ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Boys
Ryan Schoppe, La Porte
Notable: Schoppe won the Class 6A state cross country championship in a record time of 14 minutes, 14.02 seconds, shattering the 6A record set in 2004 by 20.08 seconds.
What Schoppe said:
“There really was no key to it — I just went out there and kind of did my thing. I
knew from training that I was ready for a big race. It just had to be the right conditions. They were perfect.”
Other nominees
Jayvon Davis, Nimitz:
Davis had 17 carries for 274 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-35 win over Aldine.
Charles Alia, Kempner: In a 36-19 win over Clements, Alia ran for 225 yards and four touchdowns
on 22 carries.
Zion Childress, New
Caney: Childress was 12-of23 for 200 yards and three touchdowns and had 18 carries for 123 yards and one score in a 37-0 win over Porter for a District 9-5A Division I title.
Girls
Clara Brower, The Woodlands
Notable: The junior collected 41 and 33 assists in bi-district and area round sweeps of Westfield and Vista Ridge. The Woodlands is in the regional quarterfinals for the eighth consecutive year.
What coach Terri Wade said: “There’s just a lot of tradition. The next group (up), they want to do more. I think when you have a successful program, I think it just breeds that. It means a lot when we have the younger kids come and watch. I think they buy into it and want to be a part of it so much.”
Other nominees
Avery Clover, Atascocita: Clover posted the highest girls' finish among Houston-area individuals
at the Class 6A state cross country meet, finishing third in 17:35.88.
Madalyn O'Brien,
Cinco Ranch: The senior posted 14 kills, seven blocks and 11 digs in an area round playoff sweep of Cypress Falls.
Carly Ahrens, Kingwood: The freshman's eighth-place time of 17:54.72 led Kingwood to second in Class 6A at the state cross country meet.