As competitors on their field of play, athletes always vie to play their best or have that one great moment that solidifies their career.
When you think of outstanding moments in sports, you think about Michael Jordan in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Michael Phelps winning eight medals, or the “Fight of the Century” between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
While some moments are based on the success of a team or individual, others stand out merely on the merit of personal accomplishment.
It is no different for student-athletes at UTRGV, where they compete and strive to be successful in their own right.
Whether it is a first game, a comeback, or a final opportunity, some moments for these athletes hold a special place in their hearts.
For UTRGV Women’s Basketball junior guard Trelynn Tyler, her first game with the Vaqueros is one that stands out.
“My favorite game I had this year was at [The University of] Texas,” Tyler said.
“On the bus ride there, I was kind of nervous, thinking, like, ‘This is my first game for UTRGV and it’s against Texas and I haven’t touched the court in a long time’ just because of the injury I had and I was just nervous thinking I wasn’t going to perform well,” she said.
Tyler led her team by scoring 29 points with five rebounds and six assists, according to goutrgv.com.
The athlete showed no type of anxiety on the court from the statistics she earned that game and although the team came up short, the highlight for Tyler was a great performance and a standout way for her to start an athletic career at a new school.
UTRGV Baseball graduate infielder Andy Atwood’s favorite moment was one in which he was able to prove the doubters wrong and push the envelope.
“My first year here at UTRGV, I was playing shortstop and got to play about half the first season and ended up breaking my finger, so that was a challenge for me, something I didn’t expect,” Atwood said.
“I had to get three pins in my hand, stitches, two surgeries and they said the end of the season was going to be in seven weeks,” he said. “So, I said, ‘I have to make it back for the end of the season.’ If you’re superman, you’ll be back in six weeks.”
Atwood returned to play after six weeks of being out on the bench in a series against Utah Valley in which the Vaqueros ultimately won.
UTRGV, California Baptist University and New Mexico State University tied for first place as co-WAC Champions.
“I was just fortunate enough to make it back from my injury and do it with my brothers on the field, [my] family and win a championship,” Atwood said.
What makes a single game or match interesting is the unpredictability of the outcome.
“I think my favorite was when we were playing against Lamar [University],” women’s tennis sophomore Katarina Sasaroga said.
“I remember I was losing pretty bad in [the] first set, like 1-6, and then I came back in the game,” Sasaroga said. “It was my favorite just because first I was losing so bad and then I felt the vibe of the whole team ’cause we were playing next to each other and everybody was fighting so hard and that motivated me to be in the game and play even better.”
She defeated Lamar’s Women’s Tennis senior Jasmin Buchta. Sasaroga lost the first set 1-6, then won the second set 7-6 and the final set 14-11.
“My motivation was to not be the first one off the court,” Sasaroga said in an interview to The Rider on Wednesday.
Final games are always memorable but when it’s your senior night, players must go out and win big.
“I felt like our whole team was on a groove that night and everybody was playing well,” UTRGV Men’s Basketball senior guard Jordan Jackson said. “We were knocking down some crazy shots and ultimately leading to Les [Lesley Varner II] getting the game win. That just sealed the deal and capped off the night.”
Jackson scored 24 points with three assists and two blocks, according to goutrgv.edu.
“The Senior Night game at halftime, the leader, our point guard, Javon [Levi], he came up to me and said, ‘We’re going to do this for you guys and we’re going to send you out the right way,’” Jackson said. “That just stuck with me because that just showed that my team cared.”
Certain games or moments can mean so much to athletes and while it might not mean the most to their overall career, it could quite definitely be their proudest achievement.
