The Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame has selected a coach and former athlete with McAllen ISD connections for induction.
Coach Magda Canales, winner of nearly 500 matches as head volleyball coach at McAllen ISD’s James “Nikki” Rowe High will join former Rowe baseball standout and professional baseball player Jesse Gutierrez. Both will be enshrined as part of the induction Class of 2024 in a celebration to take place this summer.
The 36th annual RGV Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be Saturday, July 13 at the Mission Events Center. Five other individuals with RGV sports ties will also be inducted.
Coach Canales has coached volleyball at McAllen Rowe High for 18 years, taking her teams to the playoffs 16 times. Under her watch, the green and gold have won four district titles in a highly competitive district, six Area championships and advanced to the Regional Tournament five times. She has won 472 matches overall and, in district play, has a winning percentage of nearly 78 percent (176-50).
Gutierrez played baseball for Rowe High and the University of Texas-Pan American before being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2001. As a Bronc, Gutierrez hit 21 home runs and was named an NCAA All-American. He later transferred to St. Mary’s University, helping the Rattlers to their first NCAA Division II national title in 2001.
This year’s class of seven will bring the Hall of Fame’s total membership to 297.
About the RGV Sports Hall of Fame
Founded in 1985, the RGV Sports Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization whose mission it is to recognize men and women who have brought honor and recognition to the Rio Grande Valley through their participation in sports as an athlete, coach, official, trainer, journalist or other sports-related position.
About McAllen ISD
McAllen ISD is a three-time winner of the state’s highest rating, an “A,” and a four-time winner of the state’s Post-Secondary Readiness Distinction. In 2022, McAllen ISD was named the Best Large District in Texas through the H-E-B Excellence in Education awards. The district is home to 30 campuses and approximately 20,500 students. To learn more about McAllen ISD’s schools and programs, contact Student Outreach at 956-687-MISD (6473).