色窝窝无码一区二区三区 2024 AAU Junior Olympians train at Ousley

There鈥檚 a growing track and field powerhouse program in south Arlington. And the epicenter is 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 Ousley Junior High School.

That鈥檚 where Coach Robin Reed-Campbell is a teacher and coach. And it鈥檚 also where she trains her AAU track and field team.

The former Texas Longhorn sprinter lives and breathes track, and she鈥檚 passing her love for the sport on to her students and athletes. In fact, her coaching and enthusiasm propelled seven talented 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 students to the this past summer in North Carolina. All seven of those athletes are, were or likely will be Ousley students.

The seven range from 6^th grade 鈥� at Bryant Elementary 鈥� to 12^th grade 鈥� at Seguin High School 鈥� and all are members of Reed-Campbell鈥檚 all-girls AAU team, the .

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Coach Reed-Campbell describes her AAU track team as 鈥渓ike a family.鈥� But three of her runners are family for real.

The three sisters haven鈥檛 always been into track though.

It started with Ariee Richards about two years ago. Now an Ousley eighth grader, Ariee first joined Reed-Campbell鈥檚 team in the spring of her sixth-grade year at Bryant Elementary. By last July, Airee was running the 800 meters at the National AAU Junior Olympics in Iowa.

Then Ariee got one of her younger sisters and her older sister into track.

It turns out, they鈥檙e fast, too. Both finished their first year on the team by qualifying for the Junior Olympics, along with Ariee. Samaria Richards, a sixth grader at Bryant 鈥� and a future Ousley student 鈥� competed in the 80-meter hurdles and the turbo javelin. Chy'ann Richards, the older sister, ran the 3,000m and 4x800 meters. Her 4x800-meter team placed third at the event, earning the runners All American status.

鈥淚 really was just doing it [track] to get better endurance for basketball, but then I really liked track, and I really like running,鈥� Chy'ann said.

Now the ninth grader at Seguin High School has fully embraced the sport and is running cross country for the Cougars this fall. And she鈥檚 off to a fast start. Chy'ann opened her high school career by winning the 3-mile race at her first cross country meet.

More Than Speed

The talent level among the seven student athletes is clearly high. But these girls bring more than talent to the track and field. They鈥檙e driven to do their best and are willing to work hard and be coached.

鈥淚 felt like I did good,鈥� Ariee said with some hesitation to describe her performance at the Junior Olympics. 鈥淏ut I could have done better.鈥�

That鈥檚 from an eighth grader who ran the 1,500 meters 鈥� one mile 鈥� at the national meet in a blistering 5 minutes, 24 seconds.

But she always wants to go faster and is driven to improve with each race.

That drive to get better is shared by Kennedi Banks, a sixth grader from Bryant, who joined the AAU track team last year. She competed in the 80-meter hurdles and turbo javelin at the Junior Olympics and isn鈥檛 afraid of a few bumps and bruises in the pursuit of her best.

鈥淲hen you go over hurdles and fall, it鈥檚 actually kind of fun,鈥� Kennedi said. 鈥淏ecause then you get to do it again, and then you improve.鈥�

Improving is something Kennedi and all the girls have done a lot of.

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of them,鈥� Coach Reed-Campbell said. 鈥淚t seems like every time they step on the track, they get faster. They鈥檝e worked very, very hard.鈥�

And they plan on continuing to work hard. They all have their sights set on next year鈥檚 Junior Olympics in where they plan to run even faster and throw and jump even farther.

Fall sports are in the air

Fall isn鈥檛 in the air yet, but fall sports are. And beginning Aug. 1, you can start getting tickets to 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic events.

All tickets for games, including multi-game passes, must be purchased through听. The district鈥檚 sporting events are all now cashless.

All individual game tickets will go on sale online at 8 a.m. on the Sunday prior to an event. But football season passes and All-Sport passes (good for 10 games, not including football) go on sale Aug. 1-30 on GoFan.

Ticket prices for the 2024-25 football season will remain the same as last year. For varsity Class 6A football games, tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students until 5 p.m. on game day. For 5A games, tickets are $5 for adults and students until 1 p.m. on game day. All tickets purchased after those deadlines will be $8. There is also a $1 fee from GoFan for all individual tickets.

The price for varsity football season passes vary by school depending on how many home games they have on their schedule.

• Arlington HS: $26.20 (4 home games 鈥� includes $2.20 fee)
• Bowie HS: $32.50 (5 home games 鈥� includes $2.50 fee)
• Lamar HS: $26.20 (4 home games 鈥� includes $2.20 fee)
• Martin HS: $32.50听(5 home games 鈥� includes $2.50 fee)
• Sam Houston HS: $32.50 (5 home games 鈥� includes $2.50 fee)
• Seguin HS: $27.25 (5 home games 鈥� includes $2.25 fee)

High school All-Sport passes cost $35.60 (including GoFan鈥檚 fee), and junior high All-Sport passes are $17.75 (including the fee). The All-Sport passes permit entry only at 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 venues and do not include varsity football, playoff games or tournaments.

Find more information by visiting the听athletics page. 听

Homecoming 2024-25

The 2024-25 school year hasn鈥檛 even started yet, but it鈥檚 already time to circle the dates to come home to your 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 school.

Homecoming dates for the upcoming school year are now set!

All six of our traditional high schools have scheduled their dates and opponents for their Homecoming games this year.

You won鈥檛 have to wait long to celebrate.

Homecoming for Seguin High School is slated for Thursday, Sept. 19, when the Cougars host Grapevine at Wilemon Field.

The next night, Friday Sept. 20, sees the Bowie Volunteers hosting Grand Prairie at Wilemon Field.

The next week you鈥檒l have to make a choice if you have ties to both Arlington and Lamar. Friday, Sept. 27, Lamar hosts Haltom at Cravens Field in its Homecoming game while Arlington has its Homecoming against South Grand Prairie at Choctaw Stadium.

The month of October boasts the final two Homecoming games for the district. Martin plays Haltom on Friday, Oct. 18, at Choctaw Stadium. Sam Houston closes out the Homecoming season on Friday, Oct. 25, when it plays Grand Prairie at Wilemon Field.

All six of the games start at 7 p.m.

Don鈥檛 forget season tickets for 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 football games go on sale Thursday, Aug. 1. All individual game tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. on Sundays the week before the game. All pre-sale Class 6A game tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students if purchased before 5 p.m. on game day. All tickets at the gate are $8. There will be $1 fee added to all ticket purchases. Online tickets will be available through .

Now start planning those mums!

Student-athletes look ahead to college

There was much to celebrate at the 2024 National Signing Day event Tuesday for the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区, including a significant increase in the number of participating student-athletes. The event honored 112 students from the six traditional high schools, up from 82 in 2023.

In all, they earned more than $6.3 million in scholarship dollars from over 70 colleges and universities, ranging from Texas schools like Baylor, SMU and Texas A&M to institutions like USC, Valparaiso and Montana State. Student-athletes were rewarded for their talents in a variety of sports, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track, softball, cheer and wrestling.

鈥淭his is such a fun celebration,鈥� said Eric White, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic director. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 not just about this year for these athletes, it鈥檚 about the last 12 years. It鈥檚 about their parents, their coaches, their dedication, their talent and their mental toughness.鈥�

According to White, the transfer portal has made it more difficult for high school students to receive scholarships, since college coaches can now easily pursue athletes who have already proven themselves at that level.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what make this large class of student-athletes extra special,鈥� White said.

Held at the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Athletics Center, the event highlighted the achievements of the student-athletes as they walked across the stage to congratulatory handshakes from coaches and applause from family and friends.

The event also featured a Q&A session with a former 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 student-athlete and a current 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 football coach, Emily Slagle and Malik Boynton. In response to questions from student-athletes, the pair dispensed useful advice about college life, including common obstacles like time management, stiffer competition and distractions from home.

Boynton, a Sam Houston High School football coach, attended and played cornerback in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spoke about what it took to succeed at the next level.

鈥淔or most people who didn鈥檛 make it, it wasn鈥檛 a capability thing,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to have a willingness to do what鈥檚 required. You鈥檝e got to be willing to do the work.鈥�

Slagle, a Martin High School grad who played basketball at and now coaches in Mansfield, stressed the importance of seeking help when facing struggles, especially during freshman year.

鈥淥ne of the biggest things is building a community and not trying to do it by yourself,鈥� said Slagle. 鈥淭hat can really help you in difficult times. Advocate for yourself early and be proactive about it.鈥�

Slagle was also asked about her best piece of advice for student-athletes.

鈥淒on鈥檛 give up. Don鈥檛 quit,鈥� Slayton said. 鈥淪tay patient and give yourself some grace.鈥�

from Signing Day.

Colts softball team takes new field

Play ball!

That鈥檚 what they鈥檙e doing at the new competition softball field at Arlington High School. The brand-new field is now open for practice, and the team is loving it.

鈥淗aving a brand-new home field is amazing,鈥� said senior Isbell Priddy, No. 9 on the softball team.

And long overdue, according to Arlington High softball coach Valarie Henry.

鈥淭hirty years to be exact, and these young women deserve it,鈥� Henry said. 鈥淭aking the players out to the field for the first time was like Christmas morning, seeing the smiles on their faces and wonderment in their eyes.鈥�

Arlington High鈥檚 softball team 鈥� and all district softball teams 鈥� play their games at a softball complex near Workman Junior High. But the 2019 Bond program called for each high school to get its own competition field so the softball teams can host their home games on their campuses.

Arlington High鈥檚 field is the first in the district to open and was done in conjunction with the larger bond construction project currently underway at the school. The field that was the team鈥檚 old practice field was completely renovated with new grass and dirt, plus new dugouts, bleachers, concessions, press box and scoreboard.

The one thing still missing is lights. But once the lights can be installed, the Lady Colts will start hosting their home games on campus.

And that鈥檚 a big deal.

鈥淚t means that we can have the feel of what a real home game is,鈥� Priddy said. 鈥淚t also means that we might get more school-related fans since they no longer have to travel to a different location for a 鈥榟ome game.鈥欌��

Martin High School鈥檚 field is next and will be built in conjunction with the Glaspie Field and band hall addition construction project just getting started at the school. Work on Bowie and Seguin high schools鈥� fields will start this summer. And Lamar and Sam Houston high schools鈥� fields will be built in late 2025 at the same time that their stadiums 鈥� Cravens and Wilemon 鈥� are renovated.

Watch Bond 2019 construction update

Check out the latest 2019 Bond construction update听.

Kelly Horn, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 assistant superintendent of facility services, reviews the 2019 Bond construction progress made during the fall and highlights the projects in 2024. See video and photos from three new elementary schools, new playgrounds, groundbreaking ceremonies, renovations at Short Elementary, construction at Arlington High School and Bailey Junior High, and more.

Martin wrestling 'best team in Texas'

For the first time in almost a decade, the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 is home to a state championship athletics team.

The Martin High School boys wrestling team has that honor after a dramatic win in the Class 6A state meet this weekend in Cypress.

The team ended Allen鈥檚 14-year run as the state champion and snapped a streak of six straight second-place finishes to Allen.

听鈥淚t means we鈥檙e the best team in Texas,鈥� said Martin coach Patrick Dunn, who has been Martin鈥檚 coach since 2005. 鈥淚t just came down to who wouldn鈥檛 break. Our kids came through.鈥�

The victory gave the district its first state title since the Seguin High School girls track team won the 5A state title in the spring of 2015.

Martin鈥檚 path to the title was improbable as the Warriors needed everything to go right and Allen to struggle on the final day. That鈥檚 exactly what happened as Martin had four wrestlers make the state finals and all four of its wrestlers won the weight class. Allen also had four wrestlers advance to the finals and they went 1-3.

Add a couple of upsets, a penalty here and there and a great rally by Martin鈥檚 Nicholas Zamora to win the 144-pound title over Allen鈥檚 Javin Jackson-Bey and the title was within reach for the Warriors. Martin didn鈥檛 clinch the championship until an Allen wrestler lost a championship match later in the day.

By the time the totals were posted, Martin had 190.5 points to Allen鈥檚 185. Martin had finished second to Allen in eight of the last night years.

鈥淓veryone truly cares about everyone on this team,鈥� Dunn said. 鈥淲hen kids lost, they felt like they were letting the team down. That鈥檚 not what this team is about. We pick each other up.鈥�

Of the 12 Martin boys who qualified for state, nine placed. Joining Zamora as individual state champs were Ibraheem Ahmed (175 pounds), Grayson Carpenter (165 pounds) and Isaak Arevalo (120 pounds).

Seguin鈥檚 Eshawn Tolbert also brought home a title for the Cougars by winning the 120-pound title.

Martin鈥檚 girls also finished third at state with Camille Rainey (138 pounds) and Jania Dunigan (126) winning state. Sam Houston鈥檚 Christina Faulk was the runner-up in the 235-pound class.

Super Bowl is this Sunday

The this Sunday can only mean one thing 鈥� it鈥檚 time to shine the spotlight on the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区.

And just like the last couple of years, the district will once again be represented Sunday in Super Bowl LVIII when San Francisco plays Kansas City.

The good news is the district must only pull for one team this year 鈥� the 49ers.

That鈥檚 because rookie tight end and assistant defensive backs coach are both 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 alumni.听听听听听听听听听听听

Willis graduated from Martin High School in 2018 before playing collegiately at the University of Oklahoma. He鈥檚 played in nine games for the 49ers this year. Hayes-Stoker graduated from Lamar High School in 1997. He was a running back at Lamar before going to TCU. This is his third year on the coaching staff with the 49ers and his first in this role.

色窝窝无码一区二区三区 products playing in the Super Bowl is nothing new. Two years ago, the district had players on both the Los Angeles Rams (Bobby Brown, Justin Hollins). Both Brown, who graduated from Lamar, and Martin graduate Hollins got Super Bowl rings.

听Last year, the district couldn鈥檛 lose as Lamar graduate Shane Buechele was a backup quarterback for the Chiefs and another Lamar grad Kyron Johnson played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lamar football coach Billy Skinner joked last year that there must be something in the Lamar football water. With the Vikings being repped in the Super Bowl for a third straight year, he must be onto something.

鈥淵ear one, 鈥榳ow, this is awesome!,鈥欌�� Skinner said. 鈥淵ear two, 鈥榯his is unbelievable!鈥� Year three, 鈥榥o way this just happened again!鈥� I was in complete shock. If the Niners win, that鈥檒l not only be three years of participation, but it will also be three years of having a champion Viking. It鈥檚 special.鈥�

Willis was a star at Martin, where he was one of the top runners and receivers for the Warriors. He caught 75 passes in his five years at Oklahoma and scored 13 touchdowns.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting when we have anyone from our program reach the NFL level,鈥� said Martin football coach Chad Rives, who was the offensive coordinator at Martin when Willis played there. 鈥淏ut when you have someone reach the pinnacle of the sport, it鈥檚 that much more special because it creates extra excitement and buzz for everyone in our program. It鈥檚 even better when it happens to someone of his character.鈥�

Realignment won't change much for biggest high schools

The five biggest 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 schools won鈥檛 see much change for the 2024-25 school year in the wake of the UIL releasing its for the 2024-2026 cycle.

Arlington, Bowie, Lamar, Martin and Sam Houston all remain in District 8-6A along with Grand Prairie and South Grand Prairie. Those seven teams have been in the same district for the last two realignment cycles. The only change is the addition of Haltom High School to the district for football. Haltom has been in District 8-6A for other sports.

Seguin High School, the district鈥檚 lone Class 5A team, will be facing some new teams in football as it got placed in District 3-5A in Division II along with Argyle, Burleson, Colleyville Heritage, Everman, Grapevine, The Colony, Mansfield Summit and Mansfield Timberview.

听Six of those teams made the football playoffs in 2023.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real tough district,鈥� 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic director Eric White said. 鈥淭he football district with Seguin was surprising to me. I didn鈥檛 see that happening. We鈥檙e in 8-6A for our other schools, which is where we thought we鈥檇 be.鈥�

For sports like volleyball and basketball, Seguin will shift to District 8-5A with Burleson, Burleson Centennial, Cleburne, Everman, Joshua, Mansfield Summit and Mansfield Timberview.

White said Arlington coaches have been able to fill out their non-district football schedule. One of the benefits with having eight teams in District 8-6A instead of seven is that all teams will now have a common bye week during the football season. After three non-district games, everyone will play two district games before a bye week. The district teams will then play five straight weekends to end the season.

All schools have 11 weeks to play 10 regular-season football games.

Heatwave affecting sporting events

The continued heatwave in the area is impacting the starting times for 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 sporting events.

All 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 tennis matches that were slated to start Tuesday have been moved from 3 p.m. start times to 6:30 p.m.

Also, the heat is wreaking havoc on the first week of football games.

Five of the six varsity games scheduled for Thursday or Friday have been moved back from 7 p.m. start times to 7:30 p.m. The lone exception as of now is Martin鈥檚 game at Lake Travis.

All sub-varsity games are also being impacted. The start times for junior varsity games for Seguin, Bowie and Sam Houston high schools have been moved to 7 p.m. Lamar and Arlington High School games will start their doubleheader junior varsity games at 7 p.m. this week and use running clocks and shorten the game to accommodate two games.

听Martin High School will have its sub-varsity games Wednesday night and Thursday with 7:30 starts.

鈥淓veryone鈥檚 health and safety are far more important than sports,鈥� Arlington athletics director Eric White said. 鈥淪afety is first. That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e made these adjustments in moving everything around. We鈥檙e just ready for a break. Even 95 sounds great.鈥�

White also said adjustments have been made with junior high sports. Junior high teams are practicing early in morning and then using the high school multipurpose activity centers for afternoon practices.

For a complete list of schedules, click on our athletics page here.

Physicals cost $15

Back-to-school season is here and it鈥檚 time to start scoring. Are you ready to get back in the game? Not without your physical! 听

色窝窝无码一区二区三区 is making it easy by allowing seventh- through 12th-grade 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletes to get their pre-participation physical exam on Saturday, Aug. 19, at the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Athletics Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.听

Sports physicals are mandatory for our student athletes to participate. Getting pre-participation physicals before starting athletics ensures that every 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athlete is healthy and ready to听play.

Physicals will be $15 at the door, and you must pay with cash. Be听sure to complete your medical history before your arrival. You can fill out a medical history form . 听

Cashless tickets available on Sunday prior to game

The 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 is going cashless for all sporting events this year.

All tickets for games must be purchased through .

鈥淕oing cashless is a safe decision,鈥� 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic director Eric White said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 safer as far as game management with tickets. It protects everyone involved and makes it easy.鈥�

All online tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m. on the Sunday prior to an event.

Ticket prices for the 2023-24 school year will remain the same for all high school and junior high games. For varsity Class 6A football games, tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students until 5 p.m. on game day. For 5A games, tickets are $5 for adults and students until 1 p.m. on game day. All tickets purchased after those deadlines will be $8.

Season tickets are also now on sale until Aug. 23 for all 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 varsity football teams. Tickets are $36 for Sam Houston, $30 for Arlington, Lamar and Martin, $25 for Seguin and $24 for Bowie. Those season tickets are for all home games for those teams.

For non-varsity 6A games, tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students. All Seguin tickets are $4. Tickets for non-football games are $5 for adults and $3 for students for our 6A teams and $4 for all Seguin games.

You can also purchase an all-sports pass for all non-varsity football games, playoff games and tournaments at 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 venues. Those passes are $20 for students and $50 for adults at our 6A schools and $32 for Seguin contests. Those passes are good for 10 games or 10 admissions.

All junior high games are $2 for adults and $1 for students. All sports passes are $8 for students and $15 for adults. They are good for 10 games or admissions at 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 venues.

All tickets purchased through the site will also include a convenience fee.

You can find out more information by visiting our athletics page. 听

Sports Kickoff is at Lamar High School

色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 athletics department is hosting its first-ever Fall Sports Kickoff Festival on Saturday, July 29, at Lamar High School鈥檚 Cravens Field from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 听

This in-person event听offers the opportunity for 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 football, volleyball, tennis, cross country and cheerleading coaches, teams and families to get together to kick off听the fall听season. 听听

See the flyer.

The kickoff is a great way for the community to meet and interact with听staff members and players from your school and other 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletics teams. 听

All six 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 traditional high schools will be represented and introduced at the event, followed by a performance from their cheer teams. 听

鈥淭he goal is to have a positive start to the school year,鈥� said 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletics director Eric White. 鈥淲e want people to get together, meet the community and have fun.鈥澨�听

The event will include food trucks, a live DJ and corn hole. Arrive early to sign up for the punt, pass and kick competitions at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Space is limited, and the competition is only for students in grades six and under.听

has also partnered with 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 athletic department by providing the event with four brand-new Ram trucks for participants to view. The trucks will be parked in Lamar鈥檚 east parking lot and will provide the district with a unique fundraising opportunity. Students, staff and family are all encouraged to sit inside of the truck. The more participants, the higher the donation for 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 athletic department.听

Attendees can park in the north parking lot of Lamar High School for the festival. 听

You can find out more about 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletics, including schedules for all the teams, on our athletics page here. 听

With the threat of severe weather in the forecast for this evening, the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 is canceling all after-school activities scheduled for Thursday, March 2. That includes all extracurricular activities, after-school childcare and our scheduled Board of Trustees meeting.

Please stay safe and well.

Swimmer is only a sophomore

Seguin High School sophomore Paul Nguyen is making his way to the this weekend in Austin. He is the only swimmer in the entire district advancing to the state competition.

Nguyen will be competing in his favorite race, the 50-yard freestyle, for a chance at a state title.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of myself for getting this far as a sophomore,鈥� said Nguyen. 鈥淥f course, I鈥檓 nervous because it鈥檚 my first time going to state, and I don鈥檛 know the competition. That鈥檚 my favorite part of swimming though 鈥� the adrenaline you get from competing.鈥�

With a morning routine starting at 5 a.m. that includes strenuous weight training and swimming, advancing to the state competition seems like a no-brainer, but Nguyen was still shocked that he qualified for the competition.

His head coach, Tony Tullbane, was not.

鈥淗e always handles his business,鈥� said Tullbane. 鈥淲hether he鈥檚 in the pool or the weight room, he works hard. He鈥檚 never been late to a practice this entire year, and his workmanship is like none other.

鈥淗e鈥檚 quiet and steady, and that goes over well at a state meet where there are a lot of emotions. We always knew there was a chance he could go to state 鈥� it was just a matter of him putting together the perfect race, and we鈥檙e excited he did it.鈥�

Tullbane鈥檚 first year of coaching could not have gone better with a swimmer like Nguyen on the team. The leadership, diligence and temperament he displays on the team were the perfect combination for success.

Because Nguyen is only a sophomore, he is still becoming a student of the sport and knows he has much more to learn if he wants to continue being a successful swimmer.

鈥淪wimming has taught me that no matter the obstacle, you have to keep pushing forward,鈥� said Nguyen. 鈥淚f you have a goal in mind, then your mentality to keep moving forward will help you accomplish it.鈥�

The district wishes Nguyen the best at the state swim meet and hopes he brings a state title back to Arlington. For updates on the meet, click .

Former teammates now on opposing Super Bowl teams

Lamar High School will be the home of a Super Bowl champ for the second-straight year. Only this year, it鈥檚 guaranteed.

Last year, former Lamar student Bobby Brown collected a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

This year, Lamar is covered on both sidelines as the Vikings boast players on the rosters of both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. If that wasn鈥檛 cool enough, both Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback were teammates at Lamar.

鈥淚t鈥檚 in the water, I guess,鈥� said Lamar head coach Billy Skinner, who was an assistant coach when both Johnson and Buechele played at Lamar. 鈥淚t鈥檚 neat, and it鈥檚 great for everyone. Our junior high students know they鈥檒l play at a place with a rich tradition, not just high school-wise because of [Hall of Fame coach] Eddy Peach, but because of what鈥檚 next. Our high school guys know what this area produces, and they can see what could be out there for them.鈥�

Johnson is a rookie linebacker drafted in the sixth round after playing collegiately at Kansas. He鈥檚 played in 16 games for the Eagles, recording five tackles.

"Kyron was the life of the locker room,鈥� Skinner said. 鈥淗e was always so jovial. He鈥檇 sing. You couldn鈥檛 help but love that kid and the energy he brought to the locker room. I think it was his sophomore year he started to grow into his body. You could see it coming together that this kid had an opportunity to be really special. His ability started to catch up to his natural talent.鈥�

Buechele, the son of former Texas Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele, played at both Texas and SMU before signing with the Chiefs as a free agent last year. He鈥檚 spent the last two seasons as one of the backups for MVP frontrunner Patrick Mahomes.

鈥淭he biggest thing is he was the first kid I ever met and coached that I thought, 鈥業 want my daughter to marry a dude like this,鈥欌�� Skinner said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just a fantastic kid. He was one of the best football players in the state, but you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat someone. It didn鈥檛 matter if you were the lunch lady or the head football coach; he treated everyone great. I can鈥檛 say enough nice things about him.鈥�

While Johnson has played in 16 games this season, Buechele has yet to get on the field. He goes through every practice but has been inactive for games as the No. 3 quarterback. Steve Buechele said he鈥檚 not sure if the family will go to the game for two reasons 鈥� Shane鈥檚 roster status and daughter Amber Buechele is getting married the next week.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of him and happy for him,鈥� said Steve Buechele, who had five children graduate from Lamar. 鈥淔or being in your second year in the NFL and to be able to experience a Super Bowl is unreal.鈥�

While the Buechele family will obviously be rooting for the Chiefs, they won鈥檛 be alone. Even though Skinner is proud of Johnson, he can鈥檛 make himself root for the Eagles.

鈥淚鈥檓 a Cowboys fan,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f my mom were playing for the Eagles, I wouldn鈥檛 root for her.鈥�

Only 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 runner to qualify for state

Sam Houston High School senior Jeremiah Barrera is off to the races 鈥� literally.

Barrera left Arlington Thursday morning for Round Rock, where he鈥檒l compete in the Class 6A tomorrow.

Barrera, who received a school clap-out before the trip, is the only student in the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 headed to the state championship meet to compete.

And he鈥檚 the first Sam Houston cross country runner to qualify for state in head coach Jaime Vasquez鈥檚 nine years at the school.

鈥淚t really shows that if you are consistent and trust your trainers and coaches, you can get somewhere really far,鈥� said Barrera. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really big accomplishment for me, and I鈥檓 looking forward to placing in the top 15 or 20 at state. This is for the team.鈥�

While Barrera is a state qualifier, the Sam program has built a history of success. The program has won the district title the last five years. Barrera has been a key contributor in that run.

This year, Barrera placed first at the district meet and 19^th at regionals to qualify him for state. With a personal record of 16:08 in the 3.1-mile race, Barrera is looking to surpass his previous times and bring a medal back to Sam.

It鈥檚 no wonder why he made it to state. Barrera鈥檚 training regimen consists of running 10-12 miles every day.

He is following in the footsteps of his dad and aunts, who also ran at Sam Houston. While he may be following their lead, Barrera is blazing a new path inspiring kids in his community that anything is possible.

鈥淪omething clicked for him this year, and he realized his talent,鈥� said Vasquez. 鈥淭hen the rest of the kids finally realized we can do this. He believed in himself, and he opened the door for others.

鈥淗e realized other people were putting limits on what we can do, and he challenged that and broke it. That鈥檚 what stands out about him. We鈥檙e in a very difficult region with some competitive runners, so I鈥檓 very happy he qualified for state.鈥�

Football is back

色窝窝无码一区二区三区 football teams will once again play football games at this season, with all eyes literally on Thursday night鈥檚 season opener between Martin and Lake Travis.

That鈥檚 because the 7 p.m. game will be the opener for the Geico ESPN High School Football Kickoff and will be shown live on ESPNU.

鈥淭he Martin Warriors are proud to represent the great city of Arlington on August 25th on ESPNU,鈥� Martin head coach Bob Wager said. 鈥淟et's get rockin.鈥欌��

The stadium will be rocking throughout the year as 13 games featuring 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 teams will be played at Choctaw Stadium.

鈥淎ll six of our schools get to play there, and we know that鈥檚 special,鈥� said 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic director Eric White. 鈥淭his game puts Martin on a national showcase. A lot of kids don鈥檛 have the opportunity to play on national TV and this is one of the first games in Texas and the nation to be shown nationally this year. It鈥檚 a cool privilege to have and puts a spotlight on our district. The matchup is also great.鈥�

Tickets for all 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 high school games are $4 for students and $6 for adults if purchased in advance. Tickets at the game will be $8. Online tickets will be available the Sunday prior to the game date. You can find out more information about online tickets here.

Parking for games at Choctaw Stadium will be available in Toyota Lot D, Avalon Lot E, Sequoia Lot L, Sienna Lot M, and Highlander Lot N. Parking lots will open 90 minutes prior to kickoff with the Choctaw Stadium gates opening one hour prior to kickoff.

Here is a complete list of 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 games at Choctaw Stadium:

Thursday, Aug. 25: Martin vs. Lake Travis, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 1: Sam Houston vs. Mansfield Timberview, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2: Arlington vs. North Crowley, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 8: Seguin vs. Aubrey, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 9: Martin vs. Allen, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 16: Arlington vs. Mesquite Horn, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 23: Martin vs. South Grand Prairie, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 7: Arlington vs. Bowie, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14: Martin vs. Sam Houston, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 21: Arlington vs. Lamar, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 28: Martin vs. Arlington, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 3: Arlington vs. Sam Houston, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 4: Seguin vs. Burleson, 7 p.m.

Please note that dates and times are subject to change.

Way to go Sam Houston Seniors!

It was a beautiful start to the morning at Sam Houston High School as seven seniors paraded through a flood of cheering staff and purple and white d茅cor. The students weren鈥檛 just walking down any hallway. They were walking into a hopeful future 鈥� one where their next steps will begin at Texas Christian University.

All seven students were selected as winners and will receive a four-year $250,000 scholarship to attend the prestigious university in Fort Worth. The award also includes the opportunity to study abroad, on-campus housing and a supportive network of advisors and former scholars.

The seven scholars include Eniola Akinbo, Veronica Arrocha, Jonathan Sanchez Camacho, Cristopher Gamez, Titan Henderson, Adeyemi Johnson and Oyindamola Ogunhibe.

Each year, TCU awards 50 scholarships to students at Title I schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex as a part of the Community Scholars Program. With seven recipients, Sam Houston has the largest number of students receiving the award this year.

Meet the recipients听

鈥淭his means everything to me,鈥� said Gamez. 鈥淓very sacrifice my parents made for me is worth it. All the times that we didn鈥檛 have any money, eating food that wasn鈥檛 good, and all the pain that we went through makes it all worth it.

After I graduate, I want to come back to Sam Houston to give back. This community has given so much to me. I want to give back to future students that will come into TCU, so I can instill the hope that I had when I first came here.鈥�

Sam Houston Principal Juan Villarreal, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Chief of Schools Dr. Tracie Brown, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Board of Trustees members and a host of guidance counselors and staff were in attendance to celebrate the scholars. Joy, pride and hope swept over the room as everyone took in the magnitude of the moment.

鈥淎 quarter of $1 million was not given to any of these students; it was earned,鈥� said guidance counselor Cynthia Carter. 鈥淭hey spent months here staying late to work on their applications, ask questions about their essays, and getting recommendations on top of applying to other scholarships.

鈥淚 want you to know what type of kids we have at Sam Houston. These kids work hard, know the value of their education and know their labor will not be in vain. I put our kids up against any others. I can鈥檛 think of any other kids that work as hard as ours. That's in and out of the classroom. That鈥檚 the caliber of kids we have here.鈥�

Go Frogs!听

The application process began in September, and the students have finally earned the award through their hard work, integrity, character and perseverance.

鈥淚 am extremely proud of our students. They truly exemplify what true Texans should be,鈥� Villarreal said. 鈥淭hese students work hard throughout the year. Many participate in extra-curricular activities and some even have jobs, so they鈥檙e juggling a lot of things. I know they鈥檙e well-prepared to tackle anything that comes their way, and I鈥檓 very excited for their future.鈥�

Shortly before Sam Houston High School鈥檚 varsity baseball players took the field for their first district game of the season last week, they shared a few laughs inside their school鈥檚 multipurpose activity center.

The teenagers鈥� time together was perfect and gave them an opportunity to shake their nerves. The Texans talked about their difficult opponent 鈥� the Gophers of Grand Prairie High School. They admitted that their 鈥渙verthinking鈥� while attempting to make big plays sometimes leads to costly mistakes.

Then they got the surprise of a lifetime. Tom Grieve, who has spent 54 years with the Texas Rangers as a player, executive and broadcaster, walked in. With him was Mark McLemore, a former standout second baseman for the Rangers during the late 1990s.

Meeting and receiving advice from Grieve and McLemore 鈥� who, respectively, provide color commentary and analysis for Rangers鈥� games for the network 鈥� shocked and thrilled some of the players. Particularly David Herrera, a pitcher who also plays first base.

鈥淪eeing them on TV almost every day, since you were little, you recognize them. It鈥檚 pretty awesome,鈥� Herrera said.

听Stepping up to the plate

The two legends were there on behalf of the Rangers, who are celebrating their 50^th anniversary this year. The , established in 1991, has invested more than $50 million in the community. Their efforts support children, the military, first responders and their families, as well as educational, health, and athletic programming and partnerships.

On that day, the organization donated $2,500 to Sam Houston鈥檚 baseball program. Before presenting the check to the team. Ray Casas, the foundation鈥檚 director of community impact, acknowledged Sam Houston and community members for their 鈥減erseverance," noting the difficulty brought on by the pandemic.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just here to say thanks for all of the work that these student-athletes do each and every day 鈥� and to the families, and to the school district. Because without them, our community would really be in a difficult spot,鈥� Casas said.

After coaching at the college and professional minor league levels for 14 years, Barrett Weaver has led Sam Houston鈥檚 team for the past three seasons. He said the funds will be used to purchase team bats, catcher鈥檚 gear, a set of helmets and several gloves for each position.

鈥淭he Rangers contribution is an impactful donation that is very appreciated and shows the Rangers鈥� level of commitment to local/community programs,鈥� Weaver said.

听Herrera said 鈥渁ny little bit can help,鈥� and that the money will cause his team to 鈥渋mprove as a whole unit.鈥� Yet, the senior is more excited about what will come after he graduates. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 amazing because it gives us chances to keep growing the program, to keep helping other players,鈥� he said.

A grand-slam time

Before heading off to the diamond, some of the players asked to take pictures with McLemore, dubbed 鈥淒octor of Defense鈥�. He earned this name back in the day for his outstanding fielding skills. The same went for Grieve, who is widely known as, 鈥淢r. Ranger,鈥� partially for being with the team in the 1970s, when it first moved to Arlington and was still called the Washington Senators.听

鈥淚 love talking with the kids,鈥� Grieve said. Grieve was also surprised that the boys were so informed about the individual talents of current Rangers. Especially the Rangers recent draft choices.

鈥淚t was pretty obvious to me that they know about as much as what鈥檚 going on with the team as I do right now,鈥� Grieve said. 鈥淭hey are big fans.鈥�

Like Herrera, senior Francisco Castaneda 鈥� a third baseman and pitcher 鈥� said that he most valued the legend鈥檚 advice. It's all about respecting and bonding with teammates. 听

Grieve told them, 鈥淲hile you鈥檙e here, cultivate the relationships. You鈥檙e gonna win what you鈥檙e gonna win. You鈥檙e gonna lose what you鈥檙e gonna lose. That鈥檚 not the end of the story.鈥�

If you鈥檙e watching the Winter Olympics and you hear a familiar name during the bobsledding competition, don鈥檛 be surprised.

That鈥檚 because Sylvia Hoffman, who played on Bowie High School鈥檚 state basketball championship team in 2005 and graduated in 2007, is competing on the in Beijing. Hoffman is part of a two-woman team that begins its Olympic journey Thursday.

A Winding Road

It鈥檚 been a winding road to China for Hoffman, who went from basketball player to weightlifter to Olympian. And you can鈥檛 forget about her time on a reality show or her job as a swim coach.

That road began at Bowie. While a sophomore at Bowie, Hoffman and her teammates brought the first and only women鈥檚 basketball state championship title to Arlington. She then went on to play basketball at Louisiana State University Shreveport and eventually picked up weightlifting. After competing in the U.S. weightlifting national competition in 2018, Hoffman was recruited to bobsled at a scouting camp.

Four years later she is an Olympian.

鈥淲hen it really set in that I made the U.S. Olympic team, I pulled out my phone to record a video of me dancing and celebrating,鈥� said Hoffman as she laughed and recalled the moment. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge accomplishment and I didn鈥檛 want to try to rely on me remembering the feeling, so I just documented the moment, so I鈥檇 always have it and never forget how I felt.

鈥淚 enjoy the art of competition because I love seeing positive results after I set a goal and put my mind on accomplishing it. The Olympics is no different, so I鈥檓 looking forward to winning a gold medal.鈥�

It鈥檚 not out of the question, either. During the most recent World Cup season, Hoffman and teammate Kaillie Humphries earned two bronze medals.

One-of-a-kind athlete

Since 2018, Hoffman has enjoyed learning the sport of bobsledding and applying principles from basketball and weightlifting to help her succeed. When asked how she excelled in bobsledding so quickly, she credited weightlifting for teaching her to mentally focus along with her ability to apply critical thinking skills to any sport.

Her basketball coach at Bowie, Wanda Talton, agreed that Hoffman鈥檚 mental and physical aptitude helped her become a one-of-a-kind athlete.

鈥淪he had an unbelievable work ethic,鈥� said Talton. 鈥淚n high school, she wasn鈥檛 always the best athlete on the court, but she was driven to be great. That鈥檚 what made her stand out.

鈥淚 saw her at a weightlifting competition and was amazed by her skill level. She鈥檚 grown so much as an athlete, so it was one of those 鈥榩roud momma bear moments鈥� when I found out she made the Olympic team.鈥�

Although it鈥檚 been 15 years since Walton coached Hoffman at Bowie, the duo still keeps in touch. Talton gives advice and shares coaching tips with Hoffman who became a coach herself. Hoffman coached a swim team before starting to train for the Olympics.

鈥淚 knew I owed it to myself to teach someone else everything I鈥檝e learned about sports, so that鈥檚 how I started coaching,鈥� said Hoffman. 鈥淚 always teach my kids to go all out and do their best at every meet, so I have to practice what I preach to them. It keeps me motivated to go hard when times get tough.鈥�

Give it all you got. Whether it鈥檚 in sports, work or whatever you鈥檙e pursuing, you can鈥檛 be afraid to set big goals. When you can be yourself, not afraid to be different and pursue your dreams wholeheartedly, you鈥檒l always love what you do.鈥�

Bobsled

Women began competing in bobsledding at the Olympics in 2002, and the United States has one of the top teams. Hoffman and her teammates plan to continue the tradition in 2022. The star athlete has no plans of slowing down any time soon either and looks forward to becoming a bobsled pilot driver at the end of the season and competing again in the 2026 Olympics.

Hoffman currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., and enjoys spending time with her friends and family when she鈥檚 not training.

Keep up with Hoffman and Team USA at and visit the for official updates.

Super Bowl Sunday

There are Texans all over the Los Angeles Rams roster as they prepare for the Super Bowl Sunday.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford played at Highland Park. Linebacker Von Miller hails from DeSoto. Defensive lineman A鈥橲hawn Robinson is from Fort Worth.

But the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 has two players hoping to win a championship in defensive lineman and linebacker . Brown was a standout at Lamar High School before going to Texas A&M University and getting drafted last year.

Hollins played for Martin High School head coach Bob Wager in 2013 before going to the University of Oregon. Hollins is in his second season with the Rams.

The Super Bowl is always the most-watched sporting event in the United States. There鈥檚 no doubt Lamar and Martin football fans will be a vocal part of the viewing audience this Sunday.

鈥淲hat an awesome statement about the state of football in Arlington, Texas,鈥� said Wager.

You make 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 proud

Brown was a three-year star at Lamar. He was an all-district standout as a junior and was one of the top prospects in Texas before signing with A&M, where he went on to become an All-SEC performer.

鈥淚鈥檓 just fired up for it,鈥� said Lamar head coach Billy Skinner, who was the Lamar defensive coordinator when Brown played there. 鈥淚鈥檓 so fired up for the kid. He鈥檚 worked so hard. His family has worked so hard.鈥�

He was drafted in the fourth round by the Rams and has played in 13 games this year. Before he went to training camp with the Rams, Brown came back to Arlington to talk to the current Lamar football players.

鈥淚鈥檓 not really surprised he made it to this point,鈥� Skinner said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had kids who were really, really good at football. He鈥檚 just a good young man. He鈥檚 got a really good head on his shoulders.鈥�

Hollins made the most of his one year at Martin in 2013 and was one of the top 100 recruits in the state. He was an all-conference player with Oregon and spent his rookie season in 2019 with Denver before going to the Rams. He made two starts this year and has two sacks.

About the stars

How good was the Martin team Hollins played on? He was one of the defensive ends on a team that also featured Myles Garrett, who was the other defensive end and went on to the be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft and is currently an All-Pro for Cleveland.

鈥淗e was a great teammate,鈥� Wager said of Hollins. 鈥淚 loved having a chance to coach him. This is big for the Martin High School family. This is big for our football program. We鈥檙e all Rams fans. He鈥檚 one of our own.鈥�

Wager is in his 16^th season at Martin. He鈥檚 had a lot of players come through his program, but Hollins is the first to play in the Super Bowl.

鈥淲hen you stay at a place for a long time, there鈥檚 rarely a time when you turn on a college game and don鈥檛 see either a player you鈥檝e coached or coached against. It鈥檚 become a rarity when it happens. It鈥檚 commonplace anymore on Saturdays and more on Sundays. This is remarkable really.鈥�

Don't forget to watch the Super Bowl Sunday night at 5:30 on NBC and pull for our 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Rams.

It will be status quo for 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 five largest high schools in the wake of the releasing its realignment details for the 2022-2024 cycle.

That鈥檚 because Arlington, Bowie, Lamar, Martin and Sam Houston are all remaining in District 8-6A along with Grand Prairie and South Grand Prairie. Those seven teams make up the current District 8-6A, which will be the case this fall.

The UIL released its reclassification and realignment details for football, basketball, and volleyball on Thursday morning. Typically, area coaches gather and hash out schedules. But the winter weather led to Zoom meetings and phone calls to work through the details.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little challenging, but with the way we鈥檝e had to work the last couple of years with Zoom and phone calls, it wasn鈥檛 that hard,鈥� said 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic director Eric White.

White said he thought that Arlington schools could go in the same district with the three largest Mansfield schools to make an eight-team district. Remaining in a seven-team district means schools will have to work with bye weeks in district play.

While the five largest 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 schools aren鈥檛 in for any changes, that鈥檚 not the case for Seguin High School. Seguin is now in District 5-5A Division II. It鈥檚 a stacked football district that includes Mansfield Summit, Corsicana, Burleson, Ennis and Everman.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a tough district for us to compete in with all those one-school districts,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檒l find a way. That鈥檚 a really strong district.鈥�

In volleyball and basketball, Seguin will play in District 8-5A, a nine-team district including two schools from Mansfield and two from Midlothian.

Follow your dreams!

Promise and perseverance were on full display at 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 National Signing Day ceremony Wednesday morning. More than 40 students representing all six traditional high schools gathered at the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Athletics Complex before family, friends, coaches and administrators to celebrate a milestone moment in their lives.

鈥淭oday, for me, meant that anything can be possible,鈥� Sam Houston High School senior Perla Flores said. 鈥淭o see everyone here, all these students, we were able to accomplish something. Looking around the room, I was able to see that every single person is able to go somewhere. We all have so many opportunities.鈥�

Flores is headed to on a track/cross country scholarship. The 44 students from nine different sports recognized are heading to 35 colleges and universities on athletic scholarships totaling $1.9 million, according to 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 officials.

Former Dallas Cowboys lineman and guest speaker addressed the students, sharing memories of his journey, as well as the road that lies ahead for those taking the next step in their athletic and academic careers.

鈥淚 wanted to tell them that while college is a fun experience, make sure you take it serious,鈥� said Looney, who played for the Cowboys from 2016-21 before retiring. 鈥淭here are also lots of distractions that can get you out there. I wanted to give them some wise words.

鈥淚t was amazing today to reminisce and think about the past. They have so much ahead of them. The opportunity they have is so great. They put themselves in such a wonderful position. It鈥檚 great to see these young people taking advantage of their opportunities.鈥�

[embed]https://youtu.be/P8lZ7zdxUuE[/embed]

Know your why

Seguin High School football player Quinton Harris reflected on hard work and dedication that went into Signing Day.

鈥淭o see a lot of the athletes in our area moving on to bigger and better things warms my heart,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淓veryone is going up to the next level and going to make themselves proud and be a better person in life.鈥�

Dealing with the loss of his father in March 2020, the signee has strived to honor his memory and make a positive impact in all facets of his life.

鈥淗e鈥檚 always been my drive to go harder and be the better man,鈥� Harris said of his father. 鈥淢y brothers were good athletes, and they went through all this, and my dad always taught me to keep focused. His last words were to make my mom proud. I want to make him proud. Hopefully, I can continue to do that for him. That鈥檚 what got me to this point.鈥�

You make 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 proud听听

This Signing Day class has dealt with several challenges throughout high school that could have derailed their aspirations. Coming out on the other side is a testament to their strength and resolve.

鈥淣ational Signing Day is one of my favorite days of the year,鈥� Arlington High School football coach Scott Peach said. 鈥淲e get to celebrate the accomplishments of our senior athletes who get a chance to move on and accomplish great things in their lives. We鈥檙e very proud to have a small part of that.

鈥淚 think with this group it鈥檚 even more special because the challenges that this group has had to face with COVID and Omicron. It鈥檚 been easy for our youth across the country to just sit at home and not move forward in life. For all these young people to make the decision to fight and to work hard to chase their dreams and do it during a pandemic is incredible.鈥�

Coach Criss, the honorable听

The Texas High School Coaches Association knows how to read a room.

Next month the organization is honoring longtime 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 coach Anthony Criss with the at their leadership summit in Arlington.

Normally, the recipient is given 20 minutes for their speech. The is giving the loquacious Criss an extra five minutes.

Smart move.

Criss is being honored for his impact on the team, school and community because of his passion and commitment to coach beyond the game.

鈥淚t鈥檚 tremendous, especially because of who it鈥檚 named for,鈥� Criss said. 鈥淕rant Teaff was a great college coach, a great Christian man. Just to be nominated first was a great honor. To actually win it, it means a lot to me. It means a lot to my family because we鈥檙e a coaching family. Coaching beyond the game is what our family鈥檚 all about. That鈥檚 what I try to be about. It鈥檚 what we exemplify. It鈥檚 life lessons beyond the game.鈥�

Lead by example

It鈥檚 a well-deserved honor.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a surprise at all that he won it,鈥� 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 athletic director Eric White said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the way he鈥檚 spent his entire career 鈥� fighting for kids and loving them. We鈥檙e excited for him and how he represents the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区.鈥�

Criss, who has been the head football coach at Sam Houston High School for the last 11 years, has decided to quit coaching football. Criss, who is now working with students at Carter Junior High, has put in his time in the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区. He spent six years as the head football coach at Bowie and 11 at Sam Houston. He was also an assistant athletic director for six years in the district.

Add in the time he spent as a coach at Fort Worth鈥檚 Wyatt High School and Criss has been coaching for 36 years, including 25 as a head coach.听

He has no regrets about moving away from coaching.

Stay the course听

鈥淲hen I was an assistant AD, I was fresh off coaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his time there鈥檚 no more expected. I鈥檓 sure I鈥檒l still be doing something with athletics. Because of my health it was time to finally hang them up. Now I can do some things not related to head coaching, but I鈥檒l still be involved with athletes and kids and coaching and mentoring coaches. The first four weeks of this have been refreshing. I鈥檝e actually slept really good.鈥�

Criss is still trying to get Sam Houston athletes into college with National Signing Day Feb. 2. He鈥檒l be in Austin this weekend trying to make that happen.

Then, it will be speech preparation time for the Feb. 28 summit at the eSports Stadium. Criss said he plans to focus his speech on program building, which is something he鈥檚 been able to do at all three of his coaching stops. He had programs that won state titles at Bowie and Wyatt, and the Sam Houston soccer team went to state while Criss was the athletic coordinator there.

And Criss will keep his speech on time.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to give an ordained Baptist preacher 20 minutes?鈥� Criss said when he first heard about the time constraints. 鈥淭hey came back and said 25 minutes. The people at the coaching association didn鈥檛 believe I could do it.鈥�

Baseball is just a sport to some, but for the Arlington High School Colts, it鈥檚 a brotherhood.

The team took that meaning to a new level when they pitched in together to purchase gifts for Saginaw Boswell High School鈥檚 baseball team, which was recently affected by the tragic loss of brothers and teammates Isaiah and Elijah Lopez.

Gift baskets full of sunflower seeds, bubble gum, training supplies and other baseball essentials were given to the Pioneers to show them support during this difficult time.

鈥淲e have had many teams reach out to offer condolences and donations to the Lopez family, and they could not be more appreciated,鈥� said Boswell head coach Joshua Stone. 鈥淗owever, [Arlington High] Coach [Brian] Womack wanted to come talk to our program with his captains and pay it forward with the gift basket.

鈥淲e are very appreciative of not only the gifts but the fact that they wanted to come let us know that we are not alone. Our whole community has been very supportive, but the baseball community has really banded together for us.鈥�

The Arlington Colts baseball team is familiar with the effects of grief since they went through a similar situation in 2017 with the passing of teammate Clayton Winkles. After his death, the team was given a gift basket from a local team. They decided to pay it forward to other teams experiencing grief.

Since 2017, the team has filled gift baskets for Burleson Centennial, Waxahachie and now Boswell.

鈥淚t is a powerful moment to be able to deliver a gift to another team,鈥� said Womack. 鈥淚t is a moment that hopefully sticks with my players as they grow up and understand that life is bigger than baseball, and the baseball community is what brings us together.

鈥淚 hope and pray that we never have to deliver another basket to a team in the area, but if we do, the Colt baseball program will be there in support of the teammates, coaches and friends that are trying to piece their world back together.鈥�

Arlington principal Stacie Humbles also expressed how important the moment was for her to see the team鈥檚 kindness and support toward the Boswell boys. Humbles, who previously lived in the Saginaw neighborhood, knew the Lopez brothers since they were children playing t-ball.

鈥淚 was so proud of our baseball team when I heard about this gesture, and I believe it really shows how an act of kindness and thoughtfulness is truly never forgotten,鈥� said Humbles.听 鈥淚 have a son who plays baseball, and I understand the brotherhood that exists between athletes no matter what team you play on. It was extremely special to see that brotherhood play out between schools 30 miles away from each other.鈥�

From playing sports to group projects and almost any other activity that requires a team setting, winning or being successful in some capacity is usually the end goal for most participants.

However, that鈥檚 not the case for Seguin High School senior Ali Gutierrez. The three-sport athlete displayed an incredible act of humanity and sportsmanship in a time where she could鈥檝e continued to focus on herself and her team.

Gutierrez was almost done with her second mile in a cross country meet at in Denton. As she pushed through the unfamiliar terrain, humidity and exhaustion, she noticed another runner from a different school injured on the ground. Instead of passing by to finish the race like other runners, she stopped to help. Gutierrez placed the runner鈥檚 arm around her shoulder and ran with her for a half-mile until she was able to get help from an athletic trainer.

鈥淓verybody just kept passing her up while she was on the ground crying out in pain,鈥� said Gutierrez. 鈥淚 knew I couldn鈥檛 just leave her there alone. I was so exhausted during the meet, and I was just trying to focus on my timing. When I saw her there, it was just a natural instinct to help someone who was clearly in need.鈥�

Like almost any coach would, Seguin cross country coach Renwick Ridgeway had conflicting feelings moments after learning what Gutierrez had done.

鈥淎s a coach, I was upset because I wanted her to focus on her timing and finish the race out,鈥� said Ridgeway. 鈥淏ut as a person, I couldn鈥檛 have been prouder of Ali for displaying what true service looks like. She鈥檚 shown leadership qualities since I began coaching her as a freshman and is simply the kind of kid that you would want to represent your program.鈥�

Just a few short years ago, Ali鈥檚 compassion would have gotten her disqualified from the race because of rules that were in place.

鈥淚鈥檇 do it all over again in a heartbeat,鈥� said Gutierrez.

Her willingness to help others doesn鈥檛 stop there. Soccer is her primary sport, but she runs cross country and track as well to help both teams since they needed help. Without question, Gutierrez is a team player.

鈥淪he got home from the meet, surprised me with candy and flowers, and casually told me about her helping the injured runner,鈥� said Ali鈥檚 mother, Crystal Gutierrez. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always Ali. She鈥檚 just a nice, caring person. I was so proud, because I know she鈥檒l always do the right thing when it needs to be done.鈥�

The day after the meet, Seguin principal Ray Borden received an unexpected email from the mother of the injured runner from Van Alystne. It was filled with praise and expressions of gratitude for Ali Gutierrez鈥檚 graciousness as an athlete and young woman.

Seguin鈥檚 administrative staff and the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 are incredibly proud of Ali Gutierrez鈥檚 heart and willingness to serve others.

鈥淢y purpose in life is to help people in any way I can, whether it鈥檚 helping someone with homework or seeing if they have a meal to eat,鈥� said Ali Gutierrez. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 supposed to do while I鈥檓 here.鈥�

The senior plans to attend TCU or the University of Texas at Austin to begin studying to be a pediatrician or surgeon. Becoming a doctor may take a little while, but the standout already has a great head start with her heart for humanity.

An amazing student, athlete and daughter 鈥� Ali Gutierrez is a walking billboard for compassion, kindness and selflessness. Her story is a reminder that opportunities to show thoughtfulness and empathy are always near, and the decision to serve others will always end in a win.

Saturday morning, 10-year-old Brayson Barnard desperately tried to catch a football thrown by , the new Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman.

No, Barnard, of Tolar, wasn鈥檛 still in bed, dreaming. The two were inside Bowie High School鈥檚 Multipurpose activity center, where Nsekhe was hosting a football camp. And another youth participant kept intercepting the pro athlete鈥檚 passes to Barnard.

That鈥檚 when his buddy Austin Roberts stepped in. Showing no fear, the 10-year-old Roberts 鈥� sporting his favorite player Odell Beckham Jr.鈥檚 Cleveland Browns jersey 鈥� yelled out to the 6-foot-9-inch, 330-pound Nsekhe. Twice. He wanted him to throw another pass to Barnard since the other kids had left for another side of the indoor field.

Nsekhe obliged. The youngster caught the 10-yard pass. The moment was priceless.

鈥淚 was so excited,鈥� Barnard said, adding that he wants to one day play for the Cowboys, a team that his 鈥渆ntire family鈥� loves.

The boys were among more than 100 participants 鈥� between ages 6-18 鈥� who attended the five-hour long, non-contact football camp. For the fourth year in a row, Nsekhe teamed up with the Arlington Police Department to host the event at Bowie, his alma mater.

Since his professional career began 12 years ago, Nsekhe (pronounced听en-SECK-he)听has been giving back to Arlington and surrounding communities. In 2017, the Ty Nsekhe Foundation was established to empower and enhance the lives of youth through mentorship, scholarships and various programs.

Because of the pandemic, it was crucial that he held his camp this year. Nsekhe said kids need extra inspiration and an opportunity to socialize, all while trying to improve their football skills. Such was the case for Jacob Martin and Eian Jones 鈥� who play for Young Junior High School 鈥� and Brandon Heath, a member of Boles Junior High School鈥檚 team.

The close friends hung out and participated in a variety of combine drills, ranging from the 40-yard dash to position-specific training for both offensive and defensive players. However, attending the event was even more personal for Heath, who plays various defensive positions at his school. The 12-year-old鈥檚 grandfather Forest Gill passed away last year.

鈥淚 just want to make my skills better so I have a chance to make D-1 (Division 1 school) 鈥� So I know that I鈥檝e done something right, just to make him proud,鈥� Heath said.

Home sweet home

Like Heath, Nsekhe was once a preteen finding his way on the football field. Raised by a single mom in Arlington, he had a stellar career at Bowie before playing at Texas State University in San Marcos. Undrafted in 2009, Nsekhe began his professional career in the now-defunct Arena Football League with the Corpus Christi Sharks. He also saw stints with other teams including the Dallas Vigilantes and San Antonio Talons until 2012.

That鈥檚 when the NFL came calling. Throughout his career, Nsekhe has suited up for the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills. This past March, the Cowboys signed him to a one-year, $1.75 million contract. The former Bowie Volunteer, now 36, is still on cloud nine. 听

鈥淚t feels like I鈥檓 in high school again 鈥� Coming home to play in front of family and friends, is love,鈥� Nsekhe said, recalling how some of his relatives and close friends couldn鈥檛 travel 鈥� nor could they brave Buffalo鈥檚 ultra-cold weather 鈥� to go to his games.

Nsekhe is grateful for the continued support of those loved ones for whom he鈥檚 鈥渂een a pillar.鈥� His heart bleeds for local underprivileged youths as well. And for good reason.

Nsekhe reflected on how his mom once couldn鈥檛 afford to buy him a pair of sneakers that cost more than $200 because of his 16 shoe size. After his mom shared the dire situation with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Nsekhe said he had some shoes shipped to him.

鈥淪o I just want to pay the action forward,鈥� he said.

His camp was free and the kids also received a catered lunch and complimentary t-shirts bearing his name and jersey number. But the football lessons were invaluable. The kids鈥� races around cones and tire drills, for instance, gave them a major workout.

鈥淲e did a bunch (of drills), in a short amount of time,鈥� said event coach Joseph Williams, who serves as offensive lineman coach and run-game coordinator for Bowie.

APD Chief Al Jones also shared some laughs with the youths while encouraging them to make great choices. Trying to bridge gaps between his officers and the youths, he urged them to 鈥渃ome up to speak or give me a high five,鈥� if they were to cross paths with him in public.听

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want you to think (police) are trouble,鈥� Jones said.

Reaching out to all

While only a handful of girls attended the camp, Nsekhe was thrilled that some young ladies accepted his invitation to help enhance their talents. He said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 2021. It鈥檚 time to be inclusive. You have girl sports everywhere 鈥� Why just make it a 鈥渂oys only鈥� thing?鈥�

Maurisa Goldston, who has played cornerback in the tackle Legends Football League for years, recently started 鈥淔ierce Beauties.鈥� The first-ever all-girl flag football league in Texas, based in Fort Worth, will serve about 60 girls between ages 4-18, starting this fall.

Nicknamed 鈥淏aby Deion鈥� (after the legendary former Cowboys star cornerback Deion Sanders), Goldston took four of her players to Nsekhe鈥檚 camp.

鈥淵ou need to learn from every athlete 鈥� You can鈥檛 get it all from me. And especially with it being a free camp, why not soak it all up?鈥� Goldston said she told them.

听听听听听听听听 Feeling the exact same way was Caroline Simpson 鈥� the only girl on the varsity football team for Denton鈥檚 Guyer High School before she graduated this spring. The slot receiver said that she couldn鈥檛 miss Nsekhe鈥檚 camp. The 18-year-old hopes to land a flag football scholarship from the University of St. Mary in Kansas.

While at the camp, Simpson appreciated the tips from the coaches and the time to practice running routes. The 鈥渄ie-hard Cowboy fan鈥� took pride in leaving one of the male participants in her dust during one of the drills.

Simpson quipped, 鈥淚鈥檓 just as athletic as the boys.鈥� 听听听听

听

Walt Disney World isn鈥檛 the only place where dreams come true. According to retired swimming coaches Cindy Lane and Jon Ivonen, dreams come true in Arlington, too. Their longtime wishes finally came true when the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 first district pool opened to swimmers last fall.

Both coached club swimming and in the district for more than 60 years combined and always desired a pool they could call their own after years of sharing facilities with the public.

鈥淔or years we had to rent pools at UTA, TCC, and Hugh Smith just so our kids could have a place to practice for meets,鈥� said Ivonen. 鈥淭rying to coordinate practice schedules for teams, getting kids to and from the pools, and so many other tasks simply started to become a hassle.鈥�

Season after season the idea of getting a district pool started to become a mere wish until the 2014 Bond passed.

鈥淒isheartening is the only word I can think of to describe how we felt when it seemed like the pool wasn鈥檛 a priority to most,鈥� said Ivonen. 鈥淓ventually, it turned to satisfaction when we found out the good news about the natatorium.鈥�

鈥淲e thought there would be a district pool eventually, but we just didn鈥檛 know when that time would finally come,鈥� said Lane. 鈥淲hen we found out we were actually getting a pool, it was so exciting to finally see the natatorium go from a big idea in our heads to concrete plans.鈥�

Near the end of their coaching careers, some facilities required Lane and Ivonen to set team practice schedules up to one year in advance along with other challenging requirements that seemed nearly impossible to meet.

鈥淭o see this come through was a dream come true, and it put us on an equal platform with other surrounding school districts,鈥� said Ivonen. 鈥淔or a while it felt like we couldn鈥檛 compete, but the natatorium restored hope in the future of our district swimmers.鈥�

The district鈥檚 new natatorium was worth dreaming about. It has a 50-meter world-class听built in Italy and shipped in pieces to Texas. The pool鈥檚 unique design minimizes wake and gives all swimmers clean water. It also has moveable bulkheads and a diving area with four boards. It offers seating for 1,000 spectators and also houses a warm-up pool.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 so exciting to be able to walk into a world-class facility and know that our kids have the opportunity to swim there,鈥� said Lane. 鈥淎bove all, the natatorium means more students鈥� lives we can save.鈥�

As a component of the curriculum for third grade, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 is beginning a course for students to teach them the basics of water safety.

Ivonen and Lane may not have received the opportunity to coach at the natatorium, but their sacrifice and dedication to ensuring the district would get one created a legacy that will impact more lives than they鈥檒l ever know.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just a nice building for the students,鈥� said Ivonen. 鈥淭his is a great facility for the entire Arlington community.

The new 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Athletics Center, a 2014 Bond project, includes the natatorium and an arena for basketball, volleyball and wrestling. To learn more about the 2014 Bond project, please visit aisd.net/bond.

Dive into 色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 brand new pool with the district鈥檚 brand new swim club!

Tryouts are Tuesday, June 15, for all kids ages five and up.

• Last names A-M are from 4-5 p.m.
• Last names N-Z are from 5-6 p.m.

"I am excited the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Aquatics Club is open and welcoming families from across the metroplex,鈥� said Suzanne Dangelmaier, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 natatorium director and aquatics coordinator. 鈥淥ur swim club offers year-round competitive swim coaching and stroke school lessons for children ages five and up. We offer tuition discounts for those that qualify for free and reduced lunch and for full-time 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 staff. Please join us as we make a splash in our state-of-the-art natatorium!"

Here鈥檚 what you need to know:

Who can try out?
All kids ages 5-18. Your child does not have to attend an 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 school or live in Arlington.

What do I need to bring?
Bring a bathing suit, goggles and a towel.

Before arriving at your tryout, please fill out . It will be used to help our coaches evaluate your child's skills. If possible, please print out the form and bring it with you.

How long will the tryouts take?
Tryouts should take approximately 20 minutes.

Where is the tryout?
Tryouts and swim practices are at the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区's Athletics Center at . The district's new natatorium features听a 50-meter world-class听 with moveable bulkheads and a diving area with four boards. The natatorium offers seating for 1,000 spectators and also houses a warm-up pool.

What will the tryout entail?
Your child will be asked to swim across the 25-yard pool using any stroke that they are comfortable with. If they can do more than one stroke, we may ask them to demonstrate that. If not, it's not a problem. Our tryouts are designed to help us determine what group your swimmer is best suited to. For more information on our team structure, please see the .

What if my child is not a strong swimmer yet?
That鈥檚 ok. The swim club is open for students looking for an intro to swimming as well as for competitive swimmers. We have swim lessons available for beginners.

To find out more about the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Aquatics Club, visit or email Megan Howard at mhoward4@aisd.net.

Most district athletes to qualify since 2011

Six 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 high school gymnasts are heading to the Texas High School Gymnastics Championship this week after qualifying at the Region IV Championship meet. The record-breaking team includes the most district athletes to qualify for state since 2011.

The championship meet at Euless Trinity High School starts Wednesday and runs through Saturday.听

Qualifying students placed individually and in the top 10 all around, in which girls and boys compete in four or six events respectively. Zach Kravitz, Landry Middleton, Kamille See, Kassadi Smith and Courtney Varrichio are representing Martin High School and Paige Taylor is an Arlington High School student.听

The state meet caps off a year of rigorous training, and the team is eager to end the six-month competition season by bringing home trophies to the district. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the team devoted nearly three hours to practicing every weekday in face masks due to district protocols.听

鈥淭he biggest challenge since the pandemic has been trying to be flexible,鈥� said Varrichio, a junior at Martin. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had to go to smaller meets, and it鈥檚 been harder to bond with our teammates since we can鈥檛 travel.鈥�

In the face of hardships, the team found a way to continue to support and challenge one another throughout the season. Practices and meets were filled with team prayers, chants and praise while preparing to compete.听

鈥淚 love the atmosphere at high school meets because everyone is yelling and cheering you on,鈥� Kravitz said.

The gymnasts credit their coaches, Amber Kelly and Rachel Reed, for their constant support and motivation and helping them get through a year like no other.听

鈥淭hey are always remaining positive, pushing us to our full potential and encouraging us to do our best,鈥� Taylor said.

Kelly and Reed make for a great team themselves. Both say their desire to coach stemms from wanting to give back to the community that supported them when they were in school The two have known each other since they were 11, going through the same gymnastics program. Kelly, a Seguin High School graduate, and Reed, a Martin grad, were gymnasts in the district back in the early 1990s, when 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 students trained and competed for their respective schools at meets across the state.

Fast forward 20 years and Kelly and Reed have coached up one of the strongest teams the district has seen in years.

鈥淨uirky, welcoming, and committed鈥� came to mind as Kelly and Reed described the heart of their team.

鈥淚f we win at state, we will be so excited and proud to bring the trophy back to our school,鈥� said See. 鈥淲e鈥檒l know that our hard work throughout the year has paid off.鈥�

For more information on state, please visit the meet鈥檚 . Only 250 tickets will be made available for each session. Tickets can be purchased .

Owens started at center for national champion Crimson Tide

Back in February 2016, 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 hosted its annual national signing day event at the Professional Development Center. One of the nearly 70 students honored for receiving athletic scholarships that day was Lamar High School football player Chris Owens, a highly-rated offensive lineman heading to the University of Alabama.

Fast forward five years almost to the day. Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams proclaimed yesterday, Feb. 9, 2021, to be Chris Owens Day.

It鈥檚 an honor well-deserved.

Just last month, Owens started at center for the Alabama Crimson Tide in its national championship victory over Ohio State, played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, just a few minutes from Lamar.

But while being a national champion is a big deal 鈥� actually he鈥檚 a two-time national champion and three-time Southeast Conference champion 鈥� that鈥檚 not the only reason the City of Arlington honored Owens.

In high school, Owens was highly decorated for both football and academics, earning multiple city, state and national football honors. At Alabama, he continued to make academics a priority. He made the Dean鈥檚 List five consecutive years, was named to the SEC All-Community Service team, was a member of the SEC Leadership Committee, and he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism and creative media and a master鈥檚 degree in sports administration.

And he鈥檚 done all that with humility and servant leadership.

鈥淐hris was not only an instrumental part of our football success but was a leader on and off the field as well,鈥� said Laban DeLay, head football coach at Lamar. 鈥淲hen he does return home for a visit, he always comes by to catch up, work out and on several occasions has visited with our current Lamar Vikings. We are very proud of his accomplishments thus far. He always has a large fan base in the Lamar community because of his humble attitude and servant leadership.鈥�

That large fan base includes his former teachers.

鈥淗e was always a competitor but with a kind, gentle spirit, always working well with others,鈥� said Lisa Wilson, Owen鈥檚 physical education teacher at Larson Elementary. 鈥淗e was a joy to teach!听He has the best smile too!听I think recognizing Chris is fantastic and well deserved!鈥�

Owens plans to return to next year for his final year of college athletic eligibility.