RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics welcomed about 2,000 rowdy fans to the UTRGV Fieldhouse for its annual UTRGV Madness event Friday to tip off the 2023-24 men’s and women’s basketball seasons.
Fans gathered two hours before Madness for a pre-madness party along the outskirts of the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Fans were immersed in the ultimate experience as the UTRGV drumline and spirit program welcomed them into the event and glow sticks lit up the night sky from the roaring crowd.
Fans were able to enjoy their first taste of Vaqueros Especial, a medium roasted jalapeño and chile piquin taco-style salsa, courtesy of Tio Pelon’s Salsita.
Music was being played as fans were able to enjoy several party activities including a 360-degree photo ring, a haunted Vaquero Express, a raffle for a chance to be inside the Texas Tornado cash machine, courtesy of Texas Regional Bank, and a free UTRGV special edition t-shirt exclusive to the first 700 students at UTRGV Madness.
At 8:30 p.m., the UTRGV Fieldhouse was rocking as the crowd flew in from the pre-madness party. Fans were treated to a pyro-technic filled introduction of the UTRGV men’s and women’s basketball teams. Fans then had a chance to see UTRGV women’s basketball head coach Lane Lord and UTRGV men’s basketball head coach Matt Figger face off in a ring toss for the ages. The coaches were tasked with throwing hula hoops around the UTRGV mascot from 20 feet away. The finish was the blizzard on a warm summer’s day as everyone in attendance was awarded Dairy Queen vouchers for their valiant effort in supporting our coaches.
A 3-point shootout ensued as women’s basketball student-athletes Ja’Shelle Johnson and Arianna Sturdivant faced off against men’s basketball student-athletes Sherman Brashear and De’Anthony Tipler. Brashear bested Sturdivant in the finals.
UTRGV women’s basketball student-athletes then put on a show for the crowd as they wowed them with a choreographed dance routine.
Fans in attendance were able to compete in games on the court, such as an airplane flying contest for which students made their own cardboard airplanes and launched them from the volleyball baseline toward the inner circle of half-court for a chance to win a spring break trip to Las Vegas during the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournaments, courtesy of McAllen International Airport.
Other games included musical chairs, sponsored by Pepsi, a balloon popping contest during students teamed up to pop four balloons in various ways, and a free throw shootout that featured one student paired with women’s basketball student-athlete Iyana Dorsey and one student paired with men’s basketball student-athlete Elijah Elliott. Dorsey and her partner won the free throw contest.
Three students won the raffle and got to enter the Texas Tornado and exit with cash, courtesy of Texas Regional Bank.
Fans were also treated to four dances from UTRGV student organizations such as Kappa Sigma, Delta Zeta, the Filipino Student Association, and the African Student Association in the annual dance contest. Judges of the dance contest included Erica Elizondo, the owner of Maripoza, Dr. Maggie Hinojosa, UTRGV senior vice president for strategic enrollment and student affairs, Jason Leal, the chief experience officer for Texas Regional Bank, and Gonzalo (G) Garza Jr. and Matt Palmquist, men’s basketball alumni and the hosts of the Saddle Up podcast.
UTRGV students that participated in these events won prizes including a trip to the 2024 WAC Basketball Tournaments in Las Vegas, courtesy of McAllen International Airport, a gift basket from Marizopa, a $50 Dave’s Hot Chicken Gift Card, a $50 Walk-On’s gift card, a FitBit, and a GoPro. Everyone in attendance also received a coupon for a free mini blizzard from Dairy Queen, and 100 t-shirts donated by the Saddle Up podcast were tossed into the crowd.
UTRGV also started a new tradition honoring champions from the previous year including 2023 WAC hammer throw champion Marlene Gutierrez and the 2022 WAC champion volleyball team.
Contest Winners:
Coaches Ring Toss Contest – Lane Lord
3-Point Shootout – Sherman Brashear
Las Vegas Trip – Juan Niño
GoPro from Musical Chairs – Jordyn Tiggs
FitBit from Musical Chairs – Derrius Henry
Dance-Off Winners:
Best Attire – Delta Zeta
Best Choreography – Filipino Student Association
Best Greek Organization – Kappa Sigma
Best Rookie – African Student Organization
Fan Favorite – Filipino Student Association
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