William Corbett, a team member, sums it up this way. “This team is like a family
to me because we are always there for each other.”

Many residents of Ennis know about the Ennis Independent School District school bus dubbed “The Pirate Ship” used to transport members of the Ennis Pirates U 12 select baseball team from an intermediate school to an elementary campus where several of their parents work. So what is so special about this team? By choosing to compete in the Southwest Classic League with Dallas area teams, the Pirates do not always win every game. “These kids aren’t going to remember how many games they won,” Neil remarked, “but they will remember the camaraderie and individual plays.”

Coach Jason Baker sets high expectations for the boys. “They’re all excellent students, which is a great accomplishment while staying so busy playing baseball,” Sharon Honza, a team mom, stated. Team members include: Ian Baker, William Corbett, Brett Doring, Rhett Holcomb, Jacob Honza, Mason Hopkins, Cole Howeth, Logan Lipscomb, Evan Moreno, Dylan Nors and Matthew Shorrock. “Each and every one of these boys has a desire to be a good baseball player,” Jason said. “They are respectful kids; they are very coachable kids, and they have developed a strong work ethic.”

Already the team has accumulated some memorable plays. Neil remembered the first tournament. “We won against  a pitcher, who threw 62 miles per hour,
and we went on to win the championship in the last inning. It was pretty neat stuff
hitting a kid that could throw like that,” Neil remembered. “The kids were so proud.”

Another great moment occurred at the Little Heroes Field in Dallas last spring. Jason recalled, “We got beat 17-2. They made us look like we didn’t know our business. We came back and beat the first seed team, then played for the championship and won a trophy. This was the turning point for the team; they were turning into baseball players. They quickly found out baseball is a disciplined, mental game. It’s all about experience.”

Experience is what Jason brings to coaching with a degree in kinesiology, and experience playing baseball at Ennis High School and college. “Jason made us realize how complex baseball is,” Neil offered. “He gives the kids a chance to grow.” However, each coach has brought skills to the team. Neil, a CPA by profession, said, “I know my role. I handle the administrative side for the team.”
Jason agreed, “Neil speaks reality when I see stars. There is a good ebb and flow between all of us.”

There should be; these coaches have been doing this job since their boys were on a team for 4-year-olds. Neil’s wife, Carrie, and daughters, Marley and Morgan, are ready to assist and cheer as are Jason’s wife, Kim and daughter, Katie. Assistant Coach Chris Shorrock completes the coaching team. All three coaches have sons on the team.

The coaches are quick to give the parents credit for the success of the team. “Parents are our biggest asset,” Neil stated. “These are good kids parented by good parents. They make Ennis proud.” Parents organize fundraisers, carpool to games, serve as officers, create the team’s Web site and offer support to each other.
“The Pirate families spend a lot of time with each other,” Robin Corbett, team mom, stated. The boys even get to cheer on their parents who formed their own baseball league team, the Night Terrors.

The Pirates attract a large following from the Ennis community at games. Teachers, neighbors, church and extended family members are often in attendance and are supportive in every way. The team also lists many business supporters within the community on their Web site: www.ennispiratesu11.shutterfly.com. “We truly are community-based,” Jason said.

Having fun is important especially in the fight against burnout. The spring season’s games revealed the kids were a little rusty in their skills which gave them a rocky start. “Every kid is a darn good ballplayer. We had to teach them that the challenge gave them a greater opportunity to excel,” Jason said. “The kids have worked hard. We have to develop ‘muscle memory.’ Everyone practices with a sense of purpose and a smile on his face. Hopefully, if these kids have a chance to play in high school, college or beyond, these skills and experiences will serve them well.”

As the season matures, so do these young baseball players suited out in red and black. Team father, Chad Corbett reflected, “I think each of these boys will be able to cherish the memories of this experience when they are adults.”
His son, William, said it all. “There is no better place to be on the weekend than on the baseball field.”

Written by Virginia Riddle

The Mansfield RiverCats boys have been playing together since 2007. “Our team came together because there was a group of us parents who were all friends, and we all had kids who played multiple sports together,” Jessie said. “We got together to start an organization where they could all continue to play on the same team, and we could bring more kids in, still allowing them the freedom to play multiple sports and not have to be specialized at such a
young age.”

Thanks to the support of the team parents and their title sponsor, the law offices of Brenda G. Hansen in Fort Worth, the RiverCats organization now boasts three age-based teams: 7-year-olds, 8-year-olds and a 10-and-under team — playing baseball, basketball and football. “We want to keep getting bigger every year. We think a good sports organization makes a real impact on our kids’ lives. No matter how big or small their involvement, that and we all had kids who played multiple sports together,” Jessie said. “We got together to start an organization where they could all continue to play on the same team, and we could bring
more kids in, still allowing them the freedom to play multiple sports and not have to be specialized at such a young age.” Thanks to the support of the team parents and their title sponsor, the law offices of Brenda G. Hansen in Fort Worth, the RiverCats organization now boasts three age-based teams: 7-year-olds, 8-year-olds and a 10-and-under team — playing baseball, basketball and football.

“We want to keep getting bigger every year. We think a good sports organization makes a real
impact on our kids’ lives. No matter
how big or small their involvement, that
impact is there for life,” Jessie added.
Jessie, a graduate from Arlington High School, where he also played
ball, has three athletic children: son,
Ommar, who is 9; and daughters, Miyah
and Nenah, 6 and 3, respectively. His
children are the reason he got into
coaching, something he now feels
passionate about. “I enjoy working with
kids. I think that’s probably my true
calling,” he shared.
This year, the 9-year-old RiverCats
baseball boys had two teams: the Black
team, beginners coached by head coach,
Roderick See, and assistant coaches,
CJ Washington, Leroy McKinnis and
Roland Lavine; and the Red team, more
advanced players coached by head coach,
Jessie, and assistant coaches, Justin
Jackson ( Jessie’s brother), Kim Mitchell,
Michale Cornish and Jay Valdez. “We
practice on Saturdays, Sundays and
Wednesdays and we play on Mondays
and Fridays. These boys and their
parents are really dedicated, obviously,
because that’s a lot of time spent on the
field,” Jessie pointed out. Jessie and his coaches work hard to
teach these children the fundamentals.
“Our coaching strategy is to focus on
baseball fundamentals. Run, catch and
throw, and don’t be scared of the ball,”
he explained. “We don’t teach bad
habits.

I do my research to make sure I’m
teaching them the right way to play. Our
goal is to prepare these kids for high
school ball. We plan on keeping them
together until they’re 14. We say, ‘If they
stay with us until then, they will make
their high school team.’”
Team mom, Rose Jackson, said, “One
thing that is amazing to me is to see
how much these players’ skills and
knowledge of the game has grown since
they were 7. I truly enjoy every game.”
Jessie proudly added, “Rose is the
coordinator; she’s the glue that keeps
everything together. Without her, it
wouldn’t happen. I just do the easy part
and work with the kids.”
The RiverCats played well their first
year, and thanks to determination and
talent, they have continued to improve
each year. “We ended up doing really
well in some of our tournaments, and
we went on to win the USSSA [United
States Specialty Sports Association] Class
A World Series our first year out. That
was awesome,” said Jessie, who speaks
highly of the Mansfield Youth Baseball
Association (MYBA). “Last year, the boys were 8. We did pretty well overall,
but our competition was a lot stronger,
which is a great thing. We competed in
the AAYBA [American Amateur Youth
Baseball Alliance] World Series. We
came in eighth place out of 32 teams.”
These young athletes might not yet
realize how Jessie’s sporting philosophies
carry over from the field to every other
aspect of life, but someday the truths he imparts will undoubtedly sink home.
“I’m not really a yeller. I ask for respect,
and I give respect in return. I call my
guys gentlemen,” he said. “We preach
coming out every day, working hard and
giving 100 percent. The way you practice
is the way you play. If you practice with
excellence, you will play with excellence.
Hard work beats talent every time when
talent doesn’t work hard.”
Having been coached by his father
for three years now, Ommar is showing
promising signs, despite never “catching
a break” from his coach/dad. “I want
him to be the best he can be, so I don’t
cut him any slack,” Jessie laughed.
“Ommar is a pretty quiet kid, but he’s
become more of a vocal leader. He tries
to lead by example, which is what I try
to do myself. It’s not about what you say;
it’s about what you do.”
After their exciting third season,
Coach Jessie and the RiverCats are
looking forward to the AAYBA World
Series tournament next month. As
always, Jessie will lead his boys onto the
field by example. “I try to let these boys
know the disciplines they’re learning
now are going to carry over to high
school and even to their jobs someday,”
he explained. “This is life. You work
hard at something if you want to be
successful at it.”

Written by Jaime Ruark

The 2009 defending 4A track and field state champion Lady Wolves had a lot to prove this year, and perhaps none of the girls took that defense as seriously as the Williams sisters. As SportsDay’s 2009 Newcomer of the Year and defending state champion in the 400-meter and 800-meter, Kristyn plans on winning state again this year. Kaitlyn, who finished third at state last year in the 400-meter, also has her eyes on that championship finish line.

Sixteen-year-old Kristyn and Kaitlyn are fraternal twins, so while they both share sweet dispositions and humility about their athletic talents, there are slight differences between the two. “Our friends can tell us apart really well, but
people who don’t know us sometimes have a hard time,” said Kristyn, the eldest by 11 minutes. Both girls love to read and excel at mathematical subjects. With their mother, Jessie, and their head coach, Cinda Baer, making sure the girls keep on top of their studies, the twins have begun to think ahead to college.

However, they both admit that right now they are concentrating a bit more on the present. “I want to enjoy these last years of high school. It already seems like it’s going by so fast,” Kristyn added. While the girls’ school years may
feel like they are speeding by, time seems to stand still when they run, an activity in which they compete yearround.

After cross country, which begins with practices in August, and continues through to the regional meets in November, comes track, which lasts until the middle of May. Running is also a family affair, with the girls following in the lightning-fast footsteps of their older brother, 19-year-old Terry. “We started running when we were 9,” Kaitlyn shared. “My brother was running track and cross country in middle school. He had joined a summer team, and we joined as well. We ran every summer until we got to middle school and joined the school cross country team.” The girls prefer the excitement of shorter races to longer ones, but they look at cross country as a way to condition and train their bodies for track. Kaitlyn admitted, “I prefer to run long distances in cross country rather than track because you run different courses with different scenery. It’s not just the same monotonous run around a track.” This past year, the Lady Wolves’ cross country girls team proudly took the title of district champs, with both Kaitlyn and Kristyn turning in amazing times. Kristyn finished first at district, with her sister close behind in second place. Both girls went on to the regional and then state meets, where Kristyn posted the impressive time of 11:45 and Kaitlyn racing to a 12:06 finish.

From the beginning of their track season, the girls immediately began racking up the wins as well. As one of the four runners on the 4-by-400 meter relay, Kristyn and her team consistently came in first. Both girls ran in the 4-by-
800 meter relay, again bringing home first place at every meet. The sisters also blew their competition away in their 400-meter and 800-meter races. With so many wins, it is hard to believe the girls still get nervous before a run, especially when they have their race face set, but they laughingly admit to having a tiny case of the butterflies when it comes to the bigger meets. “It can be pretty nerve-racking before a race,” Kristyn said. “Once I get my lane assignment and I’m walking towards the track, I get calmer. I’m always definitely excited and nervous, but I feel this moment of calm when I’m getting in the blocks.” Kaitlyn performs what she calls a mental countdown before her race to keep herself focused.

These talented Timberview twins both have a fluid style of running, which is beautiful to watch. But they each have a different way of getting to the finish line. “I like to hang back in the beginning, find a pack to stay with and then try to move up,” Kaitlyn explained. Kristyn added, “I like to start faster than her. I try to stay more towards the front.” With Kristyn’s state win times of 53:88 in the 400-meter and 2:10:23 in the 800-meter (a new state record), and Kaitlyn’s 400-meter time of 55:00, the girls have definitely found winning formulas.

The girls give much credit to their family members, who come to their races to cheer from the stands, and their coaches, who encourage them to set goals and give their all to achieve them. Their biggest support system, however, is each other. “We push each other and motivate each other,” Kristyn said. Kaitlyn agreed, “I know she’s there for me, and I’m there for her.” Judging from their shared determination, this year’s state meet promises to be an exciting one.

Written by Jaime Ruark

To qualify for the state
tournament, Kodi accumulated
points through other tournaments.
The top five students from each of
three divisions (north, south and
east) are invited to state, making a
final pool of 15 competitors. “I just
always liked kung fu stuff, like in the
movies,” Kodi said. “I wanted to do a
back flip off a wall. I haven’t reached
that [level] yet.”
In two to three years, Kodi will
earn his black belt. Although it might
be a long time to wait, Kodi will
stay busy, practicing and training,
focusing on his kamas — sickle-like
weapons that are used in karate form
[formal sets of routines] events. Kodi
received his first pair as a birthday
present from his local dojo, The
Martial Arts Experience in Red Oak.
According to Kevin, there has
been a noticeable difference in Kodi
for the better, since the beginning of his karate career. “This
doesn’t mean parenting him is a breeze, but it sure does make
things easier,” Kevin explained. “The respect, the attitude, the
discipline [have all seen improvement]. You know, he’s still a
13-year-old kid; he still gets into some of the typical 13-year-oldkid
stuff. But looking at some of his buddies who come over
that aren’t in karate, there is a difference in respect and attitude.
Most times it’s ‘yes, Sir’ and ‘yes, Ma’am,’ but he still
slips every once in a while. Schoolwork, well, he’s
not the best student in the world, but he takes care
of business. I guess he gets that from me; I wasn’t
the best student in the world either.”
He might not be the best student academically,
but when it comes time to train, Kodi is easily able to retain and
learn new information. He is simply better in the gym than he
is behind a desk. Karate is much more fascinating to him than
anything he could learn from a book. Mastering new skills is his
favorite, when it comes to training. “I’m just not too big on the
technique,” Kodi said. “I also don’t really like to review all the
stuff that I know. That’s a big problem that I have in school.”

Sparring is an event Kodi really enjoys.
He anticipates reincorporating it into his
training regimen and improving his skills
in the event now that there is a steady
instructor in the dojo.

After his black belt, Kodi’s future
in karate is undecided. He assumes he
will keep training. Black belts are also
able to instruct, which could also be a
possibility for Kodi, who already has
some experience in that regard. “He was
helping teach the Little Dragons and
the white belt classes four days a week,”
Kodi’s mother, Julie, said. “He did that
for about a year, so he’s already had the
experience of teaching. I think it was just
interfering, you know, he needed some
free time to be a teenager. But he still
helps out, if they’re short. If someone’s
not there, he still offers his time to go
up there and do it. Of course, he wasn’t
getting paid for it. They offered but we
said ‘no.’” Kevin explained that they
simply felt that a 13-year-old did not needextra spending money.

They saw it as alearning experience for Kodi — and avery beneficial one.
Whatever may come of Kodi and
karate, one thing is for certain — the
future seems bright. But, for now,
according to Kodi, “the black belt’s
the goal.”

Adam Kohut

And when she wins, she gets pretty excited.
Mason was so into a game against Richland High School last
December, she did not know the reason for the raucous applause
that followed a goal she made — until after the game. That is when
she learned her mother had hyped everyone up because that point
was the thousandth point of her high school basketball career.
Supportive parents are half the battle for an athlete, like
Mason, who has played basketball since third grade and is now
considering scholarships offered by several different colleges.
Since the age of 10, Mason has played on select teams.

“We start playing in March, doing nearby tournaments until the school
year is over, and then we travel. We have sold candy bars and
run carwashes, but most of the time our parents helped fund the
travel to places all over the United States, where college scouts
are watching. Our goal is to get assigned to colleges by the end
of our senior year,” Mason explained.

Mason is a self-proclaimed homebody and plans to study and
play in Texas. Not only will she stay close to her family, but she
enjoys hanging out with her friends, whom she calls “the best
people in the world.” She also has a horse to come home to.

“I actually have less and less time to do that now,” said Mason,
who was a competitive rider between the ages of 9 and 13. She
learned a lot in that sport, most importantly the philosophy of
competition: “When you fall, you have to get back up again —
no matter how hard it is!”

Her own high school team has gotten back in the saddle for
years. One of Mason’s most exciting moments in basketball was
two years ago, when she was a sophomore. “Our high school
team made the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, and then we
made it three rounds — which is the furthest they’d gone in an
even longer amount of time,” she said.

As a team builder and natural leader, Mason has helped
everybody on the team get up to speed this year. “There were a
lot of new additions to the team,” she explained, “and everyone
has played well and come together. On the court, I encourage
people to do their best and give constructive criticism to help
them improve their game and confidence.”

Maybe her teammates accept constructive criticism from
Mason because she is a senior, and maybe they think she knows
what she is doing. “I try to do everything to the best of my
ability,” said Mason, who believes the
three keys to the team’s success are hard
work, putting in the time and dedication.
“Everyone around you is getting better
all the time. You’ll get left in the dust if
you don’t work hard. You gotta stay on
top of your game,” Mason said. “There
is no goofing off. You gotta focus. We
try to get everyone together and put the
phones away about 20 minutes before
each game. We go shoot during half time
of the game before us, and we focus in
the last quarter. For about 10 minutes
before the game, the coach talks to us
about strategy.”

This year, Mason’s strategy has been to
work hard to play strong defense. “I am
what coaches consider a jump shooter,”
Mason said. “However, they say that
shooters are a dime a dozen.
“Defense is mostly what college
coaches are looking for. Since I’m really
an offensive-minded person, I’m trying to
change that and become more defensiveminded.
So in practice, I get lower, move
my feet faster, try to stop people with the
ball. Defense is pretty much all mental,”
Mason added. “You have to believe in
yourself and stop ’em with your quickness.”
Enjoying the senior’s privilege of late
arrival, Mason gets up at 8:30, after her
late study nights, and comes to school
daily for four classes before two-and-ahalf
hours of basketball practice begins
every afternoon. Her course load is tough
(one Advanced Placement classes and
three college-level classes), but Mason
studies as hard as she practices. “I get in
at least an hour every night for something
that’s due the next day, and I’m pretty
good at retaining information.”

Mason remembers quite well the best
basketball moments in her life. In fourth
grade, her Little Dribblers team beat the
undefeated team for the championship.
In fifth grade, she scored 22 points in
one game. “That was awesome for me; I
thought I had to have my shoes bronzed!”
In seventh grade, in the final 15 seconds
of the game against their rival, Aledo,
Mason made a 3-point shot from two or
three feet outside the three-point line.
“It’s clutch moments like that,” Mason
said, “when you pull through, that get
your adrenaline going and make you fall in
love with the sport!”

Written by Melissa Rawlins

Ever since she set foot in Arlington Aerials Gymnastics, where her mother, Michelle Wilson, works as a coach, Madalyn was hooked on the sport. “I started out putting her in little baby classes while I was working, and they just saw something in her,” Michelle said. “They pulled her out and stuck her on the team. They were teaching her back
handsprings, and she was getting them done by the age of 5. I’ve been teaching her for quite some time, too.”

Growing up in Joshua, Texas, Michelle’s high school did not have a gymnastics team so she joined a private gym to practice and perfect the sport. She loved the sport as much as her daughter does now. It is important to Michelle, however, that Madalyn practice the sport on her own volition; that she does not feel pushed into it.

“When I first put her in [the class], honestly, I just wanted her to have fun, and not have to sit around while I was at work,” Michelle explained. “I didn’t want to [put] her in a daycare. I just remembered what I had gotten from [gymnastics]; I received something amazing from it. I knew Madalyn would have fun and have a good time. I had a lot of family that were telling us, ‘Don’t make her live out your dream because you did it.’ But it matters to me very much that if she’s doing this, she is going to do it for her. She has many other options to choose from and to explore all her options, but I can’t seem to pull her away.”

Michelle is one of three gymnastics coaches at the gym, which makes it nice for Madalyn, a level nine gymnast, to get instruction from other coaches. The mother/daughter pair makes an effort to keep gymnastics in the gym and their
home life separate. So far, it has all been good. “I still have so much passion for teaching gymnastics. Madalyn and I haven’t had a lot of problems,” Michelle said. “I’m never a hard-core coach. People have always thought that moms can’t teach daughters, that it doesn’t work that way, but we’ve done great.” Madalyn agreed, saying, “When you’re in the gym she’s not Mom; she’s Coach Mom.”

In gymnastics competitions, gymnasts are ranked and then matched with others who are on the same level. Madalyn,
who is currently a seventh-grade student at Walnut Grove Middle School in Midlothian, is considered a high-level gymnast, and competes with some of the best athletes in the state. When she enters high school, she will still train at a private gym because Midlothian does not have a gymnastics team. Madalyn hopes to continue practicing the sport at the collegiate level, as well — she already has her sights set on potential schools. “I want to go to UCLA or LSU,” she said. “They have great gymnastics teams and great academic studies.”

“I’m still trying to talk her into [the University of Oklahoma],” Michelle said, laughing. “OU has got one of the top
teams. They have amazing teams there. But just going to college is fine with me, as long as she’s going to college.” Madalyn is precocious, shy and soft-spoken. She is aware of her talent, and it humbles her. She is very close to her mother, and seems to place great weight on Michelle’s words and advice. Through gymnastics, the mother/daughter duo has found a way to spend quality time together, while doing something they love. “It’s been wonderful because we’ve gotten to spend so much time with her growing up,” Michelle said. “[But] I have to make sure I’m not giving her any more or any less attention than anyone else at the gym.”

“I wouldn’t say she looks at me as her daughter [at the gym],” Madalyn said. “I’d say she looks at me as Madalyn the [gymnastics student].” Gymnastics has helped Madalyn personally, she said. By practicing the sport, she is able to obtain a sense of self, to gain invaluable insight into what makes her special. “No one’s like you, everybody has their own bit that they take out of gymnastics,” Madalyn said. “Mine would be, basically, just getting to have that special bond between you and what you love to do. It makes me feel a sense of relief, because I can get out all my emotions through it. Like if I was having a bad day or if I was upset, I’d tumble really hard.”

There is also an allure to gymnastics, Madalyn said, in the risk and trust that is involved in practice and competition. It is a thrill unlike any other that the mastery — or attempt thereof — of acrobatic feats of athleticism brings to her.

Gymnastics also allows Madalyn to express herself in an entirely unique way. “It’s a really free sport,” she said. “You can express yourself in so many different ways, whether it’s tumbling, or dance or emotion.”

Written by Adam Kohut

Recently, Jerilyn held a horse camp for disadvantaged children, with the hopes of instilling a greater sense of self-esteem and pride in her young charges. “But I think I walked away with so much more,” Jerilyn said. “These kids thought of themselves as alone in the world,” she continued.

In just one week, however, the results were obvious. “It was amazing! You could see they were changed on the inside,” Jerilyn said. Children who had never touched a real horse were suddenly riding bare back, “with their hands in the air!” But it was one child, in particular, who really touched Jerilyn. Withdrawn and uncommunicative, “You could tell that she was questioning how she could trust another human being,” Jerilyn said of the little girl. “So, we kept going back to the horse, asking her how she could get the horse to trust her. She had been fighting so many battles. She was the adult in her family and had so much on her shoulders.” By working with Jerilyn and her horse, the little girl was able to find release.

“Horses are so pure, and they know when you’re not being honest. If you’re not congruent, if
you are harboring anger inside but smiling on the outside, your horse knows something is wrong.” The horse allowed the little girl to deal with her feelings openly.

It is this purity and honesty that keeps Jerilyn so involved in the horse world, but admittedly, it is not what first drew her in. Like so many girls, Jerilyn loved horses. While she grew up in Arlington, her grandparents owned horse property in Sulphur Springs, Texas, allowing her to ride horses in wide open spaces. But unlike so many, Jerilyn knew no fear.

When she was only 3 or 4 years old, she was already riding horses others would not. By the time she entered elementary school, she rode horses into town racing at breakneck speed. When a new horse showed a little too much exuberance, family members would say, “There’s a crazy horse. Put Jerilyn on it!”

However, Jerilyn did not own a horse of her own until she was married with children. She majored in business at University of Texas at Arlington with the idea of owning a restaurant one day. Instead, she began a decorating business but stopped once she and her husband, Terry, had children. “I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said. Still, her passion for horses never waned. Terry and Jerilyn moved to Midlothian more than five years ago with their two sons so that Jerilyn could finally get the horse she had always wanted. Starbucks, now a 12-year-old Palomino quarter horse, became her guinea pig. “I did everything on that horse,” Jerilyn laughed. But when she learned about the training methods of the internationally renowned horse trainer, Pat Parelli, she said her life changed.

The Pat Parelli program is as much about self-improvement as it is the study and training of horses,
exposing students to every aspect of horsemanship, including the business side. Initially, Jerilyn sent away for instructional DVDs but quickly began attending seminars and successfully tested to become a low-level instructor. Then, the call came.

Only 10 instructors in the United States were selected to move on to the next level. “This was a huge honor!” Jerilyn said, still remembering that life-changing phone call. Jerilyn has traveled to Pat Parelli’s training facility in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, for the past two summers and has become a Level III instructor, making her not only one of the most educated and experienced trainers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but in the United States. This avid horse lover and self-professed, “share-aholic,” has never been happier. “As a trainer, I want my students to be as good as I am or better. I will give you as much information as I can; I just feel so blessed to have been trained under Pat and Linda [Parelli]. It is a blessing to be able to share.”

So many years ago, the thrill of a horse had been a wild ride for Jerilyn. Today, she knows much more. “There is a saying by Ronnie Willis,” she said, “that ‘the inside of a horse is good for the outside of the man.’ The emotion of the horse can bring out the best in you. It is so true.”

For Jerilyn, that moment of clarity came while she was working with students and their horses and Starbucks came running into view to show off. “He backed himself through the barrels and looked at me like, ‘Look Mom, look what I did!’ He was looking for that conversation and that connection with me, and right then I knew that solidified it.” Jerilyn has discovered one of the most glorious secrets of all: Horses cannot talk, but they can speak — if you listen.

Written by Alex Allred.

Coming from a predominantly basketball-loving family, Jeremy grew to love the hoops almost as much as football. Jeremy’s mom and dad both encouraged him to see how well he could do at both sports. However, his heart is on the football field. “My older brother, D.J., played football and basketball, but he kept switching between the two sports,” Jeremy said. “Now, D.J. is a senior and plays varsity basketball at Red Oak High School.

“When I first started playing football, my dad was my coach, so I really started getting into it and loved it,” he explained. His dad, Dexter, started a city football team, and as Jeremy grew up, he found himself playing the sport with the same children throughout the years. His talent and desire for the sport grew. “I just got better and better and started thinking, Hey, I’m pretty good at this.”

After working hard on city leagues, Jeremy played in middle school and later junior high. “As I got older, my junior high coaches started talking to me, and they would really motivate us,” Jeremy said. “When he left junior high he would work out two to three times a day because his goal was to make the varsity team as a freshman,” Dexter said.

However, at the beginning of his freshman year at ROHS, Jeremy was placed on the freshman team. “I would go to their [varsity team’s] sessions and watch their films. I guess
that showed I was motivated and determined,” he said. “Then when the head coach came to talk to me, I was surprised. “[After] I played my first junior varsity game, the coaches would have me practice more, and they would watch how I would improve,” he said. “I guess they thought I’d be very helpful on the varsity team.” By the third game of the season, “I started playing varsity.”

Jeremy’s first game on his new team just happened to be the homecoming game. “That was one of the scariest games of my life,” he said. This freshman on the varsity team was being observed. “The coaches wanted to see how I was doing, and it turns out they thought I did pretty well,” he smiled. They won their homecoming game, and Jeremy deservedly earned his spot on the team.

Jeremy’s talent and love for the game continued to grow. “The coaches kept motivating me, and I kept improving,” he said. “That year, [last year] we ended up making playoffs. Being in varsity was a great experience for me and my future, and I know what to work for, for that future,” he reflected. Part of Jeremy’s plan is to continue to work hard, be disciplined and grow.

This past July, he started working out three times a day with a personal trainer who is also a former National Football League (NFL) professional.

“My trainer and I have sessions in conditioning and techniques,” he said. It is Jeremy’s dedication and heart that have helped him to become a success. “He’s a good and smart kid,” La Tonya said. He is an A/B student and his favorite subject is math.

For the rest of his high school years, Jeremy plans on working hard for his team and making his parents proud. Once he graduates, he has more dreams to accomplish. “After high school, I want to go play football for any college that wants me,” he grinned. Those who know Jeremy say he will probably have many colleges to choose from.

“I’ve received a couple of questionnaires and information sheets from college scouts and coaches,” he said. “That made me feel good; it also made me more focused on what I can do for them.”

Jeremy’s positive outlook, good grades and integrity are a reflection on his upbringing. “I listen to my parents,” he said. “They’ve been telling me to be good and do the right thing since I was little,” he grinned. “They also encourage me to stay motivated and hungry. They tell me that all the time. I also pick good friends and talk to everybody.” For now, Jeremy is looking at his immediate and bright future. “I want to win a state championship,” he smiled.

— By Diana Merrill Claussen

“I don’t regret it at all,” Eddie recalled. “When we moved to Midlothian at the end of my eighth-grade year, Coach Clark asked me to try out. I really didn’t want to play football anymore. I was burned out because I had been playing since Little League and wanted to do something else; but I tried out in the ninth grade and made the team. Now I can’t go a day without it.” As a senior this year, Eddie will again play wide receiver for the team.

Since returning to football, the benefits and rewards Eddie receives from being a part of the team are immeasurable. One important way he has reaped benefits is the four-year full scholarship to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, that was offered to him during his junior year in high school. Eddie explained, “Baylor was one of the [football] camps I went to as a sophomore. I talked to the coaches after camp, and they didn’t show a lot of interest. They just said, ‘Good job.’ Later in the season, Coach Clark called me into his office. He told me to sit down. He was looking very mean and I was thinking, What did I do? I thought I was in trouble. He handed me
something and said, ‘I want you to read this,’ and I thought it was something bad. I saw Baylor on it and thought, Oh my goodness! It was a scholarship.”

Smiling, Eddie still speaks of the occasion with awe. He and his parents, Jeanette and Eddie Sr., fully appreciate the opportunity. Although Eddie continues to get calls from other schools, he is committed to Baylor. He said, “I really liked Baylor when I visited. It is only an hour’s drive away, so if I need a home-cooked meal, I can come home and go back. I have seven scholarship offers right now. It’s a verbal commitment to Baylor so other colleges can still talk to me.”

Being courted by so many colleges can be a weighty thing for a young man to handle; however, Eddie’s parents used his experiences to help build his character as he grew up. According to
Eddie, “My mom knew when I was young that I was going to be an athlete because I was tall. She told me to keep a good head. She always says that. The college process is kind of crazy. You have
to be smart and watch what you say.

You have to watch what you do and don’t get big headed about it. Take one step at a time.” In addition to his parents’ support, Eddie enjoys the support of his teammates. “The team at Midlothian High School is more of a brotherhood than any other team I’ve been a part of,” he stated. “Coach Clark is doing a terrific job. The first thing Coach Clark says is we need to get together and be stronger as a group of brothers before we can take on other obstacles. If you have that, you can conquer anything. In doing everything together, you know that in the crunch time of the game you
can count on the person to the left or to the right.”

The team’s sense of brotherhood causes each person to want the best for each other. Eddie remembers how hard they tried to win the last game of the season [last fall] for all of the players
who would graduate. Sometimes, it is during those moments that a player demonstrates his best abilities. Eddie stated, “It was the last game for Bryce [Petty] and all the other senior players.

So, every play I went out there and thought, Man, you really have to work. I did a fade route, which is a straight line where you run down the field, and Bryce threw to me. He overthrew it,
and I jumped over this kid’s head to catch the ball. I felt like everybody gave 100 percent at that game.”

Eddie wants to go to the National Football League (NFL) someday, but realizes the value of a back-up plan. He said, “I want to major in kinesiology in college because I like sports and education. I want to be a coach. My main goal is to be in the NFL, but if not, then I want to be able to interact with kids, I love working with kids.”

Eddie realizes the importance of teamwork whether playing football, being a member of the track team or being involved with his youth group at Cedar Hill Church of Christ. He summarized it by saying, “When everyone is one, it’s like a chain. If the links are strong, you can’t break it.

When it’s time to work, then have the mindset to work harder than the next person. You have to keep that motivation all the way through high school, college and if you make it to the big leagues. I
stress that every day.”

- By Betty Tryon