experience the perfect
serve Sports in Lubbock is about excitement, athleticism, competition ...and service. We believe that every game is an opportunity to show good, old-fashioned West Texas friendliness. We’d be happy to help you ace your next sporting event.
Scott Harrison, Sports Director
lubbocksports.org 800.692.4035
6
Lead Off
Features
8
Opening Shot
14 |
NOVEMBER
2013
Regulars
10
Life As I See It
12
SLM Randoms
13
Run the Race
46
Sports in the Hub
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
BIGGER, HARDER, FASTER, STRONGER Today more than ever, female athletes turn to rigorous year-round conditioning programs to pursue athletic excellence by Lindsay Bradshaw
22 |
COVER STORY
FLOOR GENERALS
Two of the area’s most talented point guards lead their teams into the 2013-204 hoops season...by example by Joe Szynkowski
Connect www.sportslubbock.com | 806.781.8482 www.facebook.com/SportsLubbockMonthly
32 |
www.twitter.com/SportsLubbock
admin@sportslubbock.com
FLYING QUEENS HOOPS
FAMILIAR FACE
Plainview native and former Texas Tech Lady Raider Alesha Robertson takes the helm of the storied Flying Queens by Summer Morgan
Staff PUBLICATION
Toby & Christi Brooks....................................Publishers Kristi Hart..............................................................Editor Baron Batch.....................................Contributing Writer Lindsay Bradshaw...........................Contributing Writer Scott Fitzgerald...............................Contributing Writer Devin Hargrove................................Contributing Writer Dalila Kettrey....................................Contributing Writer Terry Kinard.....................................Contributing Writer Alyssa Kitten....................................Contributing Writer Joe Szynkowski...............................Contributing Writer Spike Wideman.....................................Director of Sales
38 |
THE PERFECT SEASON
The incredible tale of West Texan Jesse Powell and his trek to football greatness by Georgia Reed
ART
Kristen Bednarz........................................Photographer Michael Dalby...........................................Photographer Dominique Harmon..................................Photographer Barry Nelson.............................................Photographer Larry Martinez...........................................Photographer Regina Penney..........................................Photographer John Weast...............................................Photographer Ashley Wirz...............................................Photographer Toby Brooks.................................................Art Director Donald McArthur...............................Graphic Designer
ON THE COVER:
Hoops season is well underway on the South Plains. We looked around and asked folks in the know who they thought would be the standout point guards in the area this season. Without exception we heard the names Robert McKinney and Jaxon Parrot, and after watching them play and reading Joe Szynkowski’s story, we think you’d agree. SLM photographer John Weast snapped the pics and we went with a high-tech military look to hammer home the theme.
Sports Lubbock Monthly is published monthly by Chaplain Publishing, a division of NiTROhype Creative, 3104 CR 7520, Lubbock, Texas, 79423, phone 806.781.8482. Contents may not be reproduced without consent of the copyright owner. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronically or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
4 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
LUBBOCK SPORTS
Sports Lubbock Monthly
Sports Lubbock Monthly is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, articles, photographs, or artwork. To submit information, photos, or stories or for advertising inquiries please contact Sports Lubbock Monthly at 806.781.8482, via email at admin@sportslubbock.com, or via the Sports Lubbock website at www.sportslubbock.com.
LEAD OFF
by TOBY
6 |
NOVEMBER
BROOKS
The Confluence
T
he magazine business can be a tricky one. As much as we love bringing you all the best in South Plains sports action month after month, there is no denying that it is a challenge to not only sniff out the stories you want to read but also get them done in a timely fashion. Sometimes we miss stories. Sometimes we don’t. But without fail, November is the most difficult issue to fill. Why November, though? Simple. November seems to mark the convergence in the athletics space-time continuum. It seems like darn near every sport has something important going on in late October and early November. Football is in full swing, with Tech poised for a quality bowl berth and several area high schools gearing up for deep playoff runs. At the same time, basketball season is gearing up. With new coaches for both the Red Raiders and Lady Raiders as well as the Wayland Flying Queens coupled with SPC’s annual talent reload, there are plenty of local storylines in college hoops. And don’t forget high school basketball, either, with practices in full swing and the upcoming Caprock Classic shaping up to be a dandy. As if that wasn’t enough, all your favorite professional sports are going, too. NBA hoops have tipped off, the World Series just wrapped up (I still can’t shake the feeling that I need to shave after watching that debacle) and the Cowboys’ all-too-predictable annual trudge toward NFL mediocrity continues. Sigh. In short, it is a special time when we could literally fill the magazine with double or triple our page count and still feel crowded for space.
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
So what’s my point? A confluence is a point where things all come together. It is used in geography to describe the point where two rivers come together. It is also used in reference to the precise timing required for different entities to mesh appropriately. In short, all our lives—not just our Novembers—are a series of both pleasant and not so pleasant confluences. For us here at Sports Lubbock, we’ve been cranking out the best magazine we can for over a year now. We’ve made friends, forged business connections, and invested ourselves in the effort of brining you a publication our whole community can be proud of. If you’ve picked up this magazine and have read this far, then you’re part of the confluence now, too. So we have a simple request: go with the flow. Where I grew up, we had lots of water. Several little creeks form a stream. Several streams form a river. And rivers are a force of nature that can change the landscape. Support the businesses that support us. Like our Facebook page and post pictures of all your favorite teams and athletes— even if they happen to live under your roof. Download our mobile app and check it out. Tell your friends about what you think about the magazine. If you are a business owner, give us a call. We’d be happy to add you to our evergrowing distribution list. Or even better, let us help you craft a turn-key marketing package that can help your business grow. In the process of any or all of the above, “you” become “we.” “They” become “us.” And Sports Lubbock becomes your magazine. Now enough philosophizing by me. Get moving. You need to read your magazine.
DOMINIQUE
HARMON & BARRY
NELSON
OPENING SHOT
LISTEN UP Pictured here is Lubbock Cooper High’s Troy Larson just chillin’ and enjoying some sounds. Larson is a member of the Pirate football team. This image was directed by Dominique Harmon in the Captivated Images studio and shot and edited by CI’s Barry Nelson.
LIFE AS I SEE IT
by BARON
BATCH
Hill of Victory
B
lanketed with red, through the unknown dark A solemn hill, where few dare to march
Alive and daunting, this red hill breathes Exhaling fear, even the bravest flee Holding their breaths, they turn to run In fear they fall, and the Hill they become Alive, the daunting Red Hill says “The crimson flowers, are those that fled” But the Rider knows, what most can’t see That the breathing Hill is Victory. Rolling clouds, they root him on In the distance, courageous songs they hum With pounding hooves, and guns in hand The Rider prepares, to claim his land To leave his mark, where few will go He inhales the fear, but his does not show Victory is claimed, by the unafraid Not ambition powered by selfish fame It is claimed by those, that bravely breathe Inhaling fear, but do not leave Those that dream, to leave their mark In the dark unknown, where few will march Atop the Hill, Victory is claimed A stallion rears, and a gun muzzle bangs From the Riders gun, a spark of light Illumination shreds the shroud of night On the daunting hill, his mark is left Draped with flowers, of those that fled Inhaled the fear, but bravely breathed Atop he exhaled Victory. Baron Batch is a former Red Raider who, in addition to being a world-class athlete, is a gifted author and artist. He has graciously agreed to share excerpts from his blog for use in Sports Lubbock Monthly. To order prints of his art, call or email Tornado Gallery at (806) 687-1644 or tornadogallerylubbock@gmail.com. To read more of his work, be sure to visit baronbatch.com.
10 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
SLM RANDOMS
Things are Better in Texas...
A
nnually, an all star game for college senior football standouts is played in Allen, Texas. The game pits the very best the nation has to offer against athletes with Texas ties. Frankly, any other arrangement for team assignments would just be unfair. When it comes to football, the Lone Star State has no equal. Texans are an independent bunch, so it got us to thinking...how are things in the nation different from things in Texas? This was the best we could come up with. If you don’t agree, get offended, or don’t even crack a smile after reading it, we’ll gladly refund double the price you paid for the magazine.
The Nation
West Texas
Children named according to current trends and established family traditions
Children named according to what will sound cool when spoken over a stadium loudspeaker system
Redshirt college freshmen to help boost odds of athletic success
Redshirt elementary school kindergartners to improve chances of athletic success
Brag about college stadiums that have artificial turf and large video boards
Apologize for high school stadiums that lack artificial turf and large video boards
Implement year-round conditioning programs prior to the sophomore year in high school
Implement year-round conditioning programs prior to the expectant mother’s second trimester
Choose which district in which to purchase a home based on the reputation of the school’s faculty
Choose which district in which to purchase a home based on the reputation of the school’s coaching staff
Learn life lessons from sitcoms, reality television, and the MTV Video Music Awards
Learn life lessons through blood, sweat, and shared struggle on the field and court
THEY SAID IT “You want me to play slower, well, OK, you need to get smaller, less strong defensive linemen.” KLIFF KINGSBURY when asked about his opinion on the controversial rules proposal to slow down the college game in an attempt to reduce injuries.
12 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
by JAKE
EDWARDS
H
ow can God use a football to reach a community for Jesus? At Victory Life Baptist Church, God is showing people that faith and football can walk hand in hand whenever people come together to make a difference! Every Saturday throughout September and October, Victory Life hosted a football league through Upward Sports that fields over 175 families of young kids from Kindergarten through the Sixth Grade. The concept of Upward Sports is to provide a positive sports environment while teaching every child about the love of Jesus. Many people look at a sports league that is held at a church and think that the level of competitiveness will not be as strong as a secular league. Our families have been very happy to see that we encourage competitiveness while promoting good sportsmanship. Throughout each week our coaches hold a one-hour practice while sharing a devotional half way through that teaches the athletes about virtues that base solely out of Scripture. This year, we have covered individuality, discipline, and character. As the season has gone on, Victory Life has had many opportunities to share the love of Jesus and be a support system for many families. One aspect that makes Upward Sports unique is that churches are able to reach people on Saturday that they would never be able to reach on Sunday. In Texas, football is one of the most effective ways to bring others together. Why not use football to our advantage and sponsor a league to proclaim the gospel of Jesus? Churches must be
willing to do whatever it takes to reach people and Upward is proving to be one effective way to reach our community with positive Christian values. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.� Athletes that compete in the league begin their experiences thinking that they will be scoring touchdowns for their team. Through Upward Sports, our athletes finish the league knowing that their job is to score touchdowns for Jesus. Teams become brothers and sisters. Parents become encouragers. Referees become rule makers and Coaches become pastors. The experience that matters most to Victory Life is to see that families are being strengthened through the biblical principles that are taught to all athletes. So how can God use a football to reach a community for Jesus? All it takes is a church that is willing go all in to reach families no matter what the cost. Our fields are full of people every weekend reminding us about what is truly important. Victory Life is not ashamed of the gospel and we believe that God can use something as simple as a football league for children to help us reach the most important people group in our community: The Family.
RUN THE RACE
How Can God use a Football to Reach a Community?
Jake Edwards is the Family Pastor at Victory Life Baptist Church. He has served in the ministry for 8 years. Jake and his wife Tricia have a two-year-old boy named Landry and a 4-month-old girl named Norah.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Heb 12:1 RUN THE RACE is a monthly column featuring a brief devotional written by area coaches and youth ministry leaders.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 13
HIGH SCHOOL
SPORTS
HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER Today more than ever, female athletes turn to rigorous year-round conditioning programs to pursue athletic excellence LINDSAY
BRADSHAW LAURA
TURNBOUGH
DOIN’ WORK Athletes from the Denver City Fillies prep for their upcoming season with strength and conditioning work. In addition to more traditional strength training, female athletes are increasingly adding speed and agility work to their workouts to improve performance and prevent injury.
14 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
T
he final school bell rings. Only moments pass before the front entrance of the high school explodes with high school students, finally liberated from their final exams. Hundreds of scantrons fly through the air as busses and cars load up for the last time in May. For many teens, the next few months encompass hitting up the beach with family, basking in the sun by the pool, or simply MTV marathons all day in pajamas. For competitive athletes, it is a time to focus on getting better, faster and stronger. It is a time for strength and conditioning. Because college coaches are focused on their current teams during on-season, summer and off-season months are considered a prime time for them to sit in the high school bleachers throughout Texas, searching for their next big star to come on board. Even when high school teams are finished for the school year, players are motivated to stand out among their teammates if they want to pursue the sport at the collegiate level.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 15
HIGH SCHOOL
SPORTS
“Now it’s just so competitive. You can’t take off and you don’t have down time. You play during the season, condition and strength train during off seasons, while participating in leagues and going to camps all summer.” -Denver City head volleyball coach and former TTU volleyball player Megan David
GOT HOPS? Right: Denver City athlete Katy Patterson performs a plyometric drill to improve strength, power, and balance. Inset: Magaly Burciaga performs a set of barbell back squats to improve glute, hamstring, and quadricep strength.
16 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Megan David, a former Texas Tech volleyball player and current head volleyball coach at Denver City High School, explains how the importance of strength and conditioning in the summer shows how athletes are pushed harder now than she ever experienced during her volleyball career in the late ’70s and early ’80s. “I was always able to play volleyball during volleyball season, run track during track season, take off for the summer and start training again a few weeks before school started,” David said. “Now it’s just so competitive. You can’t take off and you don’t have down time. You play during the season, condition and strength train during off seasons, while participating in leagues and going to camps all summer. Then when August rolls around you do it all over again.” Despite the intense pressure athletes face in the 21st century, David agreed strength and conditioning is imperative to being the best athlete one can be. While strength may be what allows an athlete to kick the soccer ball with power, or to spike the volleyball to win the game, strength is useless without the fuel conditioning provides for the muscles. “When I played volleyball, both in high school and in college, I was taught that it was all about strength,” David said. “We spent most of our off-season in the weight room, and I could lift 135 pounds. Could I hit the ball harder than I would
Sports Lubbock Monthly
have without lifting weights? Yes. But now I see my daughter, who can hit just as hard if not harder, doing a lot more core work. We have implemented crossfit into our weight lifting program here and the girls are seeing the benefits of strength and cardio conditioning all in one workout.” David also said that she finds the most effective conditioning strategies to be those that are actually applicable to what the athlete is doing on the court or field. “It’s different for each sport. In volleyball, I think it’s useless to go run for miles when a big focus in the sport is on jumping. But you know, for basketball, the players would benefit more from both sprinting and jump rope.” High school athletes are not the ones under immense pressure to undergo strength and conditioning. Today, college athletic programs frequently send
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 17
Covenant Health is Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for
Orthopedic Excellence by Healthgrades® in 2013.
We congratulate and thank each of our physicians, staff and volunteers whose dedication to excellence lead to these outstanding quality rankings.
Covenant Health 2013 Rankings for Orthopedic Excellence: • Healthgrades 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery 2013 • Healthgrades Orthopedics Surgery Excellence Award 2013 • Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Orthopedic Services in 2013 • No. 6 in Texas for Overall Orthopedic Services in 2013
Healthgrades.com
covenanthealth.org
HIGH SCHOOL
SPORTS LOOK UP, PRESS DOWN Traditional strength exercises are still a staple of any sound program. Here, Ailyn Escobar works on tricep strength on the tried and true high pulley. Inset: Kendra Esmerada performs a set of flat barbell bench presses.
high school recruits detailed programs with workout information while they are still waiting to go to camp in the summer. For example, many major Division I schools send workouts in the mail along with DVDs or web-based demonstrations of all drills and calendar with daily instructions. Compare that to status quo in the ’60s and ’70s when recruits would often be mailed a one or twopage letter regarding the summer workout schedule that was suggested prior to reporting to campus. But does all this extra conditioning currently encouraged so strongly for female athletes really result in higher performance on game day? Some of the biggest concerns regarding these highly intense training programs regard burning out the over-trained athlete and risk of severe injuries. Dedicating time on the calendar year-round to practice, weight training and conditioning may prove an athlete’s loyalty to being at the top, or it may increase the likelihood of overworking a muscle or joint to the point of injury. Of particular concern, “Female Athlete Triad,” involves disordered eating, menstrual irregularities, and eventually osteoporosis. Women in sports, including teenagers, who eat and train improperly are at increased risk and may develop physical ailments usually only found in the elderly. While David agrees that overtraining often leads to injuries and burnout as a consequence, she does think the female body is capable of anything. “I really think the female body adapts over time,” David said. “It’s like pushing kids in the classroom. The more you expect, the more you can get from them. If you push and set goals, they’re achievable. Hard, yes, but they are achievable.”
HIGH SCOOL
SPORTS
20 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
David also added if female athletes want to continue competing, especially at the college and professional level, they are going to be willing to push extra hard. “If you are a true athlete, no coach has to push you,” David said. “There is just so much to make you the best athlete, from weight training to conditioning to practice to nutrition and health.” Regardless of whether women in sports are pushed too hard these days, or simply train more frequently and longer than they did 20 years ago, one thing is for sure. The opportunities set out for these athletes to constantly improve are endless. “I just think it’s so great how training has changed since I was a volleyball player,” David said. “You have programs like CrossFit. You have summer sports camps. You have club teams and leagues throughout the year to improve your skills. I just think the sky is the limit!”
“If you are a true athlete, no coach has to push you. There is just so much to make you the best athlete, from weight training to conditioning to practice to nutrition and health.” -Megan David
ALL AROUND ATHLETES Far left: Wendy Vasquez works the battle ropes to develop upper body muscular endurance and core strength Top right: Check out the bulging brachioradialis on Kelsey de la Rosa. (hint: it is the shadow and muscled area at her elbow). Bottom right: Adelaida Barron performs Russian twists for core strength.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 21
COVER
STORY
Brought to you by
FLOOR GENERALS Two of the area’s most talented point guards lead their teams into the 2013-2014 hoops season...by example JOE
SZYNKOWSKI JOHN
I
f it were up to Jaxon Parrott and Robert McKinney, they would let their play do all of their talking for them – literally. Respectful and humble, both junior point guards offer direct and concise answers to questions about how good the follow-up to their outstanding sophomore seasons can be. “I’ve been working hard to improve,” Parrott says. “I’ve been going hard in practice,” McKinney echoes. For what these two floor generals are short in commentary, they are long in talent. And speed. And shooting skills. Both have their teams primed for big seasons and, if
22 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
WEAST
everything goes according to plan, deep playoff runs.
Parrott’s Perch
Lubbock Trinity Christian’s Parrott prefers to chirp with his basketball chops. He scored 268 points last season, averaging 8.6 points per game, and was a threat from long range with 19 3-pointers. He also continually found himself around the ball, dishing out two assists and pulling down nearly two rebounds per game. Ahead of a season that will require more leadership and points from him, Parrott worked tirelessly this offseason on his shot. “I played a lot in
Sports Lubbock Monthly
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 23
COVER
STORY Dallas this summer,” he said. “I practiced everything from ball-handling to coming off of screens.” For the second straight season, the Lions graduated eight seniors after February’s regional title game loss. Trinity Christian coach Jeremy McFerrin is looking to Parrott to lead a group of talented, yet inexperienced, teammates. “There is a lot of learning going on,” McFerrin said. “We’ve tried to make practices as tough as we can. They’re working on grasping terminologies and getting to know me. So practice started off at a little slower pace.” Parrott and fellow junior Craig Ewald have shown great patience. “It’s not too bad,” Parrott said. “You just keep working with them and don’t give up.” Parrott prefers to lead by example, which he does by putting in extra hours in the gym and by
26 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
improving his already strong skill set. “We worked a lot getting his shot off with a little quicker release,” McFerrin said. “His speed and quickness is outstanding. He gets to the rim quickly and can get open off the screen. He has worked on reading screens a lot.” Parrott’s sharpened screen skills could pay major dividends in crunch-time situations. McFerrin said: “Can you play offense without the ball in your hands? If you don’t have the ball, are you still seeing the floor and anticipating what is going to happen next? That is where Jaxon is working on.” Parrott receives a lot of praise for his quickness to the basket, but it’s his tenacity on defense that sets him apart, Ewald said. “He is a worker at everything he does,” he said. “Especially defense. He puts a lot of pressure on guys.” Ranked No. 18 in last season’s TAPPS regionals, Trinity Christian fell 75-71 in overtime to Cedar Hill
Trinity to end its season in the title game. The loss, in which Parrott scored 12 points, serves as a motivator. Parrott is confident that Trinity can improve on its impressive 26-11 finish to last season, depending on how much his leadership rubs off on his younger counterparts. “I tell them that it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but if we believe in ourselves we can go a long way,” he said.
IT IS NICE TO POINT (GUARD) Trinity head coach Jeremy McFerrin (right) is expecting to lean heavily on his emerging junior point guard as a legit scoring threat and a coach on floor
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 27
28 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
COVER
STORY
McKinney’s Motor
Growing up, Robert McKinney was never really into basketball. That is, until, he caught the hoops bug from his older brother Barry Johnson, now a senior guard at Wayland Baptist University. “He always liked baseball and football,” Johnson said. “Then probably around middle school when I was babysitting him and would take him to the gym, he started wanting to be like me.” McKinney, Lubbock Estacado’s star junior point guard, is hoping to put together a high school career like his brother, who was also a standout for the Matadors. He is off to a great start after a surprising sophomore campaign, one that caught even Estacado’s coaching staff off guard. “We had really projected him to be a JV player,” said longtime Matadors coach Tony Wagner. “He worked his tail off and ended up starting every game for us.” McKinney was a bright point of an otherwise underwhelming first half of the 2012 season. Coming off of a disappointing finish in the 2011 UIL state tournament, the Matadors spent the first portion of their 2012 campaign struggling with growing pains and a brutal schedule as they sputtered to 10 losses by Dec. 10. An early season scheduled packed with elite talent was the main contributor to Estacado’s uncharacteristic struggle out of the gate. The Matadors suffered 15-plus-point losses to competition like Orr (15 points), Bellaire (43), Brandeis (27), Trinity (19), Big Spring (29) and Wylie (36). But the Matadors battled back at the end of the season to nearly earn a spot in regionals. “As the season went along he started playing better with more confidence,” Wagner said. “We know this season as he goes, we will go.”
“We had really projected him to be a JV player, but he worked his tail off and ended up starting every game for us.” -Estacado head coach Tony Wagner on junior point guard Robert McKinney
ALL IN THE FAMILY Wagner (left) also coached McKinney’s older brother Barry Johnson. However, Coach Wag says his talented junior has a shot at something his older brother didn’t accomplish: two state titles.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 29
30 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
COVER
STORY
McKinney is looking to improve his drive off the dribble, something he worked hard on during the offseason. He is also planning on kicking up the intensity come game time. “Being aggressive is all in my head,” he said. “I have to tell myself to attack the rim more and to go harder.” “We’re talking him into being more assertive,” Wagner said. “He can’t be one of those pass-first guards. We need him to be a more of an attacking player.” In Wagner’s five years, Estacado has enjoyed some its most prolonged success in school history. The 200910 team – led by Wagner’s son, Kevin – won the 3A state title and just missed repeating the next season. The title was the first UIL boys basketball
championship for a Lubbock ISD team since Lubbock High beat Austin for the Class 2A crown in 1951, and the district’s first hoops title since the Monterey girls won the Class 5A crown in 1981. Through all of his success, Wagner is confident that McKinney could put together one of the best high school careers Estacado has ever seen. “Robert really has a chance to do something that a lot of players haven’t done,” Wagner said. “And that’s winning two state titles when all is said and done.” Joe Szynkowski is a contributing writer for Sports Lubbock Monthly. Contact him at info@joeszynkowski. com and tweet him @JoeSzynkowski.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 31
FLYING QUEENS
HOOPS
FAMILIAR FACE
Plainview native and former Texas Tech Lady Raider Alesha Robertson takes the helm of the storied Flying Queens SUMMER
F BACK IN PLAINVIEW Three-time state champion Alesha Robertson is back in her old stomping grounds as head coach of the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens.
32 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
ans of West Texas women’s basketball will see a familiar face on the court at Wayland Baptist University this fall as Plainview native and former Texas Tech Lady Raider Alesha Robertson kicks off her first season as head coach of the storied Flying Queens program. Robertson spent the last decade in Lubbock but has returned to her hometown to take the reins of the winningest program in women’s basketball history, boasting more than 1,500 wins and 10 national championships. Success like that is something Robertson knows well, having helped the Plainview High Lady Bulldogs to three Class 4A state titles from 2001-03 and later racking up numerous honors at Tech where she played under both Marsha Sharp and Kristy Curry. After earning four letters as a Lady Raider, Robertson considered playing basketball overseas or pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine, but nothing seemed to quite fit. She started work on a master’s
Sports Lubbock Monthly
MORGAN
degree in sports psychology at Tech, but couldn’t get basketball out of her blood. “When Johnna Pointer went to coach at (the University of) Colorado, she gave me the opportunity to work with Hoop10 in Amarillo,” Robertson said of the youth basketball organization run by the Shallowater native and former University of Texas player and Flying Queens coach. “Then that led to me starting Hoop55 in Lubbock. I had a lot of kids coming to me, asking for lessons and wanting to play AAU ball, so this was my way of giving back. It was a great way for me to get little girls playing basketball and give them the opportunities I was given.”
Lubbock Christian High School
Once Robertson became comfortable with a whistle in her hand, she was presented with another unique opportunity: Coaching the girls’ team at Lubbock Christian High School.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 33
FLYING QUEENS
HOOPS
“I say all the time that whether you’re talking about an athlete or a coach coming to Wayland, it needs to be a good fit.” -Wayland Baptist Athletic Director Dr. Greg Feris
“Lubbock Christian had approached me a few years before and things just didn’t work out, but this time everything fit so I was able to coach and continue to run Hoop55,” she said. “It was my first time to be a head coach, so it was a learning experience for all of us. But it was such a good place for me to start because of all of the support. “The girls had only won six games the year before, so during that first year we really worked on the mental aspect,” Robertson recalled. “They worked really hard and quickly figured out that it would make them successful. I’m a firm believer that if you work hard, anything is possible.” And they certainly were successful, winning the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Class 3A state championship last spring in Robertson’s second year with the Lady Eagles.
A New Opportunity
BULLDOGS UNITED Fellow Plainview native and WBU sophomore Laura Castillo (#11) is all smiles playing for Robertson.
34 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
But like with many winning coaches, achievement brings opportunities. Robertson’s big chance came with the Flying Queens. Wayland athletic director Dr. Greg Feris said he received between 35 and 40 applications in the first week after posting the job, but knew he was looking for more than just experience. “I say all the time that whether you’re talking about an athlete or a coach coming to Wayland, it needs to be a good fit,” he said. “They need to understand what Wayland is, what we’re trying to do and how our mission is integrated into the entire university’s perspective. (Former coach) Tory (Bryant) certainly fit that standard, so when we started looking for a coach, we wanted somebody who not only understood the ‘Xs and Os’ of the sport and could relate to student-athletes and their parents, but also someone who understood Wayland’s philosophy.” In addition to grasping the university’s values, Feris was looking for someone who could appreciate Wayland’s geography. “There were people out there that fit the profile, but I wanted to find someone
Sports Lubbock Monthly
who would feel comfortable in Plainview,” he said. “Many of our applicants were from outside this region of Texas. I’m not saying those folks can’t make adjustments, but we’re small-town USA. That’s not a criticism. We’re West Texas…it’s just who and what we are.” If anyone could appreciate West Texas, and Plainview in particular, it was Robertson, having moved to Plainview from New Mexico when she was two years old. “We started looking around and realized Alesha might be available, although I don’t know how available she felt at the time,” Feris said. “She was very comfortable at Lubbock Christian and Hoop55, but we met several times in a short time period just to talk, and we talked to Coach Sharp and other folks that understood her background. One thing led to another and an offer was made.” Robertson admits to being uncomfortable with the idea of taking on a collegiate head coaching job so quickly, but ultimately her faith led her back home. “I’d only been a head coach for two years and hadn’t even taken those baby steps as an assistant (at the college level), so it was natural for me to be hesitant,” she said. “I want to be good at what I do and I like to ease into things, but I sat down and prayed a lot about what I should do. “I was worried about leaving the girls at Lubbock Christian, but they understood and I think they handled it better than I did. If I had to leave, I’m glad I left them successful. I believe that when God puts something out there for you, it’s hard to feel like it’s not in His will. Not that it’ll always be comfortable, but sometimes He pushes you out of your comfort zone to make you a better person.”
The Flying Queens
Robertson accepted the position in midMarch and was formally introduced as the 13th coach of the Flying Queens the next week at a press conference in the lobby of Wayland’s Hutcherson Center. She tied up loose ends in Lubbock and quickly got down to business, spending the remainder of the spring semester evaluating and
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 35
STUFF YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ALESHA ROBERTSON...
• She recently became engaged to longtime boyfriend Andy Ellis, who also played basketball for Texas Tech • She loves to fly fish • She considers herself a homebody and says she loves to be home more than anywhere else
getting to know the current players, recruiting and planning summer basketball camps. And while much of Robertson’s responsibilities are new, the setting is familiar. “I’m surrounded by the people who helped make me who I am today,” she said. “The people in West Texas are just awesome and I think Plainview is truly a basketball city. People love basketball here, so it was a great place to grow up. I used to come watch the Flying Queens with my family when I was a kid, so I have history here. “It was such a blessing to be able to come back home because if you’re not from Plainview, you don’t realize how special it is.”
The Team
Eleven players from the 2012-13 squad return this season to play for Robertson, along with three new recruits, including recent Lubbock Christian High graduate Ashlee De La Cruz. “I came in late in the recruiting process, so I wasn’t going to come in and start cutting everybody,” Robertson said of inheriting a team that includes seven upperclassmen. “These girls have a lot of potential and we’re working on changing our mindset. I think we can do things
36 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
we’ve never done before with this group.” During the spring and summer, Robertson added De La Cruz, Plainview High graduate and South Plains College transfer Sydney Hearn and Iowa Western transfer Lakota Goe, who hails from Canadian. “Syd brings a lot of energy, and on those hard days, she’s always there to pick the team up,” Robertson said. “She’s going to be a great post player and a force for our team. Lakota is a dead-eye shooter and we need that. I coached her at Hoop10 in Amarillo, so I’ve seen what she can do. If she’s got the ball in her hands, she’s going to score more times than not. “I’ve never coached a kid with more heart or desire to win than Ashlee,” Robertson added. “She’s got so much passion for the game and goes 100 percent all the time. She has the ability to set the tone, even as a freshman, so I wanted to bring her in to be an example because she’s going to do what it takes to win. If we can all learn to do that, we’ll be successful.” Robertson admits she’s got a soft spot for local talent. “I believe we can recruit from around West Texas and be very successful because there some great girls available out there,” she said. “West Texas girls’ basketball has been very strong traditionally because of the fundamentals, and I want to get back to
FLYING QUEENS
HOOPS
that. We need to do a better job of building our fan base, and having local kids on the team helps with that. There’s nothing better than a West Texas basketball girl.” In addition to building a roster heavy with West Texans, Robertson hired Hale Center native Melynn Hunt as her assistant coach in June. Hunt planned to retire after spending 39 years working within athletics in the region, including the last 12 as assistant athletic director for Lubbock Independent School District, but found herself on the hardwood again this summer. Feris said Hunt brings a level of experience that plays well with Robertson’s youthful enthusiasm. “Melynn was at LISD (as an athletics administrator) for many years, but before that she was a basketball coach,” he said. “She brings a wealth of experience on the court and certainly from the administrative perspective. Bringing in Melynn to help Alesha with all of the details a college coach has to handle has proven to be a really good thing. They’ve made quite a team.”
A New Season
The Flying Queens kicked off their schedule against HustonTillotson on the first Saturday of November and will wrap up the regular season on the first Saturday of March. Robertson said she and the team have discussed some goals as they look forward to the next four months. “We want to form a strong foundation for this team, get our mental game right and go from there,” she said. “The girls have adapted well to our system and our plays, so we think we have a good chance to be successful in our conference (Sooner Athletic
Conference). We want to beat some teams we’ve never beaten before and make the national tournament, which we haven’t done in a while either.” Feris said he has realistic goals for the new squad, but believes they have potential to do great things going forward. “To finish in the upper half of our conference is certainly a goal, but also to win the conference championship and return the team to the national tournament,” he said. “All of those things can be accomplished, but we know it takes time. It’s a journey that we’re embarking on with Alesha, and so far, it’s been a very good thing.” With just over seven months on the job, Robertson is grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves in a place she feels both encouraged and challenged. “You can’t get better than the people at Wayland…it’s what makes it special,” she said. “There’s such a great support system here and everything has just fallen into place. This whole thing may have happened quicker than I would have dreamed, but I feel like I’m here for a reason. “I know the history of the Flying Queens, so I want to do great things with this team, and sometimes it’s hard to believe my office is here (in Hutcherson Center). It’s been a crazy journey, but I feel so blessed because when you’re walking in God’s will, things have a way of working themselves out the way they’re supposed to. “When you have God behind you, it’s hard to fail.” Summer Morgan is a contributing writer for Sports Lubbock Monthly. She may be reached at admin@sportslubbock.com.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 37
MORE THAN JUST A FAN A quick stop into Lubbock State Farm agent Scott Powell’s office on 82nd and Indiana Avenue revealed an impressive display of Miami Dolphins collectibles. However, Scott Powell isn’t just a fan...his late father Jesse was member of the legendary 1972 Dolphin team that went undefeated, marking the only time in history any team has accomplished such a feat. He proudly displays a replica jersey and the authentic Super Bowl ring.
38 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
LUBBOCK AREA
SPORTS
THE PERFECT SEASON The incredible tale of West Texan Jesse Powell and his trek to football greatness GEORGIA REGINA
I
n 1972 the Miami Dolphins made football history with a perfect season. Remarkably, a quiet West Texas cowboy named Jesse Loy Powell was on the team. After making football historyJesse worked 35 years as a State Farm agent in Lubbock, Texas before passing away quietly June 14, 2012. Scott Powell, Jesse’s youngest son, took over his dad’s agency.
REED
PENNEY
He sits in his dad’s office, at the same desk, doing the same job, and wears his dad’s Super Bowl ring. As for his dad being part of football history, “half of the people probably didn’t know about it.” Scott said his dad never boasted or used it to further his career. In his office Scott is surrounded by his dad’s framed number 56 jersey and other Dolphin memorabilia. “He never had it up,” Scott explained. “I put it all up.“
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 39
40 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
LUBBOCK AREA
SPORTS
Jesse Powell: The Start
As a young boy in Acuff, Texas, Powell was more focused on roping horses than football. All the same, he was offered scholarships and chose to go to West Texas State, now West Texas A&M, as a walk-on in 1965. He excelled at football, but his heart was always on the ranch. At West Texas A&M his quiet determination garnered him respect. He quickly moved to the starting line and four years later was drafted to the National Football League by the Miami Dolphins. While at West Texas State, Jesse met a young cheerleader, Jan, who he knew immediately he wanted to marry. The couple became engaged their senior year and Jan cheered him on as he made the move to professional football. “He wasn’t looking to do football,” Jan
Powell said. “God just placed him in the right place at the right time.” Moving from West Texas to Florida was a huge shift for the college football star and his cheerleader bride. “When he got drafted, he was terrified,” Jan recalled. “It was an adventure he never would have done. He would have roped calves and stayed in Spur.” Powell played five seasons as a linebacker and top tackler from 1969-1973 with the Miami Dolphins. He played in three Super Bowls and was a part of the 1972 team that had the only undefeated season in football history, winning every game and the Super Bowl that year. Even with his football successes, Powell was a giving and caring person who broke horses in the off-season. In 1973 he retired from football and came to Lubbock Texas where he became a State Farm agent.
HUMBLE SUPERSTAR Although Powell was a leading contributor to the 1972 Dolphins defense, unsuspecting customers would have never known the difference. Son Scott now proudly displays tribute items to his dad’s gridiron glory in the office, but the late elder Powell never was the type to call attention to his accomplishments.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 41
LUBBOCK AREA
SPORTS
42 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly
BACK IN THE DAY Son Scott displays his father Jesse’s 1972 NFL contract with the Dolphins which specified he was to be paid $18,500 for the season. For comparison sake, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who is currently playing under a six year, $108 million contract, earns that same amount in just 10 minutes of play today.
Family Man THE ONE AND ONLY How many insurance agents in town sport a Super Bowl ring while checking rates on their laptop? Our guess is one. Scott proudly displays his beloved father’s ring.
For the Powell family, they don’t remember Jesse as a top tackler of the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ perfect season. In 1988 he was inducted into the West Texas A&M Hall of Champions but Powell wasn’t caught up in fame and never wanted the spotlight. His family remembers him as a loving, humble, family man who loved helping others, and whose commitment off the field was his greatest achievement of all. Powell’s youngest son Scott remembers his dad taking pleasure in his family and always putting their needs above his own. Scott recalled traveling as far as Phoenix to play basketball on a traveling circuit team when he was a young boy. His dad never missed one game. “My 12-year-old basketball game was the coolest thing he’d ever seen, yet he’d been a part of three Super Bowls,” Scott said. “He could build anyone’s confidence.” “Insurance fit his personality well. He would get to help people everyday,” Scott said. “He loved it.”
“Perfect Season” Reunion
In December 2012, six months after Jesse Powell passed away, his wife and their three children and their spouses honored Jesse’s memory at the Miami Dolphins’ Perfect Season reunion in Miami, Florida. Jan wore her late husband’s number 56 jersey and joined in as the “Perfect Season” players took the field at half-time. It was an emotional night as she celebrated his memory and stood in his place. At the reunion, legendary running back Larry Csonka spoke about how the 1972 Dolphins embodied what Jesse Powell stood for. Tears filled Scott’s eyes as he heard a Hall of Fame running back speak so highly of his late father. But he wasn’t surprised. “That’s just the kind of man he was,” Scott said remembering his dad. “He was a different breed.” Georgia Reed is a contributing writer for Sports Lubbock Monthly. She may be reached at admin@sportslubbock.com.
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 43
Pick Up Your Copy TODAY! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Peoples Bank (5820 82nd St) Peoples Bank (3801 34th St) Peoples Bank (7503 Hwy 84, Shallowater) Peoples Bank (1605 W. Division St., Slaton) Amigos (112 North University) United (1701 50th st) United (2703 82nd st) Taco Villa (2243 19th St) Taco Villa (4516 50th St) Taco Villa (1911 50th St) Taco Villa (8212 Indiana) Taco Villa (5402 4th St) Taco Villa (5139 80th St) Taco Villa (7110 Quaker) Taco Villa (7727 Milwaukee) Lubbock Sports Medicine (4110 22nd Place) Sport Clips (3719 19th St) Hub City Field House (11703 Indiana) Locker Room Haircuts (5902 82nd) Sport Clips (4505 98th St #150) Sport Clips (4930 South Loop 289 #200) Marshall’s Barbershop (2145 50th St #A) Coldwell Banker (4924 South Loop 289) Garrett Swann CPAs (11003 Quaker Ave) Play It Again Sports (by Lone Star Coins) Lubbock Sports/Visit Lubbock (1500 Broadway) St. Clair & Massey Orthodontics (5203 79th St., Suite H) Southcrest Baptist Church (3801 S. Loop 289) Scott Powell Insurance (Indiana & 82nd) Papa Murphy’s Pizza (Indiana & 82nd) Lone Star Sports Coins & Collectibles (4825 50th St, Unit C) Home Plate Diner (7615 University) South Plains Electric Cooperative (7210 82nd) Willcoxon Insurance (4601 S. Loop 289 #7) MGM Electronics (2146 19th St) Rock Solid Athletics (6029 45th St) MGM Electronics (5610 Frankfort) Cardinals Sport Center (6524 Slide Rd) Bacon Heights (5110 54th St) Captivated Images (on Woodrow west of Slide on the south side of street) SportsZone Center for Orthopedic Surgery at Northstar Professional Center (4642 N. Loop 289 Suite 101) Drug Emporium (5109 82nd St) Package Plus (5815 82nd St) Frasier Eye Center (3804 21st Ste A (12,B1)
Where to Find Us
F
olks still regularly ask us where they can find SLM. We hope that this list and info can help alleviate that problem. To help solve that problem, we have included a list of locations where you can find us each month. As always, our publication is free to you, meaning we are 100% advertiser supported. Do us (and our advertisers) a favor and let them know you saw their ad here. It is only through their support that we can continue to bring you the best in Hub City sports action! If you would rather have the magazine delivered right to your door each and every month, we can now do that, as well. For the cost of postage and handling ($26.96 per year) you will get the newest issue delivered in your mailbox and you’ll never have to worry about missing an issue again. It also makes a great gift idea for the sports fan on your list. See our ad below and log on to purchase your subscription today!
If you would like your business to be added to our growing distribution list, please contact Toby TODAY at 808.781.8482!
www.sportslubbock.com |
NOVEMBER 2013
| 45
SPORTS
IN THE
HUB
by ALYSSA
KITTEN
Six Man Football Event Calls Lubbock Home
S
ince its invention in 1934 by high There are not many other convention school football coach, Stephen and visitors bureaus that go to the extent Epler, six-man football has grown that Lubbock Sports does to ensure students from its humble beginnings in from six-man schools can attend a fun and Chester, Nebraska, across the United States, beneficial event. to find its home in Texas. Football is more “We put on the entire event, everything of a religion here than a game, and for years from the socials, to the check-ins, to the six-man football has given small-town practices, we set up or help coordinate,” Scott students the opportunity to play. A majority Harrison, director of Lubbock Sports, said. of these six-man schools in Texas are located “We help run registration, the clinics, set up in the area surrounding Lubbock, and it only the golf tournament at Shadow Hills Golf makes sense that for more Course and run the gates and than 10 years, Lubbock Sports vending machines. You name it, The all-star, has hosted the Texas Six-Man six-man event we do it.” Coaches Association (TSMCA) The Lubbock Sports Team brought an Annual Convention and Games. has enjoyed working with estimated This year, the TSMCA the Texas Six-Man Coaches 3,000 room Annual Convention and Games Association over the years. were held in Lubbock in late nights as well The team works to ensure the July. Nearly 500 coaches, event has everything it needs as around athletic trainers, 64 football including help with registration, $923,220 in players and 64 basketball players housing, meals, event planning economic participated in all-star games, and marketing. impact to practices, clinics and various “It’s a fun event for us to Lubbock. social activities throughout the work and has been a staple for six-day event. us for years,” Dill said. “We’ve The all-star event gotten close to many of the featured socials at different people who help run the event locations every night, showed players what and the coaches from different schools, so it’s entertainment Lubbock has to offer and a fun social thing for us too because we get provided an opportunity for participants to to be around friends who we don’t get to see earn scholarships. often.” “There are all-star games all over, but This all-star, six-man event brought an one for small-school kids that goes to the estimated 3,000 room nights as well as around lengths that this event goes to is pretty $923,220 in economic impact to Lubbock. unique,” Josh Dill, former sales manager If you would like to learn more about how for Lubbock Sports, said. “The Six Man Lubbock Sports can help you host a sporting Coaches Association gives more money event or tournament or to participate in next in scholarships to players than any other year’s TSMCA Annual Convention and coaching association in Texas. That is part of Games, please call 806.747.5232. To find upour financial commitment to the event. We to-date information about events, attractions help the association give away 16 scholarships and dining and shopping options, visit www. each year.” visitlubbock.org. Alyssa Kitten is Communications Coordinator of Lubbock Sports. She may be reached at alyssa@ visitlubbock.org.
46 |
NOVEMBER
2013 |
Sports Lubbock Monthly