Our Athletic Department’s philosophy is that our student athlete’s pursuits on the field should be equally measured with those off of it. To that end, a Bloodhound athlete should pursue personal growth through academic work, team experiences, and as an ambassador of our school. The department strives to maintain an outstanding athletics program, conducted in a manner of our Marist faith.
Thank you for being a member of the 101 Club. I hope you remain engaged in our Bloodhound sports and continue to support SJA as we shoot for the stars through life’s difficulties. On behalf of the many athletes we thank you for your unwavering support and spirit Go Bloodhounds!
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FOOTBALL
BLOODHOUNDSTURN HEADSIN2024
BROWNSVILLE-The 2024 season was one to remember. The Bloodhounds finished with 10 wins, a district and area title. The district title was their first since 2017. The offense was electric averaging 39 points a game. Four times the offense scored 40 points and five different times they eclipsed 50 plus points. Claudio Torres dazzled with 2,980 total yards and 40 touchdowns. Torres biggest game came in the postseason against Lutheran South. Torres carried the ball 34 times for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Four different times Torres ran for over 200 yards. His second best performance was against San Antonio Christian, 22 carries 260 yards and four scores. Gavin Cisneros directed the offense with poise and command. His best game came against La Feria. Cisneros threw for 300 yards, three scores and ran for 198 yards on 10 carries and four TDs.
FOOTBALL
BROWNSVILLE-Head Coach Tino Villarreal completed his 10th season as head coach. Overhis10years,Villarrealhasa73-31record,nineplayoffappearances,twodistricttitles, twobi-districttitlesandthreeareachampionships.TheBloodhoundsturnedtoaground andpoundattack,with3,473yardsaveraging289yardsagame
VOLLEYBALL
LADYHOUNDS’ CAPOFF BANNERYEAR
BROWNSVILLE- The Lady Bloodhounds reached many milestones over the 2024 season. Saint Joseph finished with a 22-8 record, took down Victoria St. Joseph in the regular season finale and won a playoff game for the first time in program history. The Lady Bloodhounds finished with a 9-3 district record and placed third in what was
a competitive district. Along the way, St. Joe won the Hidalgo tournament, Coach Dolores Olguin reached 500 career wins and senior Carmina Tijerina recorded 1,000 digs. The season was capped off with the RGVCA All-Star Game. Olguin was tabbed to coach the 6A East All-Stars along with Tijerina at the libero position. Tijerina also collected 1,000 career digs.
VOLLEYBALL
OLGUINNOTCHES CAREERWIN500
BROWNSVILLE- Dolores
Olguin a Brownsville native is a volleyball lifer. Olguin has checked off many boxes in her career and on Friday, Olguin reached yet another milestone. Olguin secured career win 500 against Hidalgo at the Hidalgo Tournament. “It was such a different feeling knowing that I am now at 500 wins,”
Olguin said. “I want to thank all the kids that have played for me, I could’t have done this without them.”
Olguin began her coaching career in the fall of 1985 and has made stops at Los Fresnos and Brownsville Hanna. Olguin also started the volleyball program at UT-Brownsville and started the Volleyball at Saint Joseph Academy.
CROSS COUNTRY
XCSHOWSGROWTH IN2024
BROWNSVILLE- Junior
Sarah Pirtle dazzled at the district meet. Pirtle placed second with a 13:26 time. The next best time was Kate Meyer who finished 18th with a 15:04 time. Kylee Voreis and Mia Villarreal placed 22nd and 23rd. On the boys side, Junior Julian Kuri placed 17th with a 19:22 time. Right behind Kuri was Joshua Gomez who placed
18th with a 19:29 time. Andres Cordero, Johnny Cardona and Mauricio Gonzalez placed 23rd, 24th and 25th place. At the state meet, Pirtle led the girls team again, finishing 18th with a 13:41.29. Meyer placed 59th with a 15:01.57. Kuri placed 63rd with a 20:09.50
Next up for St. Joe was Gomez who placed 111th with a 21:59.33
CROSS COUNTRY
CHEER
S A I N T J O S E P H A C A D E M Y
SWEETHEARTS
BROWNSVILLE-The Sweethearts wrapped up their season at the state meet in Waco. Mariarenee Leal received First Team All-State, Ingrid Vicent and Loretta Yanez brought homeSecondTeamAll-State andMadelynnGonzalezreceivedMadelynnGonzalez.
COLLEGE SIGNINGS
BLOODHOUNDSSEND FOURATHLETESTO COLLEGE
BROWNSVILLE-The 2025 senior class was certainly a special one. This year the Bloodhounds sent four athletes to the next level. Three of them signed to a Division 1 program. Diego De La Cruz will head west and join the University of Texas El Paso. Claudio Torres will stay local and will be a part of Rio Grande Valley history when UTRGV takes the field this fall for the first time ever. Carmina Tijerina will join Torres at UTRGV, as Tijerina will follow in her sisters foot steps and play Volleyball for the Vaqueros. Silvia Martinez will head to the state capital where she will continue her golf career at Concordia University. The four singings are the most in one year long time athletic director Tino Villarreal.
The Bloodhounds are the only football team in the RGV with two DI athletes. Torres was also named Male Athlete of the year at this years awards banquet. De La Cruz was tabbed offensive player of the year, Martinez was named female golfer of the year and Tijerina was volleyball MVP. Tijerina also became the first volleyball player to sign at a Division I program. This also marked a second straight year the volleyball program has sent an athlete to the next level.
SOCCER
SJATEXASSTATERUNNERUP
24 State Runner Up25
SOCCERFALLSSHYOF REPEAT
ROUND ROCK -The Bloodhounds quest for a second straight state title was upended by Brook Hill, 4-0 in the TAPPS DII State Championship in Round Rock. In the semis Saint Joseph beat district rival San Antonio Christian 1-0, behind a second half goal from Eze Escamilla. Despite the loss, the Bloodhounds reached the state championship game for a third straight season. It is one thing to reach the state tournament and it is another thing to win a game and make the state title game three years in a row.The Bloodhounds will loose some key pieces to graduation.
Keeper Ray Cisneros, Abrham Najera, Claudio Torres, Mauricio Gonzalez, Emilio Gonzalez were all in the starting lineup in 2025. This senior group was a special one. Two district titles, three state championship appearances and one state title. The Bloodhounds have made three straight state tournament appearances and have reached the state title game in each of those three years. Heading into next season, the club will look to incoming seniors Escamilla and Johnny Cardona. They will also need to replace Cisneros at the goalie position. The incoming freshman class will also look to make a splash.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
LADYHOUNDS’ BOWOUT INELITE8
BROWNSVILLE- The Lady Bloodhounds season came to an end in the Elite 8, 4946 against Bay Area Christian. Saint Joe overcame a 16 point deflect in the second half. Seanah Mireles finished with a team high 16 points. Regina Martinez scored 11 points and Gali Martinez netted 10 points. On the last possession SJA had an opportunity for the tie.
The team will lose two seniors in Mia Villarreal and Kylee Vories. Mireles will return for her junior season along with breakout players Gali Martinez and Miranda Carprio who both will enter their sophomore season. SJA finished the season 23-7 overall to go with a 11-1 league record. Their district title was their third in five years, along with their third trip to the Elite 8 in the last five seasons.
BOYS BASKETBALL
SJAFALLSSHORTOF THEPOSTSEASON
BROWNSVILLE- The Bloodhounds finished the regular season with a (1615,4-6) record and did not qualify for the playoffs. SJA fell just one game short of a playoff berth. Saint Joe won two of their last three games. The seniors capped of their final game in the Dome with a win against Victoria Saint Joe. In their final game against Laredo St. Augstine
Saint Joe needed a win to force a play in game against San Antonio Christian. Jason Aguilar finished with 35 points in the loss. The program will bid farewell to seniors Oscar Balli, Santi Cano, AJ Garza and Mikey Rivera. The future remains bright with Aguilar returning to the lineup along with a strong core of sophomores and juniors.
BROWNSVILE- The boys relay team completed their run at the TAPPS State meet in San Antonio.
In the boys 200 yard free relay, Iker Balli’s time was 29 seconds on the 50 free, Colton Sippel finished with a time of 28 seconds in the 50 free, Allen Hobbs 29 seconds in the 50 free, Sebi Green in the 50 free finished with 26 seconds.
As a team they placed 10th with a time of 1:52.37. Green competed in the 100 yard fly with a 1:03 time and placed 10th. The team will return multiple swimmers next season, with Green being the lone senior on the boys team. The girls team will also return multiple swimmers and will look to rebound next season.
TRACK AND FIELD
SJATEXASSTATECHAMPIONS
24 State Champions25
WOODCONTINUESGOLDRUN, SECURESSTATETITLE
WACO - Entering the TAPPS State tournament junior Olivia Wood had one goal in mind and that was to win state. Wood who is no stranger to the big stage and a multi sport athlete not only wanted to bring home her first state title but keep a legacy of state titles in the discus. Wood’s road to state was a long one, not only was she trying to reach state but took on a leadership role with in the throwers. Her predecessor, Alondra Loya who won three straight state titles in the discus graduated, making Wood the next in line to lead the way. Wood competed at the Meet of Champs and finished with a silver medal. Wood then shifted her focus to the district
meet. At the district meet, Wood secured the district title and punched her ticket to the regional meet. “I have been here all three years and it is nice to be the one who wins the district.” Wood said. At the regional meet, Wood once again placed first and secured her spot at the state meet. Wood made her third appearance in as many years. Wood sealed the state title with a throw of 132 and became the eighth straight discus state champion under longtime throwing coach Rey Cortinas. Wood has her senior year in front of her and is expected to repeat as state champion. Wood is looking to cap off a strong carrier as a Bloodhound.
SJATEXASSTATECHAMPIONS
TRACK AND FIELD 24 State Champion25
RICHERWINSSECOND STRAIGHTSTATETITLE
WACO - Junior Nicole Richer proved that last years state title was more than just lightning in a bottle. Richer who is a seasoned veteran when it comes to the biggest stage, completed her quest for a second straight state title. Richer will have an opportunity to win her third straight next year and understands the task and brims with confidence. If Richer is able to secure a three peat, she will join some elite company with Fran Gamez and Alondra Loya. “It means a lot to two in a row and to be able to compete against the same girls and prove that I am still number one in 5A,” Richer said. “Next year I know where I want to be and I’ll be ready.”
TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK AND FIELD
HOUNDS’SHINEATSTATE MEET
WACO-The Bloodhounds brought back two state champions in Nicole Richer and Olivia Wood. The two certainly provided the headliner but the feel good story was the girls 4x400 team. Having a city and district title under their belt, the 4x400 team capped off a stellar year by finishing third with a time of 4:11.41. “These last few days have been special,” said senior Jimena Herrea. “We worked all year and we put it to the test today. We love and care so much for each other and we left it out on the track.” The girls 4x200 placed fifth. Grace Cowen made her debut in the 300M hurdles and placed fifth with a time of 50.69 just two seconds off of her PR (48.52) On the boys side, Senior Diego De La Cruz also made his state debut in the shot put. De La Cruz faired well with a sixth place finish. Junior Reid Starkey got over the hump and placed third in the discus. He finished with a throw of 145-1. “It means a lot to be here,” Starkey said. “I had a great experience being here.”
BASEBALL
SJAWRAPSUP2025
SEASON
BROWNSVILLE- For a second straight season, the Bloodhounds narrowly missed the postseason. SJA finished with a 2-6 district record. With the district going through changes, only the top three teams qualified for the playoffs, rather than your traditional four team route. The Bloodhounds remained in the hunt into the final weeks of the season. The gem of the year was their final home game against San Antonio Christian. Senior Gael Ponce made his final start at home and tossed an all time masterful performance. The righty delivered a complete game shutout, yielding four hits, no walks and fanned 14 Lions in a 7-0 win. SJA will bid farewell to Ponce, Emmanuel Mendez who was a mainstay at first base and utility man Edwardo Braunshwieger. On the flip side, they will return multiple starters and look to get through the growth spurt in the offseason.
BASEBALL
POSTSEASONACCOLADES
BASEBALL
POSTSEASONACCOLADES
BROWNSVILLE-Senior Gael Ponce wrapped up his carrer in a Bloodhound uniformwithafirstteamalldistrictandfirstteamallstateinhisbackpocket. PoncewastheaceintheholeforSt.Joe.AttheplatePoncemashed.423witha.596 slugging.Onthemoundiswherehedominatedhitters.Thehardthrowingrighty struckout81whileonlywalking18.Through45.2inningspitched,Poncefinished witha2.30ERA.Ponce’sfinalhomestartwasmasterful.Acompletegameshutout, fourhitsand14strikeoutsina7-0winoverSanAntonioChristian.
