Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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The Ramrunners work on take-offs for sprints in a work out after school. Photo by A. Miles Senior David Wells, Junior Tim Adamchick, and Senior Curtis Larry practice keeping pace for upcoming meets. Photo by A. Miles Gary Could Be The Star Player Next Year! -Coach Fawcett Junior pole vaulter Gary Neal improved a great deal this season. Coach Fawcett stated, I believe that Gary could be the star player next year, unless some new kids come in with a lot of skill. Gary feels that he has improved, but still has a long way to go. He replied, 1 also feel that encouraging team mates is important to succeed. Gary started track in the seventh grade and has been pole vaulting ever since. His brothers ran track for Flsik while he was in middle school. This in- fluenced him and, as Gary put it, They forcibly got him to run track too! When he first started running track in high school, he had heard about Coach Fawcett. He was known as the best track coach in the state, and Gar)' said, 1 believe it! If it has anything to do with track, he is an authority on it. His most memorable meet was the Viking Relays at Dulles. He placed second in a varsity meet and was only a sophomore. In another meet, another mem- orable event happened-his pole broke while in air. Gary felt the toughest meet was district. The vaulters from Spring Branch and Westchester were good competition for him. When asked if he would continue track in the future, he replied, Yes! I hope to vault in college, but onlv time will tell! By Noelle Miller 242 Compctition Track Features Sophomores Sherlyn Hulsey and Ethel Lucas train for the two mile relay. Photo by A. M

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Senior Patty Manry follows close behind her Stratford opponent during the Alief Invitational. Photo by R. Law Jo Jones Continues Wins Ramrunners State Champs iorValSticklercompetesin thedisk w. Photo by R. Law The girls track team once again won the district title for the 5th year in a row. In addition to the district title, they also captured the regional title for the first time and sent two girls to state. Seniors Jolanda Jones and Val Stickler, who won the State championship in Austin. Under the direction of a new coach, Li . Parke, the girls retained their willingness to win. Senior Janet Dammann stated, Coach Parke was very supportive during the whole season and was the one who gave us encouragement and confidence in ourselves to make us believe wecould win district again. Another element that contributed to a winning season was a strong field events team. This year the team did not have as many sprinters and the field events made up for lost points. Coach Parke feels that every girl on the team was outstanding and each member contributed in some way to a winning season. At State, Jo Jones won three events and placed second in the fourth event as the outstanding runner on the team. The J.V. Ramrunners compiled a team together at the end of the year and competed in one meet (district). The girls showed an outstanding effort in district with Anna Sehms winning 1st in the3200mand 1600m run. With many seniors graduating these J.V. girls will move up to help the varsity maintain their winning tradition. sity Track: Front: S. Fields, M. Herzog, C. Charlton, C.Shine,S. Keeny, R. Nollic; : J. Stinneford, V. Stickler, K. Adams, D. Sander, P. Manary; Back: B. Deckard, cakes, D. Kolb, J. Jones, B. Borah, W. Pena; Back: K. Pue,S. Hulsey, J. Dammann, ladcrlcin. Coach Parke. Photo by R. Law JV Track: Front: D. Vandyke, L. Davis, D. Sonka, L. Johnston, S. Hines; Back: D. Minick, A. Jones, A. Sehms, C. King, J. Phillip, L. Parke. Photo by R. I.aw Girls Track Competition 241

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lior Trevor Dodd, Junior Shawn Forristall, and Senior Paul Moon work on their |e and timing for the district meet. Photo by A. Miles Trevor Wins District Senior hurdler and runner Trevor Dodd had a very successful year. Hescored points at the Gulf Coast Relays in the 110m hurdles, at the Blinn College Relays in the long jump, and won district in the 110m high hurdles as well as scoring points in the 300m intermediate hurdles and in the long jump. Trevor replied, I feel good about my participation. 1 think right now I am at the plateau in my running and hope to excel soon! He started track in his sophomore year. After his first year of track he decided to stay with it and now has been competing for two years. Is he going to continue track in the future? He replied, I hope so! Trevor admires Coach Fawcett, and believes his meth- od of coaching is very effective. He makes people try their hardest. He lets you enjoy the sport while exceling at the same time. Trevor feels he is a tough coach, but if the individual wants to be the best. Coach Fawcett will help him get there. In order to succeed Trevor says, You have to be willing - being the best doesn't come easy! Last year, district wasa forever memory in Trevor's mind. He was expected to get 3rd in hurdles but walked off with 1st place and a trip to regionals. This year was tougher for him because of the Hastings hurdlers. At district, Hastings won by 1 1 3 points giving our track team second place in district. By Noelle Miller to a good start, the Ramrunners strive to improve their timing in the sprints. Photo by A. Miles Four Years Pay Off Senior Jenny Stinneford has becomea very skilled contender. She has been on the track team for fouryearsand will be leaving when she graduates. She re- plied, I am sad about leaving the team because the Ram- runners have been a big part of my four years in high school. Sadly, she said that she will always look back and remember the great times the team had together. Jenny helped in defending their district championship for the fifth time in five years. She earned third place in the 3200m run where she ran her best two mile time and from there she advanced to regionals. Though the seniors are leaving, Jenny felt that if the remaining team sticks together and have the same spirit they will do well. You have to want to win before you can win! , she stated. Coach Parke contributed a lot toward Jenny's winning season. She had her best track season this year because Coach Parke helped her mentally as well as physically. Jenny replied, She is a great lady and the best coach I've ever had! By Noelle Miller Track Fcaturcs Competition 243