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by Jay Tope
Senior Editor, SAsports.com
jaytope@sasports.com
This past Monday I visited with three different athletic directors of 1A schools out west of San Antonio. The schools have their own history, culture and flair. Each school has something unique about it. And with the three people at the helm of their respective programs, I think their fans have a lot to look forward to for the 2007-08 school year and beyond.
10:00am stop, Leakey HS
Leakey, TX
This is the second year as athletic director for James Crafton, and the feeling with many people in this small town is that he has the athletic program going in the right direction.
"The kids responded well, and are committed to improving things," said Coach Crafton. "They saw some success this year, and fed off of it."
Defensive coordinator Jimmy Holt is now the head football coach, and the team should do well this season. SAsports.com hasn't released their district previews for 1A yet, but Texas Football Magazine has the Eagles pegged at third, ahead of Medina and Center Point, and behind Harper and Johnson City.
Volleyball is doing well at Leakey, and with an estimated 25 girls out for volleyball this year, it looks like it'll just get stronger. Last season the girls missed out making the regional semis after a tough four-game loss to Kingsville Academy, but they have 12 strong freshmen coming in, and Katie Young has recovered from her injury. There will be a volleyball camp next week in Leakey, and Wednesday July 18th will see an SAsports.com Tour Stop at the camp, our first in Leakey since last year's homecoming parade and rally. Dusty Crafton, wife of James, is doing a great job with these girls.
Basketball is also on the rise, with the boys team ending the past season as area finalists. Add to that district championships in boys golf and track, and you can see why people are excited about the things happening in the Frio Canyon area.
One very sad note: Journalism teacher Bill Bradley, who had been at Leakey ISD for the past 17 years, passed away in late June while on vacation. He was loved by the school and the community and will be missed terribly.
12:30 stop, Nueces Canyon HS
Barksdale, TX
After a quick lunch with my daughter at BJ's Cafe and Sweet Shop in Camp Wood (where the football field is), we take the short four-mile trek north to Barksdale, where the Nueces Canyon High School campus is located.
New athletic director Matt Turney is more than pumped up for the upcoming school year. He is determined to help turn the fortunes around regarding the team sports.
"Things are definitely moving in the right direction here at Nueces Canyon," said Turney, who has been a Panther since January.
Cross Country is a sport where the Panthers have had success, and John Arrellano and Victoria Herndon will lead their respective teams to new heights. But what of the football team?
The success has been few and far between, and if you ask people in the area, they will tell you it's because of a lack of stability. Coach Turney hopes to change that, along with bringing a new work ethic. And the new attitude is already paying off; last year the football team ended the season with 15 players - 37 are coming out for football this season. Because of that, the Panthers will be playing
their first JV football schedule in many years.
Basketball is on the rise, and for a program that hasn't seen the playoffs in over a decade, there is a lot of optimism. Two years ago, the boys team didn't win a game. Last year they had a few wins, and they hope to build upon that improvement. Meanwhile, there's a storm brewing on the girls team - in the form of sophomore post Stormy Williams. Voted newcomer of the year in her district, she is poised to possibly become the dominant post in the area now that Sabinal's Christina Tristan has graduated. The girls might not be ready to knock off D'Hanis for the district title, but you can expect them in the playoff hunt.
SAsports.com will be out for "Meet The Panthers" night on Friday August 24th, and it should be the start of a year to remember in the Camp Wood/Barksdale area.
2:00 stop, Rocksprings HS
Rocksprings, TX
Many times when talking with people about high school athletics at the 1A level, I mention how important stability is in a football program. And Robert Hernandez is a great example of what happens when you have that kind of stability.
The head football coach and athletic director for the past seven years, Hernandez has seen the football program at Rocksprings rise from an also-ran team, to the 2006 season, where they played December football for the first time in anyone's recollection.
And yes, they graduated 12 seniors. But there's something to be said about tradition, and the winning tradition at Rocksprings means they have 56 football players, and not the drop-off that you would think. In addition, there's Coach Hernandez's all-district quarterback, who happens to be his son, and wide receiver/running back Alex Ramirez. Add an all-district center returning, along with several key defensive starters, and I wouldn't count Rocksprings out of any district title equation just yet.
Other traditions abound in the land if the Angoras. Cross Country is always strong, under the direction of Coach Zane Todd. And the basketball team should be very improved this season. But a quick glance and visit through this town on Monday saw anticipation for this upcoming school year present in everyone.
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Check out a game or two when you're in the Leakey, Nueces Canyon, or Rocksprings area. And in addition to they great people at these schools, the drive through the scenic roads in this area will take your breath away. Just be careful out there!
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