Lisa (Silva) Malesich
Inducted 2019
Hometown: La Villa
High School: La Villa High School
College: The University of Texas at San Antonio
Best Known for: Athlete – Cross Country and Track
Silva was a standout distance runner in the Rio Grande Valley who captured three cross country state championships and three track state gold medals.
She ran the distance events at La Villa High School for four years before graduating in 1993 as the salutatorian.
As a sophomore, she won her first state cross country gold medal and qualified for the state track meet in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter run. As a junior, she won gold in the state cross country meet and also led her cross country team in La Villa to a state team championship. In the spring, she won gold in the 1600-meter run and silver in the 800-meter run at the state track meet.
As a senior, she won her third consecutive cross country state championship, and ended her high school running career with a gold medal in the 3200-meter and 1600-meter races at the state track meet.
She also won multiple district and regional championships in cross country and track.
Silva received a scholarship to run cross country and track at The University of Texas at San Antonio where she lettered for four years.
