Quiotepec en Wisconsin: Celebrating Oaxaca Roots Through Basketball

As the summer sun cast its glow over Madison’s Elver Park, the scene was set not just for a day of sport, but a celebration of cultural roots and community spirit. A blend of delicious aromas filled the air, while the sound of basketballs and the sight of vibrant tents and camping chairs signaled the start of the Quiotepec en Wisconsin basketball tournament.

This annual event has been a fixture for over a decade, drawing participants from the Midwest and as far afield as California, all united by their shared Oaxacan heritage, as noted by organizer Guillermo Martinez Melgar.

Guillermo Martinez Melgar (center) and his co-organizers took on commentator, score-keeper and referee duties during the tournament. Photo courtesy of Jonás Tijerino

This year’s tournament saw 14 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams take to the courts, with over 100 players from cities like Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Chicago competing for cash prizes.

Oaxacan Heritage on Display

Leading one of the local teams, Las Alebrijes, is Angelica Navarro Gomez. Her team, formed three years ago, was initially inspired by a friend’s suggestion to include women in the tournament. “It started off with one of our friends, Itzel and her sister,” she shared. “There were no girls playing [in the tournament], and she decided ‘Hey, how about we make a team?’”

A basketball player in a white and pink uniform dribbles the ball on an outdoor court, while another player runs behind her. — Angelica Navarro Gomez (right) and her sister, Marisela Gomez Castellano (left) warm up for their first match of the tournament. *Photo courtesy of Jonás Tijerino*

Navarro Gomez and her sister, Marisela Gomez Castellano, have embraced basketball as a means of connecting with their cultural roots. Basketball holds a special place in their community, originating from the Sierra Norte region of Mexico where it is the sport of choice, surpassing even soccer.

“I think there is a lot of pride in representing where you are from,” Gomez Castellano remarked, citing the traditional La Copa Benito Juárez tournament, which is named after Mexico’s first indigenous president and draws teams from both Mexico and the U.S.

Two girls, one in a white jersey and one in a black jersey, jump to reach a basketball on an outdoor court, with other players and spectators visible in the background. — Madison’s Las Alebrijes and Milwaukee’s Combinadas tip off. The two teams developed a rivalry over the years and play each other often. Combinadas defeated Las Alebrijes, sending them to the losers bracket. *Photo courtesy of Jonás Tijerino*

Challenges and Resilience Amid Immigration Concerns

This year’s tournament was marked by a noticeable absence of previous attendees, attributed to fears surrounding immigration enforcement efforts in Wisconsin and nationwide. “People didn’t want to come because they were afraid of not knowing what could happen,” Gomez Castellano explained.

Despite these concerns, the organizers decided to press forward, aiming to maintain visibility and community spirit. “I think we’re trying to resist and we’re trying our best,” she affirmed, noting the importance of showing up and supporting each other.

Four women play an outdoor basketball game; two in white and pink uniforms guard a player in black holding the ball, while another white-pink player stands with her back to the camera. — Sherlyn Martinez Castillo (center) and her sister, Itzel, founded Las Alebrijes in 2023. *Photo courtesy of Jonás Tijerino*

Ultimately, the tournament concluded with Madison’s Las Alebrijes emerging victorious in the women’s category, while Milwaukee’s Sierra Mixe clinched the men’s title. The event underscored the cultural pride and resilience of the Oaxacan community in the face of adversity.