2013 FCA All-Star Rosters Announced

ALL-STAR ROSTERS ANNOUNCED

FOR 2013 Big Country Chevy Dealers FCA ALL-STAR Festival

The 203 athletes and cheerleaders who will make up the 2013 all-star class for the Big Country Chevy Dealers FCA All-Star Festival were announced Sunday, February 17th. The All-Star Festival features the 14^th Annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Myrle Greathouse All-Star Classic Football Game, the 5^th Annual Girls Basketball Game, the 1^st Annual Boys Basketball Game, and the 1^st Annual Girls Volleyball Game.

The 2013 Big Country Chevy Dealers FCA All-Star Festival, includes ladies and men’s basketball in Brownwood on June 6th and a volleyball-football doubleheader on Saturday, June 8th in Abilene. The ladies and men’s basketball games will be at the Brownwood Coliseum and will tip off at 6pm and 8pm respectively. The All-Star Volleyball game will start at noon at Abilene Christian University’s Moody Coliseum followed by the football game at 7 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium.

All proceeds benefit the Big Country Chapter of the FCA.

On Sunday, 158 players, 45 cheerleaders and the coaching staffs were introduced to the media and then attended orientation meetings with organizers and coaches.

• All participants will be honored again at the All-Star Festival Induction Banquet on April 21 at the Abilene Civic Center.
• Annual Award winners will be honored at the Area FCA and AYSA Awards Banquet on May 18 at ACU’s Teague Center.
• Teams, cheerleaders and coaches report for two-a-day practices in Abilene on Wednesday, June 5 and Brownwood on Tuesday, June 4.

Information about the Big Country Chapter of the FCA can also be found at bigcountryfca.org.

 

ALL PARTICIPANTS BY SCHOOL FIRST NAME LAST NAME SPORT

Abilene Christian HS Trevor Tyson North FB

Abilene Hawks Athletics Ian Patterson North Mens BB
Abilene High School Evin Abbe North FB
Abilene High School Conlan Aguirre North FB
Abilene High School Chantz Anderson North FB
Abilene High School Sam Berry North FB
Abilene High School Ryan Childress North FB
Abilene High School Jessica Bevills North Volleyball
Abilene High School Preslie Gretillat VB Cheer
Abilene High School Madeline Jordan North Volleyball
Abilene High School Andie McFarland FB/VB Cheer
Abilene High School Mary Cathryn Walker North Volleyball
Albany High School Jake Bumguardner North FB
Albany High School Rob Montgomery North FB
Albany High School Bristyn Vickers North Ladies BB
Albany High: School Audrey Faith North Volleyball
Albany High: School Andrew Hamilton North Mens BB
Anson High School Tyler Jimenez North FB
Anson High School JoLynn Pinkston VB Cheer
Baird High School Brenna Coffman North Ladies BB
Baird High School Hannah Owens Basketball Cheer
Ballinger High School Lindsey Heidenheimer Basketball Cheer
Ballinger High School Riley Woodruff South FB
Ballinger High School Shayann Matschek South Ladies BB
Ballinger High School Kirsten McCoy South Ladies BB
Bangs High School Kylie Allen Basketball Cheer
Bangs High School Matt Carter South FB
Big Spring High School Chris Nunez North FB
Big Spring High School Vanessa Alvarado VB Cheer
Big Spring High School Clara Benavides North Volleyball
Big Spring High School Haley Dimidjian North Volleyball
Brady High School Taylor Neal South Ladies BB
Brady High School Travis Sammons South FB
Brady High School Samantha Springer Basketball Cheer
Breckenridge High School Lane Morris North Mens BB
Breckenridge High School Jeremy Smith North FB
Bronte High School Erika Puentez Basketball Cheer
Bronte High School Kaitlyn Braswell South Volleyball
Brownwood High School Kevin Hobbs South FB
Brownwood High School Bryant McDaniel South Mens BB
Brownwood High School Mabree Moore South Basketball Cheer
Christoval High School Dale Cunningham South FB
Christoval High School Annie Archuleta South Ladies BB
Cisco High School Colten Gayle North FB
Cisco High School Maggie Robledo VB Cheer
Clyde High School Erika Galle VB Cheer
Clyde High School Jessica Galle VB Cheer
Clyde High School Abbye Kendrick North Ladies BB
Clyde High School Jon Seabourn North FB
Clyde High School Emily Wilson North Ladies BB
Coahoma High School Tanner Ruiz North FB
Coahoma High School Tobi Robinson VB Cheer
Coleman High School Ashton West Basketball Cheer
Coleman High School Autum White Basketball Cheer
Coleman High School Shelton Zarate South FB
Colorado City High School Jaime Espinoza North FB
Colorado City High School Jake Johnson North FB
Colorado City High School Ashlea Stone VB Cheer
Colorado City High School Huntyr Messick North Volleyball
Comanche High School Blake Denning South FB
Comanche High School Bryson Brawley South Mens BB
Comanche High School Emily Cullers South Ladies BB
Cooper High School Hunter Jarvis South Volleyball
Cooper High School Dante Lowry South Mens BB
Cooper High School Bethany Pryde VB Cheer
Cooper High School Allison Simmons VB Cheer
Cooper High School Aaron Cantu South FB
Cooper High School Kaleb Cory South FB
Cooper High School Pablo Hernandez South FB
Cooper High School Fred Lawrence South FB
Cooper High School Anthony Pierson South FB
Cooper High School Kaleb Quesada South FB
Cooper High School David Salazar South FB
Cross Plains High School Katharine Goode Basketball Cheer
Cross Plains High School Blake Hutchins North FB
De Leon High School Kaleb Nowlin South FB
Dublin High School Margje Damstra South Volleyball
Dublin High School Luis Garcia North FB
Dublin High School Aaron Callaway South Mens BB
Early High School Fidel Olalde South FB
Early High School Cameron Denison South Mens BB
Early High School Aubrey Horton South Ladies BB
Early High School Aimee Lawrence Basketball Cheer
Eastland High School Clint Galyean North Mens BB
Eastland High School Luis Ojeda North FB
Eastland High School Lindsay Riffle Basketball Cheer
Eldorado High School Blaine Mitchell South FB
Eula High School Heather Haddix Basketball Cheer
Gorman High School BJ Ramirez South FB
Graham High School Tyler Fore North FB
Graham High School Janson Graham North Mens BB
Graham High School Jake Graham North Mens BB
Graham High School Jerrod Mahan North FB
Grape Creek High School Macayla Burner South Volleyball
Grape Creek High School Ashley Doss South Volleyball
Grape Creek High School Kymberly Flores VB Cheer
Grape Creek High School Sean Ricks South FB
Grape Creek High School Jacob Schmidt South FB
Hamlin High School River Hall North FB
Hamlin High School Taylor Lambert North FB
Hamlin High School Emily VanCleave VB Cheer
Haskell High School Ryan Markey North FB
Haskell High School Brett Shelton North FB
Hawley High School Kelsy Maxwell North Volleyball
Hawley High School Houston Schoonmaker North FB
Hawley High School Tori Smith North Ladies BB
Irion County High School Austin Davidson South FB
Irion County High School Maici Shott South Ladies BB
Jim Ned High School Will Bryant South Mens BB
Jim Ned High School Billy Jones South FB
Jim Ned High School Brady Leissner South Mens BB
Jim Ned High School Jordan Lovelady VB Cheer
Jim Ned High School Katelin Kimmel South Ladies BB
Mason High School Amber Herrera Basketball Cheer
Mason High School Mariana Marquez Basketball Cheer
Mason High School Margaret Lemke South Ladies BB
Mason High School Rio Schmidt South FB
Menard High School Dylan Gutierrez South FB
Menard High School Kyle McSherry South Mens BB
Merkel High School Pat Bohannan North FB
Merkel High School Baylor Mullins North FB
Merkel High School Chase Bowman North Mens BB
Merkel High School Meredith Ross VB Cheer
Merkel High School Ciara Cope North Ladies BB
Merkel High School Allison Szabo North Ladies BB
Munday High School Tori Thompson VB Cheer
Munday High School Tyrone Dockins North FB
Munday High School Roddrick Taylor North FB
Olney High School Brett Johnson North Mens BB
Olney High School Derrick Paul North Mens BB
Ozona High School Alex Borrego South FB
Ozona High School Jerrod duBois South FB
Roby High School Zach Rivas North FB
Roscoe Collegiate HS Landon Jones North FB
Roscoe Collegiate HS Stina Tomlin VB Cheer
Roscoe Collegiate HS Torrey Willman VB Cheer
Rotan High School Abrah Martinez VB Cheer
San Angelo Central HS Jake Green South FB
San Angelo Central HS Sterling Smith South FB
San Angelo Central HS Zach Whitlock South Mens BB
San Angelo Central HS Caitlin Buselli South Volleyball
San Angelo Central HS Kiona Millican South Volleyball
San Angelo Lake View Aaron Allen South FB
San Angelo Lake View Brandell Collins South Mens BB
San Saba High School Karlee Cromer Basketball Cheer
San Saba High School Deigo Montoya South FB
Sonora High School Damon Evans South FB
Sonora High School Kelsey Favila FB/VB Cheer
Sonora High School Kade Wimberley South FB
Sonora High School Jaye Sanchez South Ladies BB
Stamford High School Hagen Hutchinson North FB
Stamford High School Roy Alaniz North FB
Stamford High School Kyle Barnett North Mens BB
Stamford High School Rebecca Decker FB/VB Cheer
Stamford High School Isaiah LLewellyn North Mens BB
Stephenville High School Leslie Billings North Ladies BB
Stephenville High School Merideth Culpepper North Ladies BB
Stephenville High School Breyana Diaz North Ladies BB
Stephenville High School Sheridan Stokes North Ladies BB
Stephenville High School Dani Huckabee North Volleyball
Stephenville High School Preston Brown North FB
Stephenville High School Kody Hook North FB
Stephenville High School Bryan Manley North FB
Stephenville High School Alex Sanchez North FB
Stephenville High School Chase Varnado North FB
Stephenville High School Witt Westbrook North FB
Sweetwater High School Tadeo Canon-Masjoan North FB
Sweetwater High School Shelby Cason North Volleyball
Sweetwater High School Kelsi Crosson North Volleyball
Sweetwater High School Suede Shirley North Volleyball
Sweetwater High School Kendra Crosson North Ladies BB
Sweetwater High School Ryan Linebaugh North FB
Sweetwater High School Nick Nemir North FB
Throckmorton HS Levi Taylor North FB
Throckmorton HS Gary Farquhar North Mens BB
Wall High School Grant Eubank South FB
Wall High School Regan Hoelscher South Ladies BB
Wall High School Michael Walling South FB
Water Valley High School Avery Brown South Volleyball
Winters High School AC Mata South FB
Winters High School Bryce Mikeska South FB
Winters High School Kaitlyn Lindley Basketball Cheer
Wylie High School Shante Brown South FB
Wylie High School Shelby Corn South Volleyball
Wylie High School Taylor Grant South FB
Wylie High School Kylie Jenkins South Volleyball
Wylie High School DeAndre Key South FB
Wylie High School Garrett Martin South FB
Wylie High School Megan McCaslin South Volleyball
Wylie High School Riley Olson South FB
Wylie High School Tucker Smith South Volleyball
Wylie High School Patrick Walker South FB
Wylie High School Mack Belz South Basketball Cheer
Wylie High School Laney Deal FB/VB Cheer
Wylie High School Tyler Hicks South Mens BB
Wylie High School Duane Hopper South Mens BB
Wylie High School Kristen Massey South VB Cheer
Wylie High School Meagan McCright South Basketball Cheer
Wylie High School Brittany McPherson South Ladies BB
Wylie High School Liz Serrell South VB Cheer
Wylie High School Brooke Shipley South Basketball Cheer
Wylie High School Kelsey Stephenson South Basketball Cheer
Wylie High School Kenzie Walker South VB Cheer

 

 

 

2013 FCA College Advance

On January 25-27, over 400 college athletes from 29 different represented universities across the state of Texas attended the FCA College Advance at Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose, Texas. College Advance is an annual weekend retreat for every division of NCAA, NAIA, and Junior College athletes in Texas. It is a time that is designed to allow student-athletes to get away from their busy schedules and encounter God. 50 of these students were saved and publicly received Christ for the first time this year. Another 86 students either re-committed their life to Christ or made some other spiritual decision. In over 18 years of hosting this camp, 2013 was the largest College Advance yet. It was also the greatest turnout of Howard Payne athletes to ever go as well. We had 9 HPU athletes attend this year. Josh Kennedy, a junior football player said, “College Advance was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Everyone was so genuine. I was amazed by the worship.” Hannah Hartshorn, a freshman volleyball player said, “This weekend helped me forgive my father and mend our broken relationship.” Kevin Domingue, a sophomore football player said, “This was my second time to go to College Advance, and it was even better than the first time. I was encouraged by the guys’ testimonies in my huddle and how they had gone through more difficult times than me, but were still able to see God’s plan in it all. It challenged me to be more grateful. I can’t wait to go next year and bring some of my friends and teammates.” Xavier McFalls, a freshman football player said, “This weekend taught me how to do sports God’s way. Being a Christian athlete doesn’t mean I have to be soft or less intense when I play. Since I’m competing for Christ, I need to go even harder and make sure my motivation is always to be Christ-like and give the glory to God.” Each of these 9 students were able to attend on scholarships and wanted to thank those of you who have donated to Brownwood Area FCA and made this possible.

 

Rochelle FCA Huddle

With less than 65 students in grades 9-12, Rochelle is one of the smallest schools in our 8-county service area. However, with the average attendance of 35-40 students every Wednesday for FCA during lunch, Rochelle has one of the strongest huddles in the area. I wish all the campuses in our area had that percentage of well over half the entire high school enrollment as members of the FCA. Ken Barr, the pastor of Rochelle Baptist Church, one other local pastor, and the two high school coaches are involved as sponsors. But the huddle is led by strong student leadership. After the Bible study devotional, they split up into three student-led discussion groups each meeting. I recently had the privilege of visiting their huddle and sharing the devotional. Below is a picture of the group during the closing prayer.

Sharing God's Word - FCA Bible Distribution Ministry

One of the greatest opportunities FCA receives each year is blessing hundreds of students with a copy of God’s Word. Since the beginning of this school year, through Fields of Faith and our campus ministry, we have been privileged to give well over 200 athletes and coaches an FCA Bible. For many of these individuals, this is the first Bible they may own personally. In January 2013 alone, we have already provided 24 TYC students at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Complex in Brownwood, 14 students at Rochelle’s FCA campus huddle, and 9 HPU students who attended FCA College Advance all with a new Bible. This Bible distribution ministry is only possible by God’s provision through the generous donors and teammates around the area who invest in our local FCA. On behalf of the countless souls who have been touched through the reading of Scripture, I say Thank You for your support! To order an FCA Bible or any other ministry material for yourself contact myself, Corbin Young, or check out www.fcagear.com. 

Santa Anna FCA

Be encouraged by the great impact God is making in our area for Christ through coaches and athletes. Below is an email I received right before Christmas from our newest FCA Huddle coach in the area, David Garcia, who started FCA in Santa Anna at the beginning of this school year. Please read and be reminded of the eternal difference you are making possible through supporting FCA.

“I just had to email you and share all the wonderful things that have happened here in Santa Anna due to FCA. First of all, Faith is beginning to show all over the place, and not just in school. It is so great to see it spread in the community. As far as in school, the athletes are praying before every sporting event, and are not afraid to show it. During football, we prayed before the game and after the game and gave all the glory to God. We know he was with us in every game, and we went further in the play-offs than ever before. Just making the play-offs was a huge deal. We had to rely on a coin flip and the students and their parents prayed before the flip and after the flip. It was just an awesome moment. We have made the transition from football to basketball, and we are now holding meetings on every home basketball games that fall on a Friday. We are also finishing up on a very successful toy-drive for some of the kids here in Santa Anna. For such a small school, we will be able to distribute toys to a good number of kids. I also was called and interviewed by KOXE, and they did a whole news story on Santa Anna FCA. It’s just such an awesome time to be part of Santa Anna. The kids are doing wonderful in class, grades are up, attitudes are up, athletics is going great, and I honestly believe that FCA is a huge reason for all of it. I just wanted to share the wonderful things that are going on in Santa Anna. We here wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.”

Coach David Garcia
Santa Anna ISD
FCA/Football/Softball/Powerlifting

Brownwood FCA Students Bless Needy Children

The Brownwood High School FCA huddle recently partnered with Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child to bless needy children around the world. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The FCA students enjoyed a fun evening and packed over a dozen shoe box gifts with toys and necessities that they purchased. They prayed over the journey of each box and child who receives it. It is a simple gift, but makes an incredible impact both on the giver and the recipient. The Brownwood students were reminded of the joy and spirit of Christmas giving. The children who receive these boxes will share that joy and ultimately hear of the true reason for the season, the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is just one way FCA is sharing Christ and revealing His love through coaches and athletes, not only locally, but also globally.

The Brownwood High School FCA huddle meets every Monday night at 7:30pm, and the Middle School FCA huddle meets every Thursday during their lunch periods. Ty Lang, JB Gibbs, and Josh Alcorn are the Brownwood coaches who assist the students in leading the high school FCA huddle, and Judy Kennedy and Scott Swanzy are the middle school FCA huddle coaches. Please remember to be in prayer for our coaches and athletes. God has blessed our schools in this area with many godly administrators, teachers, and coaches, but the fields are still white with harvest.

 

Fields of Faith 2012

On October 10^th, 2012 the Brownwood Area FCA hosted their 6^th Annual Fields of Faith at Gordon Wood Stadium with a record 3,000+ in attendance that came from 50 different schools. The gospel was presented and students were given the opportunity to respond. 150 students accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior for the very first time. Another 384 students came forward during the invitation and made decisions to recommit their life to Christ through repentance.

Fields of Faith is a peer-to-peer event. Students invite their own classmates and teammates to hear fellow students share their testimonies, be challenged to read the Word of God and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, interdenominational rally point where a community can come together.

Locally, around 130 volunteers and 85 different churches partnered together with the Brownwood Area FCA Leadership Board to organize the event. Brownwood High School assistant football coach, Ty Lang, served as the emcee and four area students spoke to their peers: Hannah Hartman from Santa Anna HS, Nathan Ross from Brownwood HS, Rick Henderson from HPU, and Jacey Neeley from Goldthwaite HS. The guest speaker for the night was Abilene pastor and Hardin Simmons University Associate Professor of Theology, Dr. Kelvin Kelley. The worship band was the Clayton Tyner Band.   

For more information on Fields of Faith visit their website: http://www.fieldsoffaith.com/

 

     

  

See You At The Pole

Santa Anna High School

On Wednesday morning, September 26^th, students from all across the Brownwood area joined thousands around the world as they participated in See You At The Pole, which is the annual global day of student prayer. Locally, FCA student leaders helped organize the effort as they met at their campus’ flag pole and stood in the gap for their schools, country, and nations in prayer for spiritual awakening and revival.
For more information on See  You At The Pole  visit their website: http://syatp.com/

Early HS

Early HS

Early HS

Brownwood HS

Brownwood HS

Brownwood MS

Area youth groups met that evening at Coggin Ave. Baptist Church for a Saw You At The Pole Rally



Campus Ministry Highlight

The start to the 2012-2013 school-year has been an exciting time in the Campus Ministry of the Brownwood Area FCA. Santa Anna, a school that has never had any FCA presence on campus, started their very first Huddle. Thanks to their coach, David Garcia, and a group of several other student-leaders Santa Anna now has a very healthy FCA Huddle meeting every Friday in the gym right after the pep-rally. This Huddle meeting consists of about 30-40 students on average who come to hear testimonies, Scripture devotionals, and Bible studies led by their peers. With the hiring of new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Stephen Hermesmeyer, Comanche High School is another campus in our area who is now enjoying a solid FCA ministry on Thursday mornings of around 35 students who did not have a Huddle this time last year. In the 7 counties that make up the Brownwood Area FCA, there are 22 other certified Huddles of approximately 950 students, (both athletes and non-athletes) that are actively using the powerful medium of athletics to share the gospel of Jesus Christ on their campuses.
 
Another exciting highlight from around the area took place recently at Blanket’s FCA Huddle. Every Friday morning before school, anywhere from 50-60 junior high and high school students, which is basically the entire enrollment 7^th-12^th grades, pack the gym for free donuts and Bible study. On this particular Friday morning, two HPU volleyball athletes, Sarah Davies and Carlee Ammons, volunteered as guest speakers to encourage the area students in their own walk with Christ. Sarah and Carlee, who are also student leaders of HPU’s FCA huddle, shared an inspirational message about being competitors for Christ by selflessly putting the team and others first in sports and in life.
     


HPU athletes, Sarah Davies and Carlee Ammons, speak to local FCA Huddle in Blanket.

 

   

FCA: Influencing the Influencers

Coaches Appreciation Luncheon

As the 2012-2013 school year got under way, The Brownwood Area FCA kicked it off by hosting their annual Coaches Appreciation Luncheon back on Sunday August 5th. Over 120 area-wide coaches and their families joined us for a free meal at the Brownwood High School cafeteria. Coaches were challenged by guest speaker, Mel Tjeersdma, three-time NCAA DII National Champion head football coach at Northwest Missouri State.

Seeing as coaches are at the heart of FCA, this was a great way to start the new school year off by ministering to the men and women who have the greatest platform on our campuses, possibly even our communities. Billy Graham once said, "A coach will impact more lives in one year, than most people will in their entire lifetime." At some time or another, every single one of us has been either positively or negatively impacted by a coach in our life. It is for this reason that FCA intentionally and strategically focuses on ministering to and through the Coach to accomplish our mission of impacting the world for Jesus Christ. If we can reach the coach, then we can reach the athletes. If we can reach the athletes, then we can reach the campus. If we can reach the campus, then we can reach the community. If you can see this vision then I invite you to run with us and join Team FCA in prayfully supporting, encouraging, and serving our coaches. Help us influence the influencers and lead the leaders to coach biblically and use their platform to point others to Christ.