Decade Long Dynasty

4C

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

BeaumontEnterprise.com

Decade-long dynasty Bridge City cross country vying to keep the winning ways running bridge city

By Johnnie Walters

[email protected] (409) 880-0744

Bridge City cross country coach Cody Knight feels the pressure every day. Whether he’s walking to the track to lead practice or through the aisles of the local corner store, Knight is used to the weight that rests on his shoulders. High expectations in Bridge City aren’t anything new and certainly not a surprise to him. Knight realized the heavy load once he took overtheprogramfromformer coach Rick Miller in 2006. But since his arrival, Knight has continued the success started by Miller. As head coach, Knight has helped the Bridge City girls win the last

three of their nine straight district titles. The boys have won eight of the last nine district titles. They finished second during Knight’s first season as head coach but won the last two titles. “Coach Miller did a great job establishing the program and making it what it is today,” said Knight, who was an assistant under Miller from 1999 until the spring of 2006. “He made the program one of the top ones in the area and state. So I had some pretty big shoes to fill when I took over in the fall of 2006.” The District 21-3A cross country championship meet is scheduled for today at Claiborne Park. The boys start the three-mile race at 9 a.m. The girls follow with a two-mile race at 9:30 a.m.

Also today is the District 23-2A meet, starting with the boys race at 10 a.m. at Wildwood Country Club. The top three teams and the top 10 individuals qualify for the Region III Cross Country meet that will be held at North Harris College in Houston on Nov. 7. The state meet is set for Nov. 14 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock. “If the girls win it will be an entire decade that the team has won district,” Knight said. “Both teams have a really good chance to win district again. They have done a really good job and they just continue to improve as the season moves on.” The Bridge City boys and girls squads are coming off strong performances at the Lufkin Cross Country Invita-

tional last Saturday. The Bridge City boys finished in third place and the girls squad finished fourth among 11 Class 5A and 4A teams. Tim Cude led the Cardinals with a second-place finish. He ran a personal-best time of 16 minutes 12 seconds. Jessica Franklin led the girls team with a fifth place finish in the two-mile in 13:26. “I thought the guys did a great job at the Lufkin meet,” Knight said. “Both teams looked really strong.” Cude will be joined at the district meet with teammates Aaron Lejuene, Luke Hebert, Kirby Shepherd, Armando Chavez, Sawyer Hogan and Jose Chavez. “The boys are ranked No. 1 in the region this year,” Knight

Schedule of High school District Cross Country meets

Varsity girls, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday District 21-5A

Today District 21-3A

at Baytown Gentry Junior High Varsity boys, 9 a.m. Varsity girls, 9:30 a.m.

at Claiborne Park Varsity boys, 9 a.m. Varsity girls, 9:30 a.m.

District 20-4A

District 23-2A

at Claiborne Park Varsity boys at 8:30 a.m. Varsity girls at 9 a.m.

at Wildwood Country Club Varsity boys, 10 a.m.

said. “I think we have a good chance to finish in the top seven spots at the district meet.” Franklin will be joined in the girls division with teammates May Nguyen, Meagan Shockley, Ariel Chesson, Alex Holland, Courtney Meaux and Lisa Huynh. Franklin, Nguyen and

Shockley have all run the two-mile under 13 minutes this season. “The girls will have a little bit tougher competition than the boys,” Knight said. “They have some pretty good runners competing from other schools. But hopefully, they will all have a good run and pull out a win.”

cAuse: ‘As of right now, this is the largest donation this office will have ever gotten’

A second tragedy The McCarthy family and friends are all too familiar with loss. Kristi’s mother Trudy died in 2003. She had ovarian cancer. “They lost their mom 6 years ago to cancer. Then they lost Kristi, I’ve never felt so helpless, no one knew what to do to help out. I

Lc-M: ‘I thought we played a good game’ Continued from page 1C

Apperson added six kills and Elisa Tate had three aces and said Sicktich, who was last three kills. year’s most valuable player Ozen’s A’Lexus Brannon in the district. “It was a good had five kills, eight digs, and and exciting game. We hope four blocks. Somalia Randle to continue this type of play had 29 assists and eight digs. in the playoffs.” Alexia Thomas had seven Despite Sicktich’s mixed kills. Erica Lewis added seven emotions, she admits it was kills and seven digs. an exciting finish to an out“I’m proud of the girls standing year for the Bears. and what they have accomLC-M (30-7) won its second plished this season,” Castino straight district title with a said. “They have really done 13-1 record. The Bears’ lone a great job.” district loss came at the hands of Port Neches-Groves on the High School Linescores road. VOLLEYBALL “I am so relieved that we District 21-3A got the win,” said LC-M coach Hamshire-Fannett 3, Vicki Castino. “I thought we Orangefield 0 played a good game. We came H-F 25 25 30 — 3 out strong and kind of slowed OF 12 15 28 — 0 down in the middle, but we Records: H-F 18-14, 8-2; OF n/a, were able to pick it back up to 7-3 win the game.” Highlights: Hamshire-Fannett: The Rock-A-Noos (23-11) Shelby Mason 3 kills, 5 aces, 18 finished the district season assists, 6 digs; Elizabeth Files, in second place at 12-2, while 9 kills, 1 block; Shelby Basye, 6 Ozen (24-10) finished third at kills, 3 aces, 10 digs; Elizabeth 10-4. Nederland is in fourth Davis, 3 blocks; Kelsey Rabalais, at 9-5. 5 kills, 2 blocks, 1 assist; Ronnee The top four teams finPiggott, 6 kills, 4 digs; Ciara ished in the exact same order Guilhas, 4 aces, 8 assists. a year ago. The Rock-A-Noos advanced the furthest in the playoffs with a second-round appearance during last year’s Class 4A postseason. “We have all been a little stressed all week leading up to this game,” Castino said. “We knew we had to win this one to win the district title. So we were a little anxious to play.” Ozen jumped out to a 5-1 lead in Game 3 before the Bears rallied to tie the score up at 5-5. The Bears led by as many as eight points before Ozen rallied to tie the game at 22-22. The Panthers were able to get back into the game, thanks to a strong hitting performance and numerous hitting errors made by the Bears. The lead changed once before LC-M went on a 3-1 run to win the final game 25-23. Sicktich led the Bears with 14 kills, five digs, and three aces. Ashton LaVergne had 10 kills. Teammate Shelby

Trudy McCarthy. “I figured if their mom wasn’t around to be a mother against drunk driving for them then we could all do it for them. And it just kind of turned into much bigger than I could ever imagine,” Woodhead said. Within two days of launching her fund-raising site, Woodhead said she raised $1000. The total reached $5000 eight days later. “I spent one day at work just looking at her little tote board for the donations,” McCarthy said. “It was so moving to see that it jumped from $3000 up to $4000 up to $4500, $5000 and just to see the number of people that were contributing and that care for this cause, showing sympathy to our family. It helps in the grieving process.”

Big donation for MADD Bell-Schexnaider said MADD Beaumont has never

held a fundraiser in the area. She said funding for the office comes from smaller donations and grants provided by the Victims of Crime Act. Thepersondonatingmoney to MADD can specify how they would like it spent, BellSchexnaider said. Possible uses include funding for victim services, public awareness or family outreach. “Kathy has given me a list of ways to use it and I keep looking at them thinking they all sound important, so I imagine we will just divide the money evenly, or as they see fit,” Woodhead said. Janus, an asset management firm and sponsor of Ironman U.S., is sponsoring the charity challenge in which Woodhead is participating. The firm makes additional contributions to the 50 top fundraisers of each Ironman it sponsors, according to the Janus Charity Challenge Web site. For Ironman Florida, Woodhead is currently in

sixth place for the highest amount raised, according to the Janus Web site. If she breaks into the top five, Janus will contribute $2000 or more to MADD, according to the site. Kristi McCarthy will have Woodhead’s back at the race, literally. The triathlete had pink shirts made for the race that have Kristi’s name and “R.A.D.D.,” racing against drunk driving, printed on the back. Woodhead, who is in her seventh season of triathlon competition, described Ironman triathlons as one of the most selfish things to which a person can dedicate them self. “I have an easier time knowing I’m doing it for something bigger than just the race, more than just that day or more than just me,” Woodhead said. Aside from awareness about the dangers of drunk driving, Woodhead said she hopes the fundraiser will

also leave people with the importance of wearing seat belts, even in the back seat. McCarthy was not wearing a seat belt when she was thrown from the car in which she was riding. Starting September 1, Texas law required all persons riding in the back seat of a car to wear a seatbelt. “It’s still not going to take away the fact that she’s not here, and it’s not going to bring her back and it’s not going to make it okay the way that she died, but we will have helped many people in the process,” Woodhead said. To support Woodhead and donate in McCarthy’s name, visit: http://januscharitychallenge.kintera.org/fl09/ kcwoodhead or send checks to MADD Beaumont Memo: Kathleen Woodhead 700 North St. Suite A Beaumont, TX 77701 Valentino Mauricio/The Enterprise

LC-M Lady Bear Christine Sicktich, right, drives a kill shot past Ozen defenders in their District 20-4A match on Tuesday.

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that just, her smile just immediately lit your face up,” Woodhead said of the actress and singer. “You kind of laugh whenever you think about it.” Woodhead said she hopes to raise $10,000. As of press time, the total on her fundraising Web site was more than $9,000. “As of right now, this is the largest donation this office will have ever gotten,” Kathy Bell-Schexnaider with the Beaumont chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

mean what do you say when someone’s lost their mom and their sister in six years?,” Woodhead said. Woodhead and McCarthy’s brother Mike met in Beaumont at Kelly High School and attended college in Austin. The two have remained close friends even though Woodhead now lives in Houston and McCarthy calls Washington D.C. home. “I’ve always known her to be that type of loving, caring person,” Mike McCarthy said. “Always wanting to find a positive light in a bad situation. It was kind of her character to step up and raise money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.” Mike and Katie McCarthy plan to join Team Woodhead in Panama City Beach to cheer on their friend. Woodhead said she’s used Ironman races in the last two years to raise about $10,000 for the American Cancer Society in the name of close family and friends, including

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