Category Archives: Athletics

Two top HISD student athletes commit to Kentucky State, University of Texas on National Signing Day

Nearly 150 students sign letters of intent for collegiate athletic programs across the country

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With their parents, coaches, and friends looking on, two of the Houston Independent School District’s top athletes announced they will attend Kentucky State University and the University of Texas to pursue their athletic and academic careers.

Mesi Wilson is a standout in volleyball at Bellaire High School who has been offered a scholarship to play at Kentucky State.

North Forest High School’s Javonne Shepherd, one of the top offensive tackles in the state, has accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Texas. Continue reading →

HISD Athletics Director Andre’ Walker recognized by NIAAA 

HISD Director of Athletics Andre’ Walker has received the designation of Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Through a voluntary NIAAA certification process, Walker was evaluated on his background, experience, and professional contributions. He joins an elite group of administrators who demonstrate exemplary professionalism in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.

Walker has spent the past 18 years serving students in HISD as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and most recently as a senior athletics program administrator for the district’s Athletics Department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas Southern University, Master’s in Education from Prairie View A&M University.  Continue reading →

HISD Director of Athletics named 2018 National Sport and Security Professional of the Year

HISD Director of Athletics Marmion Dambrino

HISD Director of Athletics Marmion Dambrino has been selected to receive the 2018 National Sport and Security Professional of the Year Award, presented by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) at the University of Southern Mississippi.

The award recognizes a member of management in the field who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues over the past year.

The honor is selected by each respective sport league, association, or advisory committee, and will be presented on Wednesday, July 11, during the 2018 National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky.

HISD high school wins $100,000 worth of sports equipment

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Sharpstown High School won a $100,000 customized sports equipment grant from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Let’s Play, and Good Sports back in September, and now the new athletic gear has been delivered to the school. State Representative Gene Wu presented Sharpstown Principal Daniel De Leon with a congratulatory certificate during a school celebration on Dec. 14.

The school received new soccer balls, new goals for the soccer field, cones, and practice gear; a football five-man blocking sled with flags and uniform pants; starting blocks and training equipment for track; rackets and tennis balls for tennis and PE; gloves, bats, baseballs/softballs, and practice gear for the baseball/softball programs; and a wealth of other PE equipment ranging from hula hoops to jump ropes to medicine balls to floor hockey equipment.

Continue reading →

Vote now and help Sharpstown HS win $100K

Sharpstown High School is in the running to win a $100,000 customized sports equipment grant from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Let’s Play, and Good Sports, and they need your help.

Voting started today, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m., and you can vote once a day by visiting this Facebook link: http://woobox.com/vr6esa. You will need a Facebook account to vote. If you have trouble accessing this link, you can also visit the Let’s Play Facebook page here.

The field has been narrowed down to 20 finalists, and based on the number of votes, there will be 10 winners. One school receives the grand prize and the nine runners-up each receive a $1,000 PE kit that contains inflatables, pinnies, cones, and other PE essentials.

Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sept. 17, and the winners will be notified the week of Sept. 25.

Hundreds gather to dedicate, celebrate new Delmar Fieldhouse 

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Standing before hundreds of cheering fans packed into the stands at the new Delmar Fieldhouse, HISD Board President Wanda Adams began to pump up the crowd.

“We need to get this party started! Are y’all ready?” she hollered, clapping her hands above her head as she led the fans in a celebratory cheer. Continue reading →

Grand opening celebration this week for new Delmar Fieldhouse 

The Houston Independent School District will host a grand opening celebration to mark the completion of the new Delmar Fieldhouse, which was constructed as part of the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program.

The first games to be played in the new facility will follow that afternoon, as eight HISD boys’ high school basketball teams take to the court, which features a star representing the HISD logo and an image of the Houston skyline.

Continue reading →

I Am HISD: Former Westbury HS football player becomes first African-American stadium director at Butler

George Walker poses for a photograph at Butler Stadium, January 31, 2017.

George Walker Jr. is an accomplished athlete who was All-American and All-State in football at Westbury High School, graduated in 2004, and went on to play for the University of Texas. Now he is back at HISD, where he was recently named stadium director of the Joe Kelly Butler Athletic Complex – the first African American to hold the position. In this edition of I Am HISD, Walker talks about his new role and how he benefitted from participating in sports.  

You grew up in HISD and were a star student athlete at Westbury. What sports did you participate in and what impact did your involvement in sports have on you?
I participated in football, basketball, and track. I was All-American and All-State in football, and was honorable mention in All-State in basketball. I went to the regionals in track. Then I got a scholarship to college for doing something I loved. When you’re involved in sports, you make memories that can get you through tough times, and you learn to fight through things together with your teammates. It also teaches perseverance. You learn never to give up. The sooner you learn that the better off you’ll be going through life. Continue reading →

HISD football coach nominated for NFL High School Coach of the Year Award

Furr High School football coach Matthew Valmore was recently nominated for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award by the NFL Foundation for his leadership, dedication to the community, and commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.

“I am humbled, honored, and very appreciative to be considered for such a prestigious award,” Valmore said. “It almost feels like a dream.”

Valmore is among 32 high school football coaches from across the country nominated by a NFL team for the national award, which is named for the winningest coach in NFL history. He was nominated by the Houston Texans after the team selected him as a High School Coach of the Week in November. Continue reading →

Fun, friendly competition during Special Olympics Field Day for high schools

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High school students took the field on Thursday during the fourth annual Special Olympics Field Days at Butler Stadium, participating in sports such as football, basketball, track, and soccer. The events give students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a chance to showcase their athletic skills by taking part in fun athletic contests. Elementary school students will have their field day next week on Nov. 17, which will conclude the event this year.