Eight individuals joined the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.

The class includes Anyssa Olivarez Woods and Dr. Sonia Trevino, both from Mission, McAllen Memorial golf coach Celso Gonzalez, McAllen High girls soccer coach Patrick Arney, Joe Pena from PSJA, Pablo Almaguer from Weslaco, Robert Mangum from Edinburg and Toby Nivens from McAllen High.

Several teams were also honored. That includes five Brownsville Pace cross country teams, the 1991 La Villa and Mission state champion girls cross country teams and the 1986 Mercedes baseball team that finished as state runner-up.

The 1991 La Villa girls cross country team was among the seven teams that were inducted to the RGV Sports Hall of Fame Team Hall of Honor. The Lady Cardinals won the 2A state championship in 1991 with the guidance of then head coach Tencha Lancaster.

"Very special, 35 years we're together again and these girls are very well deserving of this recognition," Lancaster said. "It's been a long time coming and it's overwhelming. I'm nervous and excited for these girls like I used to tell them when we got ready to race; don't be nervous and scared, be nervous and excited. This is a big thing for us today."