Monthly News & Updates
January 2023 | Vol. 9
New Year | New You
TEAM Waco Applications Open
We’re here! Congrats to finishing 2022 strong and embracing the adventure that 2023 holds in front of us! The Greater Waco Sports Commission is excited to announce the return of our community and scholarship program – “TEAM Waco” for the upcoming IRONMAN 70.3 race in October of 2023!
As part of that celebration we are partnering with community businesses and organizations like Ascension Providence, The Greater Waco YMCA, Sigma Swimming, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, and others in helping 5 McLennan County residents overcome a financial, physical, or mental hurdle in becoming an IRONMAN.
This is your (or a friend’s!) chance to apply for a once-in-a-lifetime experience and support system in becoming an IRONMAN 70.3 Finisher! Please fill in our online application.
NEW COMMITTEE OPENINGS
GWSC has created committees for members of the community that are looking to get more involved with sports and make an impact within the community. We are currently looking for 6 committee members from the community to help with our Special Events (i.e. Event Coordinators, Planners, etc.) and our TEAM Waco Initiative!
If you’re interested in partnering with us on our Special Events or the TEAM Waco Initiative Committee please contact [email protected] to learn more about the roles and opportunities.
Upcoming Events
Check out what events are coming up in Waco and how you can get involved.
The 2nd annual Mother’s Day Run is officially set for Saturday on May 13, 2023 at Waco Surf!
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are always looking for new community partners! Please email [email protected] if you are interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities with new events for your business.
We’re excited about our new partnership with Camp Fimfo!
GWSC Volunteer Opportunities
Click here to check out upcoming opportunities.
Centex Challenge
Waco played host to its largest regional volleyball tournament since Covid on December 17 &18th. Over 110 teams registered from Waco, DFW, Kaufman, Tyler/Longview, San Angelo, Belton, Ellis County and Austin. Seventy of those teams were from more than 60 miles away bringing business to our hotels, restaurants and retail over the weekend.
In addition to the economic impact this event allowed local families, who are used to traveling, to stay home and have their expenses this trip benefit the local Waco community.
Thank you, Waco Convention Center, Baylor Student Life Center, and Legends Sports Center for being amazing hosts and thank you to our volunteers for this event.
IBJJF
The weekend of December 3rd and 4th was packed out at The BASE facility at the Extraco Event Center. It hosted the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s first tournament in Waco. Over 500 athletes and their friends and family gathered for this event.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a self-defense martial art that is gaining popularity in America and around the world. It was first introduced by the Gracie brothers in Brazil in 1926. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking the opponent to the ground and gaining a dominant position to utilize several grappling techniques to force them into submission.
This event was divided into three separate tournaments, Adult Gi, which uses a Japanese-style kimono, Adult, No Gi, in which athletes compete in shorts and a rash guard, and Kids Gi.
Three Waco blackbelts, Chris Gonzales, owner of Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu Waco, Lance Yager, owner of Select Jiu Jitsu, and Matt Cordon, Professor of Law at Baylor University, brought in a total of 6 medals.
Two Waco Jiu Jitsu Academies entered the Tournament with a total of twenty-four Jiu Jitsu Athletes. Together they won a total of twenty-seven medals. Ralph Gracie Waco won fifteen medals and Select Jiu Jitsu won twelve medals. Ralph Gracie Waco placed 10th out of 86 teams overall in the No Gi tournament.
These Waco athletes spent weeks and hours training and preparing for this International Tournament. They worked hard and took time out of their normal activities and routines to represent our community. Thank you!
-Chris Gonzales
In the pipeline for Waco Sports
Golden Buckle (Jan 12-15)
Battle of the Bosque (Jan 27-29)
Texas Tennis Classic (Feb 27- Mar 5)
First Robitics Competition (Mar 2-4)
TTCA 3A & Under Tennis Championships (March 11-12)
Spartan Race: Baylor Spartan Stadion (Apr 1)
Kentucky Derby Watch Party @ Milos (May 6)
Mother’s Day 10K, 5K, & Fun Run @ Waco Surf (May 13)
Executive Director's Message
Three quick shout outs! I want to start with the 4A Division I State Champion China Spring Football Team. If you didn’t get to see their game this past month you missed an incredible game. Huge congrats to the Cougars in a come from behind last second field goal win for bragging rights of “Back2Back Champs.”
The World Cup Finals were another incredible testament to the beauty of sports. The matchup between France and Argentina was about as exciting as you could get. Looking forward, we now set our sights on the upcoming 2026 World Cup games that will be hosted in North America with games as close as Dallas AND Houston.
Lastly, as we begin this new year, I urge you to continue to become your best self. Whatever that looks like for you – keep pushing your limits. If you’re interested or fearful in applying for TEAM Waco, please take that step of faith. Nearly all of TEAM Waco last year had that fear but we’re incredibly blessed by taking that step! I can’t wait to see who applies and cheer you on!
