The Devine Athletic Booster Club held its annual Sports Banquet Wednesday, May 17th in the old high school gymnasium. Tons of team and individual recognitions were handed out and spoken about. The Warhorse and Arabian student/athletes in attendance listened as each head coach of their sport talked about the joys and appreciation of coaching in such a special place that has so many talented kids. The resounding theme from each who spoke was one gratitude for not only the athletes and their diligence in performing to the best of their ability but for parents for sharing their kids and allowing them to do something that they really love.
During the course of the 2016-2017 school year, Warhorse and Arabian athletic teams racked up 10 District Championships, 2 Bi-District Championships, 2 Area Championships, 2 Regional Quarterfinal Championships, had 111 compete at a Regional event, and 11 qualify to participate at the state level. Add those sports accomplishments to the successes of other Devine High School organizations such as Band, FCCLA, FFA, Robotics, and all other UIL competitions and compare those combined achievements to any other school in this great state. You will find no better place or school system or one that has more overall success than lil’ ol’ Devine High School.
In no particular order, the following recapitulates team and individual accomplishments that were achieved by DISD sport’s programs for the 2016-2017 school year.
Arabian Cross Country: District Runner-Up, Regional Qualifier. Team MVR-Maria Murillo; Newcomer-Jasmine Stricker; Heart-Abigail Whitaker.
Warhorse Cross Country: Team MVR and Regional Qualifier-Andy Tovar.
Arabian Volleyball: District Champions (8-0/did not drop a set), Regional Quarterfinal Champions, 31-10 overall record. Co-MVPs-Addie Trojanowski and Chesney Friesenhahn; Defensive MVP-Makenna Morales; Outstanding Setter-Korin Stehle; Heart of an Arabian-Abbie Capps.
Arabian Basketball: District Champions (8-0); Regional Semi-Finalist (28-5 overall). MVP-Vanessa Oyola, Defensive MVP-Ariel Lopez, Heart Award-Jenna Sadler. Individual honors earned included: Oyola-TABC and TGCA All-State, TABC All Region, SAAABC All Star, and TABC All Star; Sadler-TABC All-Region; Julia Harrell and Tayler Diaz-Academic All-State for both TABC and TGCA.
Warhorse Basketball: District Runner-Up, Bi-District Qualifier. Team MVP-Jacob Oyola; Fighting Heart-Beau Cardenas, Connor Schmidt; Defensive MVP-Daniel Ramirez.
Fall Team Tennis: District Champions and Regional Qualifiers. District MVP-Jaime Garza; District Newcomer-Jake Harrell.
Individual Tennis (Spring): District Champions-Arabians and Warhorses. MVPs-Abbie Capps and Jaime Garza.
Arabian Golf: District Runner-Up, Regional Qualifiers. Team MVG-Kayla Busby. Each earned Academic All-District (Busby, Shelby Spivey, Preslee Quisenberry, Jamie Stein, Tayler Diaz, Rebecca Fowler) while seniors Stein and Diaz were nominated for Academic All-State.
Warhorse Golf: District Champions, Regional Runner-Up; State Qualifiers (Beau Cardenas, Hunter Murphy, Carson Tilley, Noah Tumbarello, Brice Champion). MVG-Carson Tilley.
Arabian Track: District Champions, Area Champions. State Qualifier-Stephanie Campos; Newcomer-Espi Mendoza; Will-To-Win-Macie York; MVP-Caroline Anderson.
Warhorse Track: District Champions, Area Runner-Up. Team MVP and State Qualifier-Jack Zimmerle; Record Setter-Dillon Ricord; Newcomer-Isaiah Oropeza; Will-To-Win-Trent Laughlin.
Warhorse Football: Team MVP-Dillon Ricord; Tommy Grosebeck Fighting Heart-Beau Cardenas and Austin Soto; Offensive MVP-Jack Zimmerle; Defensive MVP-Corben Boggs; Offensive Lineman-Ethan Wood; Defensive Lineman-Jarred Wofford; Most Improved-Trent Laughlin.
Arabian Softball: Team MVP-Amanda Wilson; Gold Glove-Brooklyn Anderson; Hustle & Heart-Jaylyn Stewart; Versatility-Taylor Carr; Silver Slugger-Brittany Jay.
Warhorse Baseball: District Champions. Cy Young-Dillon Ricord; Charlie Hustle-Jack Zimmerle; Mr. Clutch-Corben Boggs; Most Improved-Richie Long.
Arabian Powerlifting: Most Valuable Lifter-Paige Coté; Heart of a Champion-Molly Fuller; Most Improved-Rebecca Fowler.
Warhorse Powerlifting: Most Valuable Lifter/State Qualifier 2nd Place-Austin Soto; Iron Man Award-Steven Ramirez; Heart of a Champion-Lucas Byrd; Most Improved Lifter-Colton Bean.
Robert Raygoza was voted Student Fan of the Year while Christina Kjellerson was Warhorse Adult Fan of the Year.
Beau Cardenas was voted the Arabian Student Fan of the Year while Brenda Burford was the Arabian Adult Fan of the Year.
Ariel Lopez was honored with the Essence of an Arabian Award. Beau Cardenas and Austin Soto were tabbed with the Heart of a Warhorse Award.
Jenna Sadler was selected as the Outstanding Senior Girl Athlete and Dillon Ricord and Jack Zimmerle were selected Outstanding Senior Boy Athletes.
Tobey Tomblin received recognition for being the long-time voice of Friday night football. Tomblin is retiring from DISD at the end of the school year.
Although not every student/athlete that participated in a sport received a certificate of achievement, every coach understands without the contributions of all players that team awards and championships are impossible. Each recognized student/athlete understands that their individual accomplishments and awards are unatainable without great support and contributions from their teammates, parents, coaches, Devine’s student body and Warhorse Nation, game workers, faculty and staff, personal role models, and anyone else who has had an effect on his or her playing career. From the DISD Coaching Staff to all of you who support the student/athlete of Devine High School, THANK YOU!!!