No spring break for athletes

While most students are out on the beach or in bed sleeping until 1 p.m., UTRGV student athletes continue to compete during Spring Break.

Spring Break is filled with UTRGV athletic events every day of the break.

For some programs, such as track & field, there is still time left in the season. However, for men’s and women’s basketball, this week is more important than any other.

The teams will compete in the Western Athletic Conference tournament, which will determine who is the best in the WAC.

“The great thing about tournament time is everybody is zero and zero,” women’s basketball Head Coach Lane Lord said. “So, you got to have three great days, play together as a team, play team basketball and our league has a lot of parity.”

Asked about the WAC Tournament, Lord replied, “There’s no dominant team. So, you have one good weekend, you have one good chance to make the big dance.”

Basketball will not be the only sport competing during the break. Baseball, women’s tennis and men’s golf will also compete away and at home.

Baseball

The baseball team will take on the New Jersey Institute of Technology Friday through Saturday at home. The team will return to the diamond on March 11 for the South Texas Showdown against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.  March 13 through 15, the Vaqueros will have home-field advantage once again against Texas Southern University.

Men’s basketball

The men’s basketball team will play its last game before the WAC tournament against California Baptist University Saturday in the Fieldhouse in Edinburg. March 12 through 14, the team will compete in the WAC tournament in Las Vegas for a chance to be the best team in the conference.

Women’s basketball

The women’s basketball team will face off against California Baptist University Saturday at Riverside, California. On March 11, 13 and 14, the team will compete in the WAC tournament in Las Vegas, where it will attempt to redeem itself from last year’s loss in the championship game against New Mexico State University.

Women’s tennis

The women’s tennis team will compete against the University of Houston at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility in Houston. The team will hit the road again against Texas Christian University March 11 in Fort Worth.

Men’s golf

Men’s golf will compete at the Colin Montgomery Invitational hosted by Houston Baptist University on March 9 and 10 in Spring, Texas.

Men’s and women’s track & field

The outdoor teams will open the 2020 season at the University of Texas San Antonio Invitational on March 13 and 14 in San Antonio.

For both the men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, the season is just beginning.

“We’re really excited about the outdoor season,” Track & Field Head Coach Darren Flowers said. “We get to host the championships this year here in Edinburg.”

Spring Break can be a distraction for some, but there is no time to be tired.

“I don’t think it’s going to be an issue this time around,” Flowers said. “We’re coming straight off of indoor. We’re going to give them a week to recover anyway, then we’re getting back into training.”

For more information on UTRGV athletic events, visit goutrgv.com or download the GoUTRGV app.