More Than 320 Area Athletes Selected as Big Country FCA 2020 All-Stars

ABILENE, Texas – The South squad swept past the North 25-21 and 25-16 in the Big Country FCA All-Star Festival volleyball match at Wylie’s Bulldog Dog gym Saturday.

ABILENE, Texas -- Team Blue overcame a double-digit second half deficit to defeat Team Red 24-14 in the 24th annual Myrle Greathouse Big Country All-Star Classic Saturday evening at Hugh Sandifer Stadium.

by Cody Coil, Big Country Blitz magazine ABILENE, Texas – Team Red used a big third quarter to pull away from Team Blue and pick up a 28-10 victory in the 2022 Myrle Greathouse Big Country All-Star Classic Saturday evening at Shotwell Stadium. Red head coach Blake Weston (Sonora) said the victory wrapped up the week perfectly. “It’s been great all week. It’s very challenging to try to get an offense and defense set in three or four days but these kids are great. It’s nice to just pour into them and just be with them. That’s been the best part.” “You forget how long it takes to get ready to be a good tackler and be able to do some things defensively," joked Blue head coach Casey Pearce (Breckenridge). "If you can throw it and catch it right now, you’re probably in better shape than the defense because we didn’t get many tackle reps during the week.” Red certainly did throw the ball around the stadium, racking up 341 total yards (206 passing and 135 rushing) in the victory. Blue picked up 278 yards, 199 through the air and 79 on the ground. The game was clean as well, with no interceptions or fumbles for either squad. After a scoreless first quarter the Blue team opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal from Corbin Poston (Stephenville) early in the second to go up 3-0.

Enjoy images from the 2022 Big Country FCA All-Star Festival *family pictures and professional game pictures from both games can be seen at wyliesports.com

by Cody Coil, Big Country Blitz magazine ABILENE, Texas – The South dropped the first set of the FCA All-Star Festival volleyball match but rallied to take the next two and claim the championship, 23-25, 25-15 and 25-17. The North, wearing blue, trailed 13-3 in the first set but rallied to tie it at 17 and went on claim the set 25-23. The North got off to a 4-0 lead in the second set but saw the South, sporting red in the match, score the next nine points to gain an advantage they would not give up to tie the match at a set a piece. The South held 11-3 and 14-6 leads to start the third and saw the North get as close as 15-12 before pulling away down the stretch to take set and the match. Lilly Kate Doby (Wylie) did the honors with the final kill to seal the match for the South. South coach Miranda Garcia (Jim Ned) said, “It’s fun to win, very exciting. It’s fun to have a group of girls that everyone wants to win and everyone wants to compete.” The North lost outside hitter Ryen Terrazas (Big Spring) to an injury in the pregame, a setback that hurt their chances of picking up a victory. North coach Mitzi Bell (Sweetwater) said, “I think we just persevered over that. We faced it and said it is what it is and changed the lineup we’d been working on all week. They adapted and we did well. I think overall it affected us mentally, it’s hard to see a teammate on the bench even if you’ve just known them for three or four days. They bonded so quickly within the first hour. Once they knew each other’s names it was over. They just bonded and clicked and it was precious to watch.” The South has now won the last three FCA volleyball matches and holds a 5-4 lead in the all-time series. The South’s Lexi Miller, playing at her home gym at Wylie High School one last time, was named the Bev Ball Most Valuable Player. Miller had four kills, a match high 16 assists and five digs to earn the honor.

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Big Country FCA is honored to announce the Goldthwaite Eagle football program has been selected as the recipient of 2022 Impact Team of the Year The Eagles were a team made up of guys that had to grow up in a hurry. They were asked to do things as freshmen and sophomores that most upperclassmen would have struggled with. They faced multiple years of adversity, injury, and a lack of success. Never did these young men lose faith or waiver from their desire to be successful and to carry themselves in a manner that glorified God. This in addition to exceptional leadership amongst themselves helped them to rebound and begin to have success again as upperclassmen. This group of young men have been determined to turn things around here in Goldthwaite, and they are a huge part in the process that has begun. For the past two seasons, Goldthwaite has made the playoffs and seen improved overall records. This year’s team did it with players of extreme character and work ethic. “I believe this team to have had an extreme impact on not only one another as teammates, but on our school and community,” said GHS principal Colt Carmichael. “They gave us something to be excited about and to look forward to. They showed us what hard work and perseverance can help you to achieve. I've always believed that you ‘get what you deserve’, and this group of young men deserve the best because of how they carry themselves.” These young men not only have working hard to see success on the field, but many offer their hand to help those in need within our community. Many members of the team also serve as leaders of our FCA Huddle both on our high school and middle school campuses. They too played a large role in coordinating and executing Goldthwaite's Fields of Faith host for the students of Goldthwaite as well as those in surrounding communities.

The Big Country FCA Rex Fleming Male Athlete of the Year Award is sponsored by Mark Miller, Edward Jones Investments. We are grateful to Mr. Miller for his continued support of the FCA ministry. Big Country FCA congratulates Jackson Patrick, a senior at Goldthwaite High School, as the recipient of the 2022 Rex Fleming Memorial Male Athlete of the Year award. Jackson is a leader of Goldthwaite High School's FCA huddle, and he has spearheaded bringing FCA to our middle school campus as well. Goldthwaite also hosts a local Fields of Faith for students of local communities, and Jackson has played and active role in the coordination and execution of this event. Jackson always put his team and teammates before himself. He carries himself in a manner that has earned the respect of not only his teammates but the respect of his competitors and opposing coaches. Jackson has always been known as a great athlete, but more importantly, an extremely fine young man. Jackson is involved in virtually everything offered at Goldthwaite ranging from UIL Academics to FFA, NHS, FCA and a wide multitude of sports. This vast involvement keeps him extremely busy and many times away from school and practices. Jackson always finds the time to get to the work in when most would relish in the fact that they missed a class or a workout. His busy schedule has never kept him from having extreme success as an athlete and student. Jackson is an example of not just one of the most self-disciplined students but also one of the most self-disciplined people Jackson is described as the perfect teammate always putting others above himself and providing an excellent example of what is expected. Jackson serves as NHS President, FCA Huddle Leader, Student Council Representative and Senior Class President. He received recognition for having Perfect Attendance and has always been a member of the A Honor Roll. Jackson is the 2022 GHS Valedictorian and has chosen to join our Nation's Air Force Academy. Athletically, Jackson has received multiple All-District Honors in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a member of the Eagles varsity football team who he helped to rebuild and lead into the playoffs as a junior and senior. In basketball, Jackson helped to lead multiple teams, deemed as guys with no chance of winning, to playoff victories. Jackson has been a member of two state qualifying golf teams, where as a freshman the team claimed the state championship. Jackson also qualified for the State Track Meet as a junior where he finish in sixth place in Pole Vault Goldthwaite's Keith Virdell added, "Jackson exemplifies what it means to be "Outstanding". I've never seen anyone work harder than Jackson at anything and rarely does anyone beat Jackson. He is one of the most self-disciplined people I have ever met in my life and is wise and mature well beyond his age. With zero hesitation or doubt, I can say that Jackson will be successful in all that he chooses to do in life. Because of his drive, hard work and faith in the Lord he will undoubtable be an amazing man, husband, father and most importantly, Man of Faith and example to all those he comes into contact." The Rex Fleming Memorial Male Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of Rex Fleming, a vibrant young man who in 2012 took his final breath at 10 years old after a two-year battle with cancer. Some might say that Rex lost his battle with cancer, but that’s not the case. Cancer may have taken his earthly body, but it never touched his heart nor his soul. Those always belonged to God, just as Rex does.

Pictures from FCA's Weekend of Champions (girls: January 29-30)(boys: February 18-20) and College Advance (February 11-13)