and former Marine learned about loss at 14 when his mother died and he has been punched in the ring and shot at on the battlefield. Despite the hardships, he emerged as a leader, not only in the gym, but in his work in this border community and as president of the Black Student Union at the University of Texas at El Paso where he is working toward a degree in multidisciplinary studies. As the son of a service member, relocating frequently was a way of life for Green.During the summers, his father, Terry Green Sr. , a boxer himself, began teaching his protege the fine points of the sweet science . Learning about loss at an early age

When his mother died, life delivered a blow that would knock anyone off his feet.

El Paso turns convention center into bowling complex

EL PASO, Texas — The sound of rolling thunder in this border city’s convention center signals that the conference venue has once again been transformed into a bowler’s paradise for the 2015 USBC Open Championships. With the tournament in full swing, the United States Bowling Congress expects more than 7,000 teams – bringing about 100,000 visitors all told – to visit El Paso throughout the 128 days of competition from March 7 to July 12. This is the first time in the tournament’s 112-year history that it will be hosted in El Paso, following the USBC Women’s Championships that was held here in 2010. Albert Williams Jr., from Prince George, Virginia, a first-time tournament participant, said he was pleasantly surprised with the unique venue. “I knew El Paso was out here, but I didn’t think that there would be anything here big enough to host this kind of event.

El Paso athletes get help to attract attention from recruiters

EL PASO — The Canutillo High School Eagles soared their way to a regular season record of 12-1 in the 2014 football season, cruising within one game of the Texas state championship final before falling to the Ennis Lions. With a roster of 50-plus athletes, the majority of them being seniors, only five of them will be continuing on to play at the college level. Friday night football is huge here, yet out of the hundreds of players in the 2014 season, just 21 athletes in El Paso area schools were recruited to college teams on National Signing Day, according to Channel 9, KTSM. Of the 21 El Paso commitments, 10 of them will be playing Division I football. “Our team had a great season.

One last round – Juarez boxing legend considers a last fight

EL PASO — With fading tattoos over his body and muscles giving way to extra body fat, the once middleweight underdog champion coaches young kids in a brand new downtown Juarez boxing gym arguing with himself whether he should fight one last time to say farewell to his longtime fans. “I don’t really care for being a champ or regaining fame,” said Juarez boxer Kirino Garcia. “What I need is a good offer to have a farewell fight.”

The prospect of getting back into shape after five years without stepping into the ring is challenging and expensive. The 46-year-old Kirino says he’s waiting for the right offer to resume his training regimen. The beloved underdog boxer grew up in the poorest colonias of Juarez and was able rise up to the top of his profession by acquiring a bunch of prestigious titles: Mexican light middleweight title, WBB light middleweight title, WBC International Light Middleweight title, and the Mexican Light Heavyweight title.

#SomosTodosMacacos #WeAreAllMonkeys

EL PASO — “There is no racism [on the field], but maybe there is a word or gesture that is not correct. The one affected by this should say this is a game and shake hands.”
That is the answer to racism that Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, proposed when interviewed by CNN back in 2011. Not only did he deny that racism exists, which is not the only time he (or FIFA) has denied racism, he proposed a preposterous solution to battle racism when two high profile cases of racism were going on in England. Barcelona star Daniel Alves, who is Brazilian, along with his teammate and compatriot Neymar Santos have decided to not battle racism with something as simplistic as a handshake. They have taken to social media to spread their message, “Somos todos macacos”, Portuguese for “We are all monkeys.”
It started during a Spanish league game, when Barcelona FC were playing a game in Villarreal and in the 77th minute a fan from Villarreal threw a banana at Alves, who was about to take a corner kick.