'64 Vaquero state finalist basketball team will be inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame in Laredo

-

The 1964 San Diego Vaqueros basketball team placed third in the state. They are (kneeling, left to right) Walter Reyna, Orlando Oliveira, Roel Perez, Homero Rosas, and Raul de Leon. Standing, from left to right, are Coach Anthony Cubriel, Carlos Trevino, Ruben Escobar, Luis Barrera, Tomas Molina, Manuel Esparza, Lupe Ibarra, and Coach Modesto Garcia.

 Alfredo E. Cardenas, Soy de Duval Blog

On Saturday, January 20, the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame will induct the 1964 San Diego Vaqueros basketball state finalist team. Open to the public, the ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the Laredo Country Club.

Members of the team included Seniors Tomas Molina, 6'4.5"; Manuel Esparza, 6'; Walter Reyna, 5'8"; Lupe Ibarra, 5'10"; Luis A. Barrera, 6'; Raul de Leon, 5'9"; and Ruben Escobar, 6'. Junior class members included Orlando Oliveira, 5'8"; Roel Perez, 5'9"; Carlos Trevino, 5' 9"; and Homero Rosas, 5'9". 

In the 1964 season, they won their third district title. After going 15-2 in non-district play, the Vaqueros swept district opponents, defeated Donna in non-district, 60-51, and captured the regional tournament with a 76-57 win against Sweeney. 

They went into the state tournament with a 28-2 record.  KOPY in Alice broadcast the state tournament. The Vaqueros lost their opener to Lancaster, 69-53, but captured the third-place consolation trophy by turning back Hardin Jefferson by a 51-45 score.

After the season, three of the varsity starters went on to participate in collegiate athletics. Molina played basketball with Rice University in Houston. Esparza, who earned third-team honors in football, played at Texas Lutheran in Seguin. Reyna, an award-winning miler, ran for Baylor University in Waco. All others went on to excel in different fields after graduation.

The induction event will begin on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m., with a welcome reception at the Palenque Grill. At noon on the following day, January 20, the players will participate in a media luncheon at La Posada Hotel. The induction celebration will be at the Laredo Country Club at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the induction banquet are $65 per person and $600 for a table of ten. For more information please call Manolo Rangel at (956) 763-9610. If he doesn't answer leave a message and he will call you back. 

***********

 

Comments

Post a Comment

We welcome constructive comments and invite you to share your own research if you would like. Thank you.

Popular posts from this blog

1963-64 Vaqueros inducted into Sports Hall of Fame

-
Image
1963-64 Vaqueros state finalists, left to right,  Lupe Ibarra , Carlos Treviño, Homero Rosas,  Walter  Reyna, Luis A. Barrera, Roel Pérez , and  Manuel Esparza . Not pictured,  Raúl de León ,  Rubén Escobar, Tomás F. Molina, Jesús O. Oliveira  (deceased), and coaches Modesto García and Anthony Cubriel, both deceased. (Photo by Lupita Barrera) By Lupita Barrera, Guest Blogger The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame/ Salón de la Fama Latinoamericano del Deporte inducted the 1963-64 San Diego, Texas, Vaqueros basketball team in Laredo on Saturday, January 20. Team members attending the ceremony were Luis A. Barrera, Manuel Esparza, Guadalupe Ibarra, Roel Pérez, Walter J. Reyna, Homero Rosas, and Carlos S. Treviño. Players who were unable to attend but also honored were  Raúl de León,  Rubén Escobar, Tomás F. Molina, Jesús O. Oliveira (deceased), and coaches Modesto García and Anthony Cubriel, both deceased. The ceremony was ...
Read more

Tommy Molina, stood tall with '63-'64 Vaqueros roundballers

-
Image
Tommy Molina (#28) with the 1964 South Texas All-Star team that won the Texas High School All-Star game. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Molina)  Tommy Molina led the 1964 San Diego Vaqueros state basketball finalist team, but he and his team members will no doubt give credit to the entire team, including the reserves and coaches. Still, at 6’4 ¾”, Molina was the big man on the court and provided much energy to the squad. During the pre-district games, Molina was the top scorer with 297 points, averaging 17.5 points per game, although the starters played only the first half in seven of those games. Tommy Molina practices for the Texas All-Star game in 1964. (Photo by Alice Echio-News) In the bi-district game against Donna, Molina was the leading scorer with 18 points. At the regional opener, he scored 32 points. In the regional championship game against Sweeney, Walter Reyna and Manuel Esparza each scored 20 points and Molina 18. Molina and Esparza controlled the backboards throughout th...
Read more