UTRGV Athletics tips the basketball season with nearly 2,000 fans at Madness

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics welcomed nearly 2,000 raucous fans to the UTRGV Fieldhouse for its annual UTRGV Madness event, presented by Visit South Padre Island on Friday and a preview of the men’s and women’s basketball 2024–25 gave seasons.

Fans gathered two hours before Madness for the pre-Madness party on the sidelines of UTRGV Fieldhouse and in the lively Vaquero Village. Fans were immersed in the ultimate experience as the UTRGV Drumline and Spirit program welcomed them to Vaquero Village, where Ricky J and Desert Bloom rocked the night before the 9 p.m. kickoff.

Outside Vaquero Village, fans were able to enjoy various party activities including a 360-degree photo ring, a raffle with a chance to be in the Texas Tornado ATM courtesy of Texas Regional Bank, and a free UTRGV special edition T- Shirt exclusively for the first 1000 students at UTRGV Madness.

By 9 p.m., the UTRGV Fieldhouse was rocking as the crowd from the party poured in from the madness. Fans were treated to a rousing introduction of the UTRGV men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Fans then had the opportunity to see the head coach of UTRGV women’s basketball Lane Lord And UTRGV men’s basketball head coach Kahil Fennell Take part in the fan-favorite putt-putt competition. The coaches were tasked with throwing a ball from the free throw line and rolling it through the legs of the mascot standing at the opposite free throw line. The reward, a T-shirt toss, courtesy of UTRGV Athletics, and a sweater toss, courtesy of Maripoza’s Boutique, for the winning coach’s team, which was cheered on by the crowd from the first putt.

A 3-point shootout as student basketball athletes followed Gianna Angiolet And Kayla Lorenz competed against male basketball student-athletes KT Raimey And DK Thorn. 30 seconds wasn’t enough time for the final as Thorn defeated Angiolet in a 15-second shootout in overtime.

Fans in attendance were able to take part in games on the pitch, such as a box stacking competition where students had to stack the boxes in a head-to-head duel. The student with the highest stack of boxes received a year of free Church’s Texas Chicken, courtesy of Church’s Texas Chicken.

Other games included musical chairs and a free throw shootout that paired a female student with a female basketball student-athlete Brianna Sanchez and a student paired with a men’s basketball student-athlete Howie Fleming. Sanchez and her partner won the free throw competition.

Two students won the raffle and were allowed to get in and out of the Texas Tornado with cash, courtesy of Texas Regional Bank.

The annual dance competition also treated fans to three dances from UTRGV student organizations such as the African Student Association, Kappa Sigma and the Filipino Student Association.

The dance competition judges included Erica Elizondo, owner of Maripoza Boutique, Dr. Stephen Hirst, UTRGV associate vice president for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs, Israel Amaya, UTRGV Dean of Students, and Alisa Gonzalez, owner of Vaquero Outfitters.

UTRGV students who participated in these events won prizes including Church’s Chicken for a year, courtesy of Church’s Chicken, a pair of tailgating gifts from Vaquero Outfitters, two $50 Wing Barn gift cards, Beats Studio Pro and an iPad from

Competition winner:
Coach Putt Putt Contest – Lane Lord
3-point shootout – DK Thorn
Tailgating set from the Free Throw Contest – Landen Gaskamp
Vaqueros folding chair from the free throw competition – Debanhi Salazar
SPI Weekend Getaway by Musical Chairs – Alan Velazquez
Beats Studio Pro by Musical Chairs – Reagan Trevino
$50 Wing Barn Gift Cards from Musical Chairs – Brianna Hernandez and Tera Smith
Church’s Chicken for a year at the Box Stacking Contest – Lizette Morales
iPad Raffle Winner – Anahi Montemayor

Dance-Off Winner:
Best Attire – Kappa Sigma
Best Choreography – Filipino Student Association
Best Greek Organization – Kappa Sigma
Best Music Mix – African Student Association
Fan Favorite – Philippine Student Association

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