Crosby ISD Spring 2024

CROSBY ISD ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS

CROSBYISD.ORG

tradition ...with a Future Crosby ISD Enjoys Successful 2023-24 Campaign

pregame

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CROSBY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

SOCIAL

@vypesetx /vypetexas

@vypetexas @vype.houston

Letter from Head Football Coach Joe Willis

VYPE STAFF PUBLISHER VYPE MEDIA, LLC CEO Derek Dusek CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Matt Malatesta CFO Justin Bull CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel Tiller DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Bradley Collier CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamey Wright STAFF WRITER Matthew Ogle DIGITAL EDITOR Jackson DiPasquale CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE Cameron Thomas CISD PUBLICATION & VYPE LOGO DESIGNER Meadowlark Creative • carrie@artbymeadowlark.com

Crosby Cougar athletic excellence was on display again this year as our athletic teams represented our program with great pride across a number of sports. Our competitive culture can be seen in all our programs as we saw several individual and team accomplishments from the Fall and continued into the Spring. Our swim team advanced all swimmers to the regional meet this fall and saw two district champions and all but one swimmer was a sophomore or freshman! Our football team plays a competitive brand of ball and will return twelve underclassmen who gained valuable starting experience while having five players earn scholarship opportunities to play at the next level. In girls basketball, we saw our first playoff win since 2019, and we had a senior sign to play college basketball. Our boys basketball team will return many players from this year’s talented team, and we experienced a milestone victory in the career of head basketball coach Edwin Egans as he topped the 500 career win total; and ALL at Crosby! Both soccer teams made the playoffs and our boys advanced to the second round to cap off a great 19-5-2 campaign. Our boys soccer team also has a player signed to play at the next level. Softball continued its prideful tradition and finished 2nd in district and are ready to make a deep playoff run with an experienced roster; 5 of which signed to play college softball. Baseball has qualified for the ’24 playoffs and will have a TCU Baseball signee in the lineup as well as three other baseball signees. Our track teams won two invitational meets this season and had 15 area qualifiers, 9 Regional qualifiers and two hurdlers and a pole vaulter make the finals at the Regional meet. Our powerlifting team saw a boy and a girl lifter compete at the state meet with top 20 finishes for both. Golf qualified a golfer for regionals as well in a year that saw most of our athletic programs achieve beyond district. With so many of these athletes being underclassmen, the future is bright for the Cougars.

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CROSBY ISD ACADEMICS & ATHLETICS

CROSBYISD.ORG

ON THE COVER Photo by BRADLEY COLLIER Tradition...with a Future: Crosby ISD Enjoys Successful 2023-24 Campaign.

SOCIAL CISD

@crosbyisd /CrosbyISD

@crosbyisdcougars @crosbyisd5901

tradition ...with a Future Crosby ISD Enjoys Successful 2023-24 Campaign

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TABLE of contents

PREGAME

01 Pregame Shoutout from the Superintendent 02 Pregame A Letter from Head Football Coach Joe Willis 04 Cougar Ball Crosby Softball is a Vibe \\ By Matt Malatesta 06 SISU New Coach; New Mantra 07 The Last Dance Dual-Sport Eudy Rounds Third of High School Career \\ By Matthew Ogle 08 Resetting the Standard First-Year Coaches Bring Track to New Heights 10 Tee to Green Crosby Program More Than Just Golf 11 Unshakeable Crosby’s Keltz Overcoming More Than Just Adversity on the Course \\ By Matthew Ogle

14 On the Rise Cougars Boys Hoops Will Bank on Veteran Leadership Next Season 15 Claws Out LaSalle, Crosby Girls Excel Once Again on the Hardwood 16 Elevating Tight-Knit Bond Propelled Crosby Boys Soccer Back to Postseason 17 Mental Grit Burgess Happy with Direction of Girls Soccer Program 18 We Are Coming Young Swim Team Will Be Dangerous as They Mature 19 Cougar Power Dubose Building Something Special in Weight Room 20 Year One Crosby Football Creating New Mentality Under Coach Willis 21 His Journey

23 Moving Forward Crosby Tennis United on the Court 24 Making Gains Cross Country Numbers Up; Times Down 25 Cougars Helping Cougars Crosby Athletic Trainers Get Classmates Back in the Game 26 The Ambassadors of Hype Band, Cheer, Dance Bring Energy to Friday Night Lights 28-29 CISD News Grocery Giveaways + Coleen Walker Relays 30 We Can Build It AG Mechanical Putting People to Work 31 The Renaissance Man Hard Work Pays Off Top Academic Stalwarts Leave Crosby for Next Step of Their Journeys 33 The Red Rose Floral Design Combining Creativity; Business Finances Darjean Does It All \\ By Matt Malatesta 32

34 Attention! JROTC Instilling Leadership in Crosby Students 35 Up for the Challenge Olguin Found Herself in JROTC Program \\ By Matt Malatesta 36 The Boardroom Business Students Getting Ahead of the Game in Real World 37 The Vitals Health Science Gives Entre into Medical Profession 38 Content Creators Crosby AV and Yearbook Telling a Story 39 Hands-On Experience AV Steering Repka Towards a Future \\ By Matt Malatesta 40 CISD News Crosby High School Class of 2024 Valedictorian 41 CISD News Crosby High School Class of 2024 Salutatorian

Yarbrough has Big-Time Aspirations for Himself, Crosby \\ By Matthew Ogle 22 Dig, Set, Spike Future Looks Bright for Cougar Volleyball

12-13 CISD NEWS

Field Trips of Dreams + Total Eclipse of the Sun

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feature Cougar Ball SOFTBALL The Standard

around these girls,” Fox said. “Making the playoffs is an expectation here because of the tradition that has been built here.” Leading the way were Ally Mooneyham (Wichita State), Bell Land, Kaelin Hicks and Morgan Lloyd, just to name a few.

CROSBY SOFTBALL IS A VIBE. When the cowbells get ringing at the ballpark, the Cougars feel at home. Coach Troy Fox led his crew to another playoff appearance as the Cougars finished second place in a tough district. “This is a great atmosphere and the community really rallies

2024 Crosby Softball Team

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SOFTBALL

FEATURE

Jaycee Hinson

Addison Bailey

Brylee Holmes

Olivia Lanham

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feature sisu New Coach; New Mantra

BASEBALL

THE ROSS MCMURRY-ERA BEGAN THIS SEASON AT CROSBY AND THE COUGARS BOUGHT IN TO HIS MANTRA – SISU. “It’s believing in our process,” McMurry, who came over from Rusk High School, said. “Then it is the progression, seeing our process make us better. Finally, it’s toughness and how we deal with situations that may not be going our way in a game or life.” The alphas on the diamond were Kade Eudy (TCU), Aaron Martinez (Angelina College), Jake Brown, Jake Cantu and Colby Chapman (Howard Payne), who led Crosby to yet another postseason appearance.

2024 Crosby Baseball Team

Jake Cantu

Jake Brown

Colby Chapman

Aaron Martinez

Coach McMurry

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BASEBALL

FEATURE

\\ By Matthew Ogle Dual-Sport Eudy Rounds Third of High School Career the Last Dance BEING A PREMIER BALLPLAYER IN THIS DAY AND AGE IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH AS IT IS. Doing it on two fields of play, even more so. Crosby’s Kade Eudy is more known for his time spent on the baseball diamond, however, he was given the daunting task of filling in as the new Cougars signal-caller this past Fall, following the departure of 2022 all-district selection Cyrin Myles. While it may be a challenge to engage at a high level in multiple sports, that hasn’t stopped Eudy. “I’ve been playing baseball my whole life,” he said. “I didn’t really pick up football until middle school, but it’s definitely helped me to have a tougher mindset due to the different coaching styles. Football has provided me with the mentality to get through more adversity than normal. Plus, it keeps my arm in shape year-round which is always a plus. “I love pitching, but I just love competition even more. I hate to lose, so something gets inside of me that fires me up.” It would seem that competitive edge has paid dividends for the senior Cougar, given that he’s set to join the Texas Christian University program at the conclusion of his final baseball season with Crosby. “I was drawn to TCU because of the coaches, the people there and the area that it’s in,” said Eudy. “It’s a really good program, and I really think that it can help me to develop as a ballplayer. I’ve been a college baseball fan since I was young. So, now that I get to be a part of it, it’s an amazing opportunity.” Considering his past within the game, Eudy’s plans for the future naturally turn towards the next step. “The end goal is hopefully to get drafted one day,” he said. “It would be nice to make some good money and help to provide for my family. It’s not going to be easy, obviously, but achieving the ‘good life’ never is. So, I’ve just got to keep working hard.” When he’s not on the field, Eudy likes to spend his time watching sports documentaries that detail untold stories, such as The Last Dance , and compete with his friends online in games like MLB The Show or Fortnite . After narrowly falling to Fulshear in the second round of last year’s postseason, Eudy and the Cougars plan to put on a

“show” of their own as the playoffs approach. His natural competitiveness will see to that.

Kade Eudy

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @crosbyisdcougars

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feature Resetling the S tandard BOYS TRACK + FIELD First-Year Coaches Bring Track to New Heights

Wesley Yarbrough

2024 Crosby Boys Track + Field

Ty Lovas

COACHES CORNER

"One of our sayings is ‘C.T.C.’ – being coachable, tough and committed. That doesn’t just stay on the track. It’s about showing up on time. In life, you’ve got to show up for people, whether that be for a job, for family or on the track. It’s also about being tough, because tough people win in life.” Jeremiah Batiste won the district meet in the 100m hurdles and Ty Lovas won in the pole vault. “ ” ~Coach Jabara Williams CROSBY BOYS TRACK & FIELD CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL \\ SPRING 2024 \\ vype.com

COACHES CORNER

Nathan O’Flaherty

Jeremiah Batiste

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GIRLS TRACK + FIELD

FEATURE

Abby Ellisor

Emori LaSalle

Kaitlyn Daniels

2024 Crosby Girls Track + Field

Mayte Tavarez

COACHES CORNER

"This is my first year as the head girls track coach and I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly. Our girls have been working hard. When you have athletes around you who love to work, and trust the process, it’s easy to coach. I think they’ve been able to set new school records because of their commitment, and I’ve challenged them to keep pushing themselves into the postseason meets.” The girls 4x400 relay team made school history during the season twice. “ ” ~Coach Jalen Harrison CROSBY GIRLS TRACK & FIELD CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL \\ 9

ATHLETES WATCH TO Ivan Armendariz Jeremiah Batiste Abby Ellisor Cameron Grandmaiter Ty Lovas Mayte Tavarez

COACHES CORNER

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feature Tee to Green GOLF

Crosby Program More Than Just Golf

2024 Crosby Golf Team

Torin Scott

COACHES CORNER

“

COACHES CORNER

I have built this program by building life-long relationships. That has led to kids trusting me as a coach and believing in themselves and their teammates. They know whatever happens at the end of the day, we are able to celebrate success and be able to critique the faults without bad feelings. I am fortunate to have great kids on and off the course. Every day is a learning experience that leads to growth both athletically and as an individual.

” ~Coach Robert Carr CROSBY GOLF

Miah Chase

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GOLF

FEATURE

\\ By Matthew Ogle Crosby’s Keltz Overcoming More Than Just Adversity on the Course Unshakeable WHILE PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE IS NOTHING UNCOMMON FOR A HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE, CROSBY’S KAGEN KELTZ HAS ENDURED FAR MORE THAN MOST IN HIS LIFETIME. Despite competing in a difficult district, he has become one of the most prolific golfers the program has seen in years. After making an exceptional comeback from several strokes down in the UIL-5A Area Tournament, Keltz was tasked with competing in a “sudden-death” playoff hole for the right to advance to the Regional Tourney. “My whole goal this season was to make it to Regionals,” he said. “I went there as a sophomore among a team full of seniors. Once they all graduated, I kind of had to play by myself in terms of age. I knew it was going to be hard, but I had to stick to it. “During that playoff hole in the Area golf tournament, I’d never done that before, so it was pretty nerve racking. I did what my coach told me to do and kept a clear head and just played my game, which led to me winning it.” That’s not the only struggle he’s dealt with, however. Keltz was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth, which consists of the body producing a faulty protein that affects the body’s cells, tissues as well as the glands that produce mucus and sweat. Consequently, the terminal disease impedes his ability to breathe properly, gain weight or grow normally in general. Treatment and medication can ease the symptoms, but there is no known cure as of yet. That hasn’t stopped Keltz from living, though. “I wasn’t going to let a disease hold me back from living my life,” said Keltz. “I see all my other friends playing basketball and other sports, so if they can do it — I can do it. Once I got to high school, I turned to golf. “I don’t think about my affliction as much as I probably should, despite having to take a bunch of pills and use an inhaler when I have trouble breathing. I don’t want to be different, even though I know I am. At the end of the day, I try to be like a normal kid.” Keltz certainly knows what he wants out of life. So, what does his future hold? “I’m not 100-percent sure what the plan is moving forward just yet, but I would love to play any type of college golf if the chance arises,” he said. “I don’t have any offers yet but that would be an amazing opportunity. I’ve applied to some schools so it’s looking like I’ll be going to college, where I intend to pursue a business degree.” When he isn’t on the course, Keltz also spends his time playing the bass guitar. His fondness for artists such as Tyler Childers and Colter Wall naturally led to him joining a country music band, in which he performs in shows around the city.

Kagen Keltz

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @crosbyisdcougars

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FIELD TRIPS

CISD NEWS

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TOTAL ECLIPSE

CISD NEWS

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feature On the Rise BOYS BASKETBALL Cougars Hoops Will Bank on Veteran Leadership Next Season

Dylan Banks

Some of the team’s key playmakers from 2024 included first-team, all-district honorees Phillip Jackson and Dylan Banks, with Evan Egans enjoying a breakout sophomore year. This was a relatively young Cougars squad, and with a year of experience, they could potentially be a sleeper heading into 2024.

COACH EDWIN EGANS AND COMPANY EXPERIENCED THEIR FAIR SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS ON THE COURT THIS PAST WINTER. However, despite facing top-tier competition – namely district opponents Port Arthur Memorial and Barbers Hill – Crosby continued to remain competitive and nearly reached the postseason.

500 ! WINS

CONGRATULATIONS, Coach Egans! Head Coach, Edwin Egans, scored his 500th Crosby ISD career win on January 26, 2024. We are so proud!

Dmitri Patton

Evan Egans

2023-24 Crosby Boys Basketball Team

Isaac Quintania

Nathan Hill

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GIRLS BASKETBALL Claws Out LaSalle, Crosby Excel Once Again on the Hardwood

feature

including 17-5A MVP Emori LaSalle and co-Offensive MVP Lamaya Clark. They were joined by all-district selections Savannah McKinnerney, Jasmine Zapata and Romareya Lister, making the Coogs a handful for any opponent. Next Winter might be a bit of a “rebuilding” season, but the playoffs should still be well within the team’s reach.

THE LADY COUGARS SAW MORE OF THE SAME SUCCESS THEY’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO IN YEARS PAST, REACHING THE POSTSEASON FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. Under the direction of District 17-5A Coach of the Year Melynda McGregor, Crosby would claim second in district, prior to reaching the UIL Area Round and ending the year with a record of 22-13. The team had significant star power

2023-24 Crosby Girls Basketball Team

Kaitlyn Daniels

Phoenix Phillips

Savannah McKinnerney

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feature Elevating BOYS SOCCER

Tight-Knit Bond Propelled Crosby Back to Postseason

Joaquin Ochoa

2024 Crosby Boys Soccer

Jorge Chavez

COACHES CORNER

“I think that we’ve built a pretty good culture here because we started building them up from the youth soccer program. I coach the middle school soccer team as well, so we’re able to teach the guys what we expect from them early on. That bond and comradery between the kids and the program just grows as they make their way up the ranks.” The boys reached the second round of the postseason after finishing second in district play. “

COACHES CORNER

Fernando Vaca

GAME CHANGERS

Jonathan Lopez Joaquin Ochoa Ricardo Salazar Fernando Vaca

” ~Coach Nathan Helburg CROSBY BOYS SOCCER

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Mental Grit

GIRLS SOCCER

FEATURE

Burgess Happy with Direction of Program

Olivia Darbonne

2024 Crosby Girls Soccer

Natalie Killion

COACHES CORNER

“The strength of this year’s team has been their resilience. They never get down on themselves, they were constantly fighting, they worked together as a team and they’ve really become one solid unit. These girls represent everything I’ve envisioned for the program here at Crosby.” The Cougars finished fourth in district play and advanced to the postseason. “ ” ~Coach Trevor Burgess CROSBY GIRLS SOCCER

Everanid Partida

GAME CHANGERS

Olivia Darbonne Audrey Harlien Isabel Hernandez Everanid Partida

COACHES CORNER

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feature We Are Coming SWIMMING

Young Swim Team Will Be Dangerous as They Mature

Chris Tsiparis, Emma Sanchez, Jayleigh Brown, Zachary Gross, Cade Crockett, Annabella Guerrero 2024 Crosby Swim Team

COACHES CORNER

This was a rebuilding year for us as seven of our eight swimmers were either freshmen or sophomores. We look to continue to improve and compete at a high level in years to come. Zachary Gross was our 100-yard backstroke district champion and Lainey Carden won district in the 50-yard freestyle, so our future is bright. “

COACHES CORNER

Cade Crockett

” ~Coach Timothy Rogers CROSBY SWIM CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL \\ SPRING 2024 \\ vype.com

Jayleigh Brown

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Cougar Power

POWERLIFTING

FEATURE

Dubose Building Something Special in Weight Room

Gavin Ramirez

2024 Crosby Powerlifting

COACHES CORNER

It was my first season coaching this team and it went really well. All five of our girls qualified for Regionals and Kayleigh Bowling reached State for the second year in a row. We had three boys advance to Regionals and Levi Fontenot reached State as well. We have several lifters coming back and the program is really growing. You just need drive to do this sport. You are really competing against yourself on a weekly basis, just trying to set your personal bests. “ ” ~Coach Clint Dubose CROSBY POWERLIFTING

Kayleigh Bowling

COACHES CORNER

Nathan O'Flaherty

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Crosby Creating New Mentality Under Coach Willis Year One feature FOOTBALL

THE COUGARS UNDERWENT A CULTURE-CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE FALL SEASON, WITH NEW HIRE JOE WILLIS TAKING THE REINS OF THE PROGRAM. As one might expect, there were a few kinks that needed to be ironed out in 2023, but that didn’t stop Crosby from showing flashes of success within a tough district. First-team, all-district selections Levi Fontenot (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Copelin Windfont and Malik Windfont were bright spots for the Cougars, while second-teamers Wesley Yarbrough, Brandt Wright and Chad Burks also made significant contributions. With another year of experience and assimilation into Willis’ culture, Crosby should expect to re-enter the district conversation this Fall.

2023-24 Crosby Football Team

Brandt Wright

Luis Juarez

Copelin Windfont

Levi Fontenot

Deven Holman

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FOOTBALL

feature

His Journey Yarbrough has Big-Time Aspirations for Himself, Crosby BEING A DREAMER MIGHT BE SEEN AS WISHFUL THINKING, HOWEVER, THAT SHOULDN’T BE THE CASE. After all, some of the most incredible feats of athleticism began with nothing more than a dream. Turning that into a reality is easier said than done, but for Crosby junior Wesley Yarbrough, the work he’s put in to achieve his dream began years ago. “I played just about every sport growing up, but football just came naturally to me,” he said. “My mom always told me that she saw something in me and that any sport I was going to be in, she knew I’d be great at it. It’s been the game I love, ever since I started.” When a young athlete watches their favorite sport on the professional level, more often than not, they think, “I want to be like them.” The same can be said for Yarbrough. “For me, I lean towards the great running backs,” said Yarbrough. “I’ll always say that LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson are the guys who I try to model my game after. I’ll do anything to try to get the ball in the endzone, whether it be contact or making moves – whatever is necessary to score for the team.” While the Cougars may have had somewhat of a down-year in 2023, they still featured one of best running back duos in the district. Yarbrough received second-team, all-district honors for his efforts, while the soon-to-be graduated Levi Fontenot was a first-teamer. Now that he will be taking over the position as Crosby’s lead workhorse, it’s given Yarbrough some time to consider how he’s grown in the program. “If I could give a younger version of myself some advice coming into my freshman year, I’d tell myself not to worry about what other people have got going on,” he said. “I used to look at other players with their ‘stars,’ comparing it to myself and it would take away from my game. “But, I came to realize that your journey is always going to be your own, and no one person’s path is going to be the same as the others. You’ve just got to be willing to work for it and you can be better.” If his resolve holds, the junior Cougar might one day see himself competing on the collegiate stage. “I’m looking for a school that can get me to the next level,” Yarbrough said. “That’s always been my dream, to be able to play at the highest level of football. So, I’m hoping to get into a school that can develop me, while also having a great environment to work in. “Next year, I’m trying to put up some big numbers for our team, so that I can come into a program as a true freshman. I’ve got some schools telling me that if I work hard, they can get me onto the field early. I want to show everybody that I’m one of the best backs, and hopefully we (Crosby) can have a great turnaround and make a run in the playoffs.” Yarbrough’s journey is far from over. \\ By Matthew Ogle

Wesley Yarbrough

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Dig, S et, S pike feature VOLLEYBALL THE CROSBY COUGARS WERE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE POSTSEASON LOOKING IN 2023, BUT ALL WAS NOT LOST. There were some

Future Looks Bright for Cougar Volleyball

her 1,000th assist. Valt earned a first-team, all-district nod. Senior Kailey Adair had over 500 digs and was named to the second team along with sophomore Maya Grace. With Valt, Grace and Kylie Green all returning to the fold in 2024, the Cougars should be back in the playoff conversation.

tremendous performances turned in by junior Kate Valt and senior Bell Land. Valt reached the 1,000-kill mark on her career, while Land earned

2023-24 Crosby Volleyball Team

Kate Valt

Emma Hattaway

Kailey Adair

Bell Land

Lainey Marek

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TENNIS

feature

Moving Forward

Crosby Tennis United on the Court

2024 Crosby Boys Tennis Daniel Terrell, Brendan Berry and Jorge Arauz

2024 Crosby Girls Tennis Jarleen Torres, Miranda Perez and Daisy Palacios

COACHES CORNER

We’ve tried to create a culture where kids can try something they’ve never done before and where everyone is welcome. The strength of the program is the team’s sense of togetherness. They really enjoy being with each other and cheering each other on. The fact that they want to see each other succeed makes all the difference. “

Jorge Arauz

Miranda Perez

ATHLETES WATCH TO Jorge Arauz

” ~Coach Stephen Olmsted CROSBY TENNIS

Brendan Berry Miranda Perez

COACHES CORNER

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feature Making Gains CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country Numbers Up; Times Down

2024 Crosby Girls Cross Country Savannah McKinnerney, Lainey Marek and Kaelyn Carranza

2024 Crosby Boys Cross Country Ivan Armendariz, Joshua Stilwell and Justin Knight

COACHES CORNER

We are growing in numbers, but we are still a pretty small team. As we grow, we will be more competitive in the district. Cross country is tough. I just instill in them how to compete, and when you get tired, you just have to keep pushing. It relates to life. When you hit obstacles, you just have to keep going. We were led by Ivan Armendariz and Savannah McKinnerney this season, and we have even higher expectations in 2024. “

COACHES CORNER

Joshua Stilwell

” ~Coach Leron Barnes CROSBY CROSS COUNTRY

Kaelyn Carranza

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Crosby Athletic Trainers Get Classmates Back in the Game Cougars Helping Cougars SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING STUDENTS AT CROSBY HIGH ARE THE STUDENT TRAINERS. Many times, they are the first ones in the building and the last ones to leave with the mission of getting their fellow peers back on their fields of play. From ice packs to ankle tape to hydration to encouragement, this team is one of the most valuable on campus. Let’s give it up for your student trainers. feature SPORTS MEDICINE FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @crosbyisdcougars

Kelbi Maxie, Taylin St. Romain, Taylor McNair, (front) Emily Bedynek, Esmeralda Saenz 2023-24 Crosby Athletic Trainers

Emily Bedynek

Kelbi Maxie

Taylin St. Romain

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Band, Cheer, Dance Bring Energy to Friday Night Lights The Ambassadors of Hype feature BAND, CHEER, DANCE

football games and the winter for their competition seasons. While they are always hyping up the Cougars on the field, let’s hear it for the band, dance and cheer teams for their efforts all year long.

SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING STUDENTS WALKING THE HALLS OF CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL INCLUDE THE BAND MEMBERS, THE COUGAR STARS AND THE CHEER TEAM. The countless hours of preparing for their respective routines start in the summer and culminate in the fall for

2023-24 Crosby Cougar Stars

2023-24 Crosby Cougar Cheer Team

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BAND, CHEER, DANCE

feature

2023-24 Crosby Cougar Band

Bailee Maness

Jaci Wrobleski

Katelynn Lopez

Abigail Ramos

Katelyn Smith

Naziya Berry

Andrew Canada

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GROCERY GIVEAWAY

CISD NEWS

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COLEEN WALKER RELAYS

CISD NEWS

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AG Mechanical Putting People to Work We Can Build It feature AG MECHANICAL

2023-24 Crosby AG Mechanical

TEACHERS CORNER

When you complete my class, you are American Welding Society certified. The ability to have a trade coming out of high school is very valuable. Not everyone is college material, but you can make a very good living if you have a craft. We weld, fabricate and design. We can make anything your heart desires. You come up with the design and we will make it. “

TEACHERS CORNER

Colby Condra

” ~Paul Odom CROSBY AG MECHANICAL INSTRUCTOR

Jared Caltzoncin

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AG MECHANICAL

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\\ By Matt Malatesta Darjean Does It All the Renaissance Man WHAT DOESN’T CROSBY’S LANDON DARJEAN DO? The super senior is on the Student Council, the secretary of FFA, a member of the National Honor Society, is on the Crosby bass fishing team, is involved in his church and works at Mudbugs Seafood Restaurant. “A great work ethic has been instilled in me since day one,” he said. “I’ve been taught that there always needs to be a goal and you always need to be working towards that goal. I think I got that from my Grandpa, who has been in the military, worked for NASA and owned several businesses.” But with so many moving parts in his life, how does he manage the time? I want to study biology and eventually be a trauma surgeon. “It’s tough,” he said. “You really have to prioritize things and sometimes you have to say no because you have another obligation. It’s hard to manage at times.” Darjean is in the Ag Mechanical class within FFA, where he thrives. “FFA just provides so many opportunities to find a career path. There are some many tracks you can take,” he said. “It teaches you to be prepared, to be on time and to finish what you start. I love to weld and it’s a pretty valuable craft to have.” While he is soldering metal components today, his future could be soldering people back together. “I want to study biology and eventually be a trauma surgeon,” he said. “I love helping people and I love blood and guts.” The future Texas A&M Aggie is a model student, who is leaving a legacy at Crosby High School that hardwork pays off. He knows, he was born with the gene. “ ”

Landon Darjean

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Hard Work Pays Off feature ACADEMICS

CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL IS HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST STUDENTS IN GREATER HOUSTON. These Cougars graduated with tremendous academic honors in recognition of all their hard work. They will fly the nest to colleges and universities across the country in pursuit of their dreams and bright futures. Top Academic Stalwarts Leave Crosby for Next Step of Their Journeys

2023-24 Crosby Top Academic Scholars

Kaylie Hill

Ayden Edwards

Falisha Ards

Austin Eilers

Tania Hernandez

Fernando Vaca

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FLORAL DESIGN

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Floral Design Combining Creativity; Business Finances The Red Rose

THE CROSBY FLORAL DESIGN CLASSES NOT ONLY BUILD AMAZING ARRANGEMENTS AND CONSTRUCT AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS, BUT THEY ALSO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS . The classes offer a creative outlet while also learning the business of floral design. The community also benefits as they can purchase great products at a great price. It’s a win-win for everyone.

2023-24 Crosby Floral Design

Allie Brady

Kailey Adair

Tara LaField

Hanna Thomas

Landon Darjean

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JROTC Instilling Leadership in Crosby Students A tlention! JR. ROTC

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THE CROSBY JROTC OFFERING IS TREMENDOUSLY COMPREHENSIVE, WITH TEAMS RANGING FROM COLOR GUARD AND MARKSMANSHIP TO ORIENTEERING TO PHYSICAL TRAINING. Other teams include CERT

(Community Emergency Response Training), JLB and the Raider Challenge Team, which is new. The program is focused on leadership and discipline with the mission “To Motivate Young People to Become Better Citizens”.

2023-24 Crosby Jr. ROTC

Braeley Blasingame

Josephine McAnespy

Isaiah Bell

Darren Owens

Madelyn Perez

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JR. ROTC

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\\ By Matt Malatesta Olguin Found Herself in JROTC Program Up for the Challenge JIMENA OLGUIN IS A SOFT-SPOKEN LEADER, WHO HAS DEVELOPED HER VOICE INSIDE OF CROSBY’S JROTC PROGRAM OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. So much so, that she has elevated to the Battalion Commander position, which is the highest cadet position in the program. She is responsible for planning, guiding and leading instruction for more than 145 cadets organized in four companies. “Managing different personalities has been a challenge for me,” she laughed. “I could have never done that in any walk of life if it weren’t for JROTC. It has given me so much confidence and motivation that I never thought I could have. It’s all about working as a team to accomplish a task. That spills over to your entire life and now I never hesitate to join other organizations or get involved in things outside of school.”

Jimena Olguin

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It’s all about working as a team to accomplish a task.

Olguin is sifting through her college opportunities as she begins her journey of being a pediatric nurse. “I’ve been accepted by several schools and I’m just seeing to find the best fit,” she said. “Growing up babysitting my little cousins has given me some really good experience with children. I love taking care of them and I can see that nursing would be a great career.” So, what does she do to wind down from a busy day at school and running companies? “Listening to music is very calming,” she said. “I watch my favorite shows, like Queen Charlotte. I also like to make 3D models for fun. I’m in floral design and we had to lay out what our flower store would look like. I enjoyed that, and it has really sparked my creativity.” As the Top 5-percent student wraps up a successful high school career, she is a tremendous role model for Cougars looking to find themselves in this confusing high school world. Just march to her orders.

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BUSINESS

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The Boardroom

Business Students Getting Ahead of the Game in Real World

CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL OFFERS UNMATCHED BUSINESS CLASSES IN ITS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM. As students prepare for college or the job market, having a business acumen already developed at the high school level is paramount. From finance and information technology to marketing, Cougars are more prepared to take on the business world.

2023-24 Crosby Business

Joshua Stilwell

Ski’ler Lasalle

Yoselyn Lopez

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HEALTH SCIENCE

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THE HEALTH SCIENCE CAREER PROGRAM IS A CLINICAL CLASS, GIVING STUDENTS A FIRST LOOK INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD . From administrating CPR to taking vital signs, this program is a hot-bed for teens looking to get into the nursing profession as well. Just another opportunity to find a career path within Crosby ISD. Health Science Gives Entre into Medical Profession The Vitals

2023-24 Crosby Health Science

Zoie Russell, Aidan Guiting

Aidan Guiting

Litzy Barbosa

Kenadi Lacour

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Crosby AV and Yearbook Telling a Story Content Creators AUDIO-VISUAL + YEARBOOK

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EVERY SCHOOL YEAR, CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL HAS HUNDREDS OF STORIES FROM ATHLETICS TO ACADEMICS TO ADMINISTRATION. But who tells those stories? Who gets it beyond the chatter in the hallways?

The audio visual and yearbook students are tasked to tell the Crosby story through their mediums and do a tremendous job shedding light on one of the best schools in Texas.

2023-24 Crosby Audio Visual + Yearbook

Annabella Guerrero

Zoe Courtney

Kevon Jordan

Dominick Aguilar

Katherine Palacios, Abby Seale

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AUDIO-VISUAL + YEARBOOK

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EMALEE REPKA DOESN’T LIKE THE SPOTLIGHT. HER STRENGTH IS MORE BEHIND THE SCENES. The audio-visual (AV) student has been involved in theatre and choir over the years but has found her niche behind the camera. “I started off wanting to write books,” the senior said. “But then I started writing screen plays and that has become my thing. Couple that with my love of videography and here I am. Theatre and writing sort of meshed together in AV.” AV Steering Repka Towards a Future Hands-On Experience With movies, you see a book as a visual and how the author intended it. “With books, you have to really use your imagination. With movies, you see a book as a visual and how the author intended it.” Repka will earn her Associates Degree at San Jacinto Community College over the next few years, as she continues to navigate her course in the cinematic world. “I want to do this as a career,” she said. “I really want to also develop my screen writing.” So, what is her genre? “I really like the show, Psych ,” she laughed. “I also like fantasy films like, The Nightmare Before Christmas . My favorite director is Steven Spielberg, of course, and I love to read Rick Raven.” Getting hands-on experience in high school is giving Repka a head start for a potential future craft. Isn’t that what high school is all about? \\ By Matt Malatesta “ ”

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @crosbyisdcougars

Emalee Repka

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VALEDICTORIAN

CISD NEWS

CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2024

VALEDICTORIAN

ANDREW CANADA GPA: 5.398 University of Houston Parents: D.L. and Amanda Canada “I believe the company I have had is what made my time special.” Favorite Quote: "I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor." - Henry David Thoreau

Member of Boy Scouts of America, CHS Band (Brass Section Leader), National Honor Society President, Mu Alpha Theta President, NSHS, UIL Academics, CHS Chess Club President & Co-Founder, Leo Club,

San Jacinto Math Club, Students Congressional Advisory Council.

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SALUTATORIAN

CISD NEWS