2012 UTPA HOF class honored in Edinburg

EDINBURG — Monica Wesley Swift admitted she considered not competing in track and field after high school.

One phone call from former UTPA track coach Doug Erickson, however, was enough to convince the former Broncs standout to change her mind.

“I had never even heard of Pan American University or even the Valley,” Swift told the crowd gathered to honor the 2012 UTPA Athletics Hall of Fame inductees on Saturday at the school’s ballroom. “This place — Edinburg — seemed really far from home.”

Her decision to attend UTPA began what she called her “journey,” one that included nine individual conference championships and multiple school records. The former long and triple jumper competed for the Broncs from 1987-91 and still holds the program record in the outdoor triple jump (41 feet, 6 inches) and in the indoor long jump (19-3 1/2).

After graduating from UTPA, Swift’s journey continued into education, coaching track at Edinburg Economedes and Sharyland. She is now a Sharyland administrator.

“This place is obviously still special to me,” Swift said after the ceremony. “I’m still (in the Valley). … I actually love it here.”

She was inducted as part of the UTPA’s sixth class along with her former track coach Reid Harter, former baseball players Jesse Trinidad and Ron Edquist and former golfer Mike Brisky.

Swift joked that Harter was a better coach than a bus driver. From 1985 to 1996, Harter helped lead the Broncs track team to five conference championships and the women’s cross country team to four consecutive American South Conference titles.

An emotional Harter, who went into the private sector in 1996, said one of the toughest decisions he has ever made in life was to leave coaching.

“It was time to chase other dreams,” Harter said in his acceptance speech. “It is kind of funny I use the word ‘dreams’ because I have this recurring dream where I come back here to coach.”

Brisky played seven years on the PGA Tour and three on the Nationwide Tour, earning nearly $2 million. In 1984, he carded a 67 while with the Broncs, which is still the third-lowest round recorded by a UTPA golfer.

Brisky was introduced by his eldest son Jacob, who said he remembers walking the greens with his dad when he was younger but never really understood the scope of his father’s talent.

“He was an amazing golfer,” Jacob said in his speech. “Every time I hear his accomplishments more and more, I see that. It is a privilege to be his son.”

Jesse Trinidad said it was the first time he had returned to UTPA since graduating. The former pitcher played for the Broncs from 1974 to 1976 and holds the NCAA Division I record for most shutouts with 14.

“Pan American has been a blessing to me, and I have never forgotten it,” Trinidad said. “Even though I haven’t been here, it sure is an honor to be back.”

Trinidad and Edquist were introduced by legendary former coach Al Ogletree. Edquist, who played for the Broncs from 1973 to 1976 and pitched a no-hitter against Dallas Baptist, was not on hand.

Former Pan American University President Ralph F. Schilling was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Honor. He oversaw the institution from 19600-81, presiding over the most successful era of Broncs athletics, including five straight NAIA tennis championships (’61-’66), the 1963 NAIA men’s basketball championship and the 1971 College World series baseball team.

Peter Rasmussen covers UTPA athletics for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via email at prasmussen@themonitor.com.

You can follow Peter Rasmussen on Twitter @parasmuss