By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Seven members of the Del Rio High School Class of 2024 have formally announced their intentions to play sports at the collegiate level.
The seven student-athletes – Alan Dobbins, Tyler George, Hope Martinez, Rebecca Mitchell, Ithalia Ozuna, Emily Torres and Katelynn Yancy – took part in a ceremony May 22 at the Carl P. Guys Memorial Gymnasium to formally announce their decisions and take part in what has become an annual tradition for some of the school’s athletes.
Flanked by their parents, and joined in the audience by family members, friends and teammates, the soon-to-be graduates represented seven sports with no one sport or university overshadowing the others.
Dobbins plans on attending Angelo State University in San Angelo and play wide receiver for the school’s football team. He is the reigning Del Rio High School Male Athlete of the Year and earned accolades in football, basketball and track and field throughout his senior year.
George announced his intention to play baseball at Howard Payne University in Brownwood. He was an All-District All-Academic team member and was named the Rams co-Defensive MVP his senior season.
Martinez is taking her talents to McMurry University in Abilene. A four-year starter for the Queens softball team, Martinez was a District 30-6A First Team selection at third base after playing catcher her first three years. She was also a Texas High School Coaches Association All-State All-Academic Honorable Mention.
Mitchell will continue her golf career at Schreiner University in Kerrville. Del Rio’s top female golfer the past two seasons, Mitchell was the back-to-back winner of the Most Outstanding Female Golfer of the Year and Female Golfer of the Year awards. She was also named to the All-Academic team for her performance in the classroom.
Ozuna, another member of the Queens softball team, will continue her athletic career at Western Texas College in Snyder. Ozuna, who played shortstop and pitched for the Queens, was an All-District First Team honoree as a pitcher for Del Rio. She was also named the Queens’ Most Valuable Player.
Torres has signed to run for the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. This year’s Del Rio High School Female Athlete of the Year, Torres was the District 30-6A Girls Individual Champion after winning the district meet in Laredo in the fall. It was the second time in three years she accomplished the feat. She finished 20th at the regional meet. She shared the Joey Rios Commitment and Dedication Award, was the Tony Gonzalez Female Runner of the Year and was an All-Academic Team selection. In track she was the co-Distance Runner of the Year and won the Academic Award.
Yancy will continue to cheer in college, only this time she will do so for Texas Tech University in Lubbock. A captain for the Del Rio High School varsity cheer team, Yancy has also been an accomplished performer in competitive cheer away from Del Rio High, competing for local gyms and helping her teams win a bevy of national awards.
The 830 Times will feature each of the signees in their own stories in the weeks to come.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
