FROM UIL
FOR THE 830 TIMES
AUSTIN — The University Interscholastic League is proud to announce the distinguished recipients of the 2023 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award, celebrating 15 outstanding sponsors who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment to students’ extracurricular development in Texas.
Among the group is Del Rio High School’s Ricardo Torres.
Torres has two decades of coaching experience in track and field, including 17 years as the head coach and last two as athletic coordinator at Del Rio High School. Throughout his tenure, he guided his teams to secure four district team championships, one area team championship, and produced an impressive tally of 109 regional individual qualifiers, seven state individual qualifiers, with one emerging as the state individual champion. Torres has also had 25 student-athletes successfully transition to compete in collegiate track and field during his career.
“Through encouraging and/or demanding high academic achievement, promoting great sportsmanship at all times, and instilling and modeling outstanding leadership qualities, we as coaches will be an important contributor in the development of the whole student-athlete,” said Torres. In doing this we provide our athletes with tools of opportunity to develop their athletic skills to the highest level possible.”
The winners were selected by a panel of judges in the areas of academics, athletics and music from nominations submitted by school principals and superintendents across the state.
The award, now in its 33rd year, was created to identify and recognize outstanding sponsors who enable students to develop and refine their extracurricular talents to the highest degree possible within the education system.
“The commitment and dedication of sponsors, coaches and directors, exemplified by these award winners, are the driving force behind the invaluable benefits of interscholastic competition and student performance,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “The UIL takes pride in acknowledging and honoring these exceptional individuals with this prestigious award.”
Each winner will receive $1,000 and a symbolic memento from the UIL in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the pursuit of educational excellence through interscholastic competition. The League continually strives to strengthen and promote the role of extracurricular activities in Texas through programs like the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.
