RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Athletics Hall of Fame committee announced on Wednesday the 2026 Athletics Hall of Fame class, which includes the 1995 women's cross country team, former women's basketball student athlete Sofia De Alva (1983-86), former men's track & field/cross country student-athlete Doug Erickson (1985-86), and former baseball student-athlete Omar Ortiz (1997-99). The committee also revealed that Ted & Catharyn Von Ende, a pair of UTRGV super fans, have earned induction into the hall of honor.
 
The Athletics Hall of Fame and Hall of Honor induction ceremony is scheduled to take place in the UTRGV Ballroom on Saturday, March 28 at 11 a.m.
 
Space is limited and those planning to attend are asked to purchase tickets in advance. Individual tickets can be purchased for $50 at GoUTRGV.com/HOFTickets. Tables of 10 can be purchased for $500 at GoUTRGV.com/HOFTables. Those with questions can send an email to vaf@utrgv.edu.
 
1995 Women's Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Champions
University's first Sun Belt Conference Championship … Team recorded 44 points … Hall of Famer Elizabeth Ortega earned individual conference title with 5K time of 17:34 … Jessica Garcia finished sixth with a time of 18:01 … Martha Gonzales finished ninth with a time of 18:30 … Ortega, Garcia, and Gonzales earned all-conference honors. Ortega was also named Outstanding Performer of the Meet … Gracie Salinas finished 12^th, Amy Sanchez placed 16^th, Linda Moncivais finished 23^rd, and Marina Flores came in 33^rd … Head coach Reid Harter earned Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors … Season was dedicated to men's cross country runner Adrian Martinez, who died in a car accident during Summer of 1995 … Team hosted the Adrian Martinez Invitational that season.
 
1995 Roster
Britni Bluntzer
Shelly Castillo-Patterson
Melissa Dearth
Marina Flores
Martha (Gonzales) Almaguer
Angie Jaramillo-Gonzalez
Lindsey (Krouse) Guerra
Linda Moncivais
Teresa Mora
Carmel Myers
April Orie
Elizabeth Ortega-Hilpert
Kaci Saenz
Gracie Salinas
Amy (Rivera) Sanchez
Jeannette Smith
Kacey (Warrick) Phelps
Head Coach – Reid Harter
Assistant Coach – Doug Erickson
 
"They were an exceptional group," Harter said. "Smart, talented, hard-working, and most importantly, they had outstanding character. The goal well before the start of the season was to compete for the title."
 
Sofia De Alva, Women's Basketball, 1983-86
First player in program history to reach double-figures in assists, doing so three times, including a program record 15 at Texas A&M-Kingsville (11/22/85). Also had 10 vs. Texas Southern (12/8/84) and Louisiana (11/30/85) … Graduated as single-season program record holder in assists with 119 in program's first NCAA Division I season (1985-86) … Held that record for 16 years … Led the NAIA with what was then a single-season program record (now ranks second) free throw shooting percentage of .889 (88-99) in 1984-85 … The 88 free throws made ranked second in program history at the time … Recorded what was then the second-highest single-season field goal percentage (now eighth) in program history at .474 (161-340) in first season at NCAA Division I level in 1985-86 … Made 161 field goals in 1985-86, which ranked third in program history at the time.
 
"I am very humbled for this recognition," De Alva said. "It's a privilege to be in the same category as others before me. I did not expect this at all! I played for the love of the game, and because [Head Coach] John McDowell gave me an opportunity to play after high school. It was an honor to play for Pan American University and represent the Broncs!
 
Doug Erickson, Men's Track & Field/Cross Country 1985-86
In cross country, Erickson holds the program record for the three-mile race with a time of 15:01.00. In indoor track & field, Erickson set the program record in the 3,000-meter run with time of 8:34.32, currently ranking 11^th. In outdoor track & field, he set a program record in the 3,000-meter run with time of 8:34.32, currently ranking fifth … Set program record in 10,000-meter run with time of 30:46.84, currently ranking fifth … Recorded second-fastest (now fifth) 5,000-meter run in program history at 14:34.83.
 
"Doug Erickson followed me from Texas A&M-Kingsville to UTRGV where he completed his senior year of eligibility," Harter said. "He then served as a graduate assistant, and then assistant coach. In between he was winner of the Lou Hassell Award for student-athlete academic excellence and an Olympic Trials Qualifier in the marathon. Doug was a frequent dinner guest at our house, and to say we were close is an understatement. Many of the athletes that gained recognition in the program during his tenure were either recruited or mentored by Coach Erickson."
 
Omar Ortiz, Baseball, 1997-99
Only first round MLB Draft Pick in program history (29^th overall by San Diego Padres in 1999) … Ranks fifth in career strikeouts (283) … Ranks fourth in innings pitched (271.1) and tied for fifth in games started (45) … 1999 All-South Central Region and All-Independent First Team selection … Struck out program record 132 in 1999 … Averaged 9.36 strikeouts per nine innings, including 11.65 in 1999, with a 2.02:1 strikeout to walk ratio, including 2.75:1 in 1999 … Never allowed a home run at collegiate level … Got as high as AA in the Marlins organization in 2003.
 
"Well, it never crossed my mind that this would happen," Ortiz said. "I walked away from the game a long time ago and never looked back, so I can truly tell you that the phone call from [Hall of Fame Committee Chair] Dr. Barbara [Gonzales] brought back a lot of great memories. It is an honor and a privilege to say the least."
 
Hall of Honor
Ted & Catharyn Von Ende, Super Fans
Have attended all home volleyball and men's and women's basketball games for several decades … Make occasional road trips within Texas … Make custom signs to support student-athletes … Beloved by student-athletes and treated like part of their families.
 
"I mean all we do is come to the games," Ted Von Ende said. "We're just fans. We just have been for a long time. It became part of our lifestyle, just coming to these games. When I first came here, they were just building the [UTRGV] Fieldhouse. So, I watched it get built and then I've watched it over the years as it's improved and extended. I make the signs because I don't yell very well, so this is my way of yelling for our players."

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