Kinesiology sophomore Priscilla Menchaca leads a cardio drill focusing on physical conditioning during women’s basketball tryouts Sept. 6 in Gym 2 of Candler. Daniel Arguelles
Students and coaches are hard at work to raise funds for season.
By Michael Peters
mpeters28@student.alamo.edu
Basketball is back at this college, but it took a lot of hard work and commitment from a dedicated group of people.
Basketball adviser Raul Rodriguez worked with fire science freshman Kelby Rowe and kinesiology sophomore Matthew Ramirez to bring basketball back to this college.
“A lot has been done by the coaches and the players,” Rodriguez said.
The process of bringing the team back started last spring.
Student coaches Rowe and Ramirez circulated a petition to build support from students interested in reviving a basketball program.
“They took the initiative, and I was in the background behind the scenes,” Rodriguez said.
Bill Richardson, kinesiology and dance chair, allowed the teams to use the basketball gym for games and practices free of charge.
Rodriguez said, “The coaches have been very motivated and driven to do this because their eventual goal is to coach athletically.”
Travel arrangements for road games are still undetermined, but the teams are in talks with student life to charter buses.
“You’re not going to get to the top without going through obstacles and getting knocked down,” Rowe said.
While Rodriguez gives a lot of the credit to the coaches, Rowe credits the students.
“The girls are working hard together, on and off the court,” Rowe said.
Rowe is trying to get sponsorships for the women’s basketball team and the women are planning fundraisers.
Students from both teams are buying uniforms out of their own pocket.
“It’s not about me,” Rowe said. “They are putting in the work on and off the court.”
Rowe said the team is working hard to realize their goals.
“They are handling business and doing it the right way,” Rowe said.
The season starts at 6 p.m. for the women’s team and 8 p.m. for the men Oct. 16 versus Southwest Texas Junior College, 2401 Garner Field, Uvalde.
For more information, call Ramirez at 210-371-7401 or Rowe at 210-214-0333.
