Student athletes begin year with prayer, breakfast

Incarnate Word Academy’s student athletes kicked off the school year with prayer at their annual Athletic Prayer Breakfast on Aug. 13 at the school’s James R. Dougherty, Jr. Center.

“The Athletic Prayer Breakfast encourages IWA Elementary, Middle, and High School Level athletes to maintain honorable sportsmanship and team unity,” Athletic Director Reynaldo Garcia said.

The guest speakers for the event were IWA alumni Alexandria Rossi, Class of 2011, and Raul Trevino, Class of 2003.

Rossi was named the 2010 TAPPS State Cross Country Champion. She received a scholarship to run cross country and track at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where she earned her bachelor’s degree in December of 2015 in interdisciplinary studies in mathematics. Throughout her athletic career, she earned several academic and athletic awards. She is currently working towards a master’s degree in addition to being both a mathematics teacher at Richard Milburn Academy and an assistant cross country coach at IWA High School Level.

Trevino was selected as the 2003 TAPPS All-State Pitcher and was named as a 2001 First Team All-District Pitcher, 2000 Second Team All-District Third Baseman, and 2001 All-Tourney Member during a Flour Bluff Baseball Tournament. In college, he was a starting pitcher at Texas A&M University-Kingsville from 2004-2007. During his freshman year in college, he led his team to win the LSC Championship Tournament. He is the second person in the history of Javelina baseball to have the second most wins. In 2007, he was selected as the Lone Star Conference division pitcher of the year. In addition, he was selected to the 2005 First Team All-Lone Star Conference, 2006 Second Team All-Lone Star Conference, and 2007 Second Team All-Lone Star Conference.

Trevino signed a letter of intent with the Houston Astros in 2007 and later signed a contract to play professional baseball in the United League in the summer of 2009-2010. He and his wife, Daniela, have been married for almost 10 years. They have two sons, Raul and Cristian, and a baby on the way.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these IWA alumni,” Garcia said. “Their stories are a great example of what can be achieved with practice, hard work, and determination both in the classroom and on the field.”

Following the Athletic Prayer Breakfast, IWA Middle and High School Level students received their annual physicals thanks to some local medical professionals at South Texas Bone and Joint in Corpus Christi.

“The generosity of our community helps strengthen our athletic program for our Angel athletes,” Garcia said. “We are grateful that there are so many individuals in the South Texas area such as those at South Texas Bone and Joint who continue to pay it forward.”