Congratulations to Coach Magda Canales and McAllen ISD graduate Jesse Gutierrez who both were inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame following an induction ceremony held July 13, 2024 at Mission Event Center.
Both not only have a McAllen ISD connection but both are tied to James "Nikki" Rowe High School. Coach Canales has served 19 years at the Head Volleyball Coach for the Lady Warriors. Gutierrez graduated from Rowe in 1996 before embarking on a professional baseball career.
Coach Canales was a multi-sport athlete at La Joya High School and later played volleyball at the University of Texas Pan American. That grew into a coaching career that has now spanned 31 years – all at Rowe High School.
She will enter the 2024 season with 520 volleyball victories. She cites her passion for the game and the desire to convey that to others for her decision to go into coaching. She had many mentors along the way.
“I would like to thank my high school coaches, Mary Garza-Flores and Coach Betty Garza, college Volleyball Coach Becky De Los Santos for helping me expand my knowledge and skills in the sport of volleyball,” she said. “I also would like to thank Coach Joyce Soto (at Rowe) in working with me as I began my high school coaching career.”
She is also appreciative of her parents, Luis A. Rios and Maria Elena Rios, “for providing me with a strong foundation with values necessary to be successful in life.”
During her career, her Lady Warriors have earned 17 playoff trips with four district titles, nine bi-district wins, six area championships and five regional tournament visits. Three times, she has been named District Coach of the Year plus the All Area Coach of the Year award in 2015.
“They key to my success is hard work and discipline that help maintain my vision,” she said.
Gutierrez could hit the long ball and enjoyed a stellar career in high school, college and the pros. He led the St. Mary’s University Rattlers to a national championship before spending six years in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization as part of a 14-year pro career.
He belted 21 home runs for the UT Pan American Broncs in 2000 and hit 28 more (a school record) for St. Mary’s during their NCAA Division II title season a year later. Gutierrez, who played catcher and first base, was named a Division II All-American and the Most Outstanding Player in the championship in 2001. That championship is one of his favorite moments.
“It was a great experience and I thank God for that opportunity,” he said. “I had the love and support of my family at all times. We had a great time and chemistry. That helped us to learn from each other and strengthen our team day by day. We had a very humble team and coaching staff.”
The Reds drafted him in 2001 and he spent six years in their organization playing everywhere in the minor leagues from Short Season Single A to Triple A. In fact, he earned spot All-Star team nods in both Single A for the Potomac Cannons and Double A for the Chattanooga Lookouts. His talents also took him to Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
“The Reds would let me play winter ball so I could get the experience of playing in a multi-cultural (environment) and a mix of experience players,” Gutierrez said. “Some players had big league experience which let me learn and better myself more quickly and learn from better pitching and hitting.”
He also played three seasons close by with the Reynosa (Mexico) Broncos before retiring in 2015. He returned to school to finish his degree and eventually earned a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice. He still calls the Valley his home and now works with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Both posed for pictures with Rowe Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach Robert Flores (below) and McAllen ISD Athletic Director Brian McClenny (at bottom).
