DECATUR -The Decatur High School Bulldog athletics program had a stellar season in 2012-2013. And judging from the outpouring of support for the last sporting event of the season, it shows.
The Westside Elementary School’s cafeteria was filled to near capacity as athletes, family and friends turned out for the annual Decatur Athletics Banquet held on May 21. According to Coach Shane Holland, its supporters were “double” from last year, and with good reason.
This event honors athletes for their courage and outstanding leadership to the Decatur High School sport programs.
The football team, while losing its state playoff bid to Murfreesboro, still had one of the best seasons in several years, with a 6-5 record. In fact, head football coach Shane Holland referred to it as “the biggest turnaround I’ve ever seen in a year.”
Their performance was outstanding enough to earn eight players a spot on the all-district team. They were Victor Urquidi, Nou Thor, Elijah McIvel, Evan Owens, Andrew Harris, Avery Clay, Matt Lee, and Samuel Xiong.
The senior boys’ basketball team won the district championship and had five players selected for the all-district team. They were Mario Urquidi, Victor Urquidi, Andrew Harris, Evan Owens, and Dakota Pitcher. Sarah Harris was the only player that made the girls’ basketball all district team. One player, Mario Urquidi, earned a spot on the all-state team.
Several other athletes earned spots on the all district team in their respective sports. They include Hector Aguilar, soccer; Myranda Jackson, softball; and Evan Owens, baseball.
Another part of the Decatur High School sports program that excelled this season was the track team. Both the junior and senior high school track teams brought to Decatur a district championship. For one senior, his valiant efforts earned Decatur a state title. Evan Owens’ 13-feet, 4-inch pole vault won him a state championship. Owens, however, was not finished yet. He placed sixth in the 110-meter hurdles and forth in the 300-meter hurdles. He teamed up with fellow runners Kyle Shaffers, Josh Hare and Mario Urquidi to place third in the 1600-meter relay.
Several other track team members turned in outstanding performances. The combined efforts of Josh Hare, Kyle Shaffers, Andrew Harris, and Carlos Ocampo in the 3200-meter relay took fourth at state. For Sara Harris, her hard work earned her a seventh-place finish in the girls long jump.
Certificates of Participation were given to all boy and girl athletes who took part in either junior or senior high school football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, soccer and trap shooting. The cheerleading squad also handed out awards for outstanding performance and contribution in the support of all sporting events this season.
With a winning year like the 2012-2013 season, it is not surprising that the turnout for this year’s event was so high.
Everyone in Decatur is proud of the kinds of athleticism that all the participants exhibited this year. It shows in the coaching staff, booster club, parents and the community as a whole. With this kind of momentum it will be interesting to see what will happen in the 2013-2014 season.
Coach Holland sums it up best, “We can be number one next year. We have the momentum on our side.”
News, Pages 9 on 06/05/2013