Hometown Sports Texas

2 | April 2013 | Hood & Somervell County Hometown Sports


HometownSportsTexas.comApril 2013»

4 Editors LetterNote from the Youk -

6 SuperStar career continues, but she wants to continue her legacy by training the next Jia. Find out how.

10 AD Mike Franklin,2A? No problem

12 Hood & Somervell SportsGranbury Pirates, Glen Rose Tigers, Tolar Rattlers, Lipan Indians

Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Golf

14 AD Tommy Dunn,Glen Rose Spor ts Complex

16 No one deserves it more, The Lipan Arena

18 GISD Football FieldJohnny Perkins Field gets a face lift.

20 AD Dwight Butler,has always been about the kids!

HometownSpor tsTexas.com

Jia Perkins»

Tolar»

Schedules»

Lipan»

Granbury»

6 InterviewJia Perkins SuperStar career continues!

18 TurfPerkins field gets a face lift!

14 Glen RoseSecond to none sports complex.

10 FranklinTolar Athletic Director

16 LipanArenaNobody deserves it more!

Glen Rose»

Turf»


How blessed can one person be! I moved

to Granbury over 30 years ago, and for 21 of those years I have been covering high school sports. From play-by-play on TV and radio to public address announcer for Granbury High School sports. I thank God everyday for the tal-ents He gave me and allow-ing me the opportunity to work & raise my family in this awesome community.

Then, Joe Adams called me about writing articles for a new sports magazine, Hood & Somervell Sports. I’m thinking, I might just have a few stories to share, so yeah Joe let’s do this! So here we go!!! Every month I will be bringing you articles from the past, the present and the future. But, here is where it gets cool. We will bring you updates and articles from Granbury, Glen Rose, Tolar, Lipan, North Central Texas Acad-emy (Happy Hill Farm) and Cornerstone Christian Academy. Included will be coaches, players, and per-sonalities from both Hood & Somervell counties.

When putting together this first issue, I thought, what better way to introduce all the local schools sports, than to go to the people who oversee each athletic program. So, for four of the articles, I interviewed the athletic directors at four of the local high schools. What a better way to find out how the local teams

have done and are doing. Then, the big story for Granbury High School, turf is coming to Johnny Perkins Field. We will cover all the local sports & updates, but bringing you the personal stories is what I look forward to.

That brings me to the high-light story of issue #1, Jia Perkins. She is our greatest girls basketball player, our only WNBA player, and an incredible ambassador for her home town. What a brilliant career. She was All-American while at GHS, All-American while at Texas Tech and a WNBA All-Star. As I interviewed Jia for the article, she had just signed a new two year contract with the San An-tonio Silver Stars. This will make Jia a 10 year player in the WNBA. I am so proud to share this with you, but if I keep talking I’ll give it all away.

In subsequent months, we will bring you the latest from the three time State Champion Lady Pioneers from North Texas Cen-tral Academy. They just happen to be coached by former Lady Pirate, Lady Sooner & Lady Eagles star, Emily Britt. Look for a very special issue that will feature our local hero Johnny Perkins (Jia’s Dad), as we get ready for foot-ball. Also featured will be: Doug Kissinger, Granbury soccer state champion & head coach, Glen Rose power lifter extraordinaire

Jared Thomas, and Lipan basketball coaches Amber Branson and Cody Chan-dler, who both played at Lipan and now coach at Lipan.

So much information, now so much time!! This is go-ing to be a blast! Sharing with you great moments from the past. There will be happenings now and who will be the next Star! Thanks Joe, for thinking about me for this magazine. I look forward to bringing you 6-8 new articles each month. Oh, by the way, if you have a story you want me to cover, just let me know. This magazine is about Hood & Somervell sports. You can also look to us as we bring you sched-ules of each of the schools we cover. So, we will be your one stop shopping for everything sports for our local schools.

I am so excited about this, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do bringing it to you.

David Youker

Youk

YOUK’S NOTES

Published by: My Hometowns Texas, LLC

1413 E. Apache Trail

Granbury, Texas 76048

817-964-3159

www.MyHometownsTexas.com

Joe Adams - [email protected]

David Youker, [email protected]

Carilyn Hipp - [email protected]

Denise Zitzevancih - Creative Director [email protected]

Publisher accepts no Responsibility for unsolicited or contributed, articles, photographs, artwork or advertisements. All information regarding editorial content is deemed reliable.



JiaPERKINS

SuperStar career continues, but she wants to continue her legacy by training the next Jia.

Up: San Antonio Stars play Phoenix Mercurys Photo byDavid Alleyne

Down: Jia shoots some hoops in Granbury

The Star that is Jia Perkins continues to shine bright in

the world of women’s basketball. With a new two year contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA in hand, Jia continues to stand above all from Granbury in professional sports. Ironically there have been two professional athletes from Granbury, Johnny Perkins, with the New York football Giants, and his daughter Jia Perkins with San Antonio. Perk played for New York from 1977-1984. With Jia’s new contract she will have played 10 years in the WNBA.

But, let’s not get ahead of our-selves. I first became aware of Jia’s basketball prowess in the mid 90’s. From Little Dribblers until she made her first start as a freshman at Granbury High School, everyone knew we were in for something very special. There has never been more

anticipation for a player hitting the hardwood than Jia. From day one she did not disappoint.

Jia never lost a district game! Think about that, Jia was a 4 year starter for Leta Andrews and the Lady Pirates during that span, Granbury was 50-0 in district. Impact from start to finish? Undeniable! Jia was and still is

the ultimate team player. She led the team in scoring, assists and steals. She was taught to be a team player by her first coach, Deborah Perkins, her mom. This shaped the greatest career Granbury has ever seen on the basketball court.

Jia averaged 24.5 points per game for her career, that’s right her career. She averaged almost 9 rebounds per game for her career. Jia, by the way, is 5’8”. She averaged almost 5.5 assists per game for her career. She has the all-time record for steals in district and set a national record for steals in a season. Jia was All-State 3 of her 4 years, first team All-State her junior and se-nior year. She was All-American her senior year. As a freshman, Jia led Granbury to the area championship. As a sophomore, Granbury lost in the regional finals. Her junior & senior year


Up: Lady Pirate

Center: Jia with her daugher Bottom: Shooting hoops


Granbury lost in the regional semi-finals.

But, Jia will be the first to tell you about her great team mates. There are three year all-stater Emily Britt, who went onto play at OU, and Morgan Finneran who played at Kansas State. Also, Sara McBroom who played at ACU, Morgan Moylan, Hayley Naylor, Torey Hasty, Melissa Early, Blair Clark, Shel-ley Collins, Kayla Enlow, the Duty twins and many others.

I asked Jia, “What was your favorite season?” She told me, “My sophomore year, we lost 2 games, beat #1 in 5A Man-sfield and #1 in 4A Canyon.” The Lady Pirates were 4 points short of going to Austin for the state tournament. The team they lost to won state. Jia told me, “We should have won at least two State Championships.” But, that four year run was one that doesn’t happen very often. I’ve called over 500 Lady Pirate basketball games and being able to call Jia Perkins name for four years was a real privilege. Oh, one more thing, Jia still holds the record for most points in a GHS basketball game with 43. This one of a kind high school career brought many suitors from all the major colleges trying to sign Jia. But she chose the one to be closer to home.

Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, and Duke came calling, but Jia chose Texas Tech. Then Coach Marsha Sharp brought in five highly sought after girls who became known as the fab 5. Jia, Jolee, Natalie, Casey & Dionne. All Texas girls all going to Tech. It was one of the best classes in the country. The first three years Tech made it to the sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. During that span Jia was selected to the All-American freshman team, and was team MVP. Her sophomore & junior year she was All-Amer-ican. During Jia’s senior year she

became pregnant with her most amazing gift, her daughter Aali-rah. Jia concentrated on her stud-ies and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Jia felt at this stage her basketball career was over, but the Char-lotte Sting of the WNBA drafted Jia in the 3rd round with the 35th pick. Jia was not done. While at Texas Tech in 3 ½ years, Jia became the 4th all-time leading scorer, 2nd all-time in steals, and one of only eight players to score 40 or more points, scoring 41. Her scoring average for her career is 15.4 points per game. The three-time All-American would continue her incredible talent in the WNBA.

Jia spent 2 years with the Charlotte Sting who drafted her in 2004, before being traded to the Chicago Sky in 2006, where she played for five years until 2010. Jia’s top season so far was 2008 when she averaged 17.0 points per game. The next year Jia was selected to the WNBA All-Star team. Jia calls this “The Marque moment of my life.” She scored 16 points in the All-Star game, second highest on the team. During this stretch of her career, Jia played in Europe, as many of the WNBA players do to subsidize their incomes. She played in Greece, Poland, Turkey and Israel. During the 2007-2008 season, she won the European Championship while playing for the Ramat-Hasharon Electra in Israel. Jia has now played two years for the San Antonio Silver Stars, who, as I stated earlier, just signed a two year contract. In the eight years Jia has spent in the WNBA, she is averaging 11.2 points per game for her career. Jia has now been afforded the opportunity to stay home during the off season of the WNBA. This gives her the chance for some stability, be with her family and work with young ladies who might have aspirations of playing basket-ball. I asked Jia what her plans are for now and in the future. She said she wants to continue


her career and train others to play basketball. “I have gained a vast knowledge of the game and have a lot to share with those who want to learn.” If you would like to contact Jia about working with your daughter, you can email her at [email protected].

I can still see Jia driving the lane against Canyon in the regional semi-finals as a sopho-more hitting a 15’ jumper to win the game. I can still see Jia hit a game winning three against Copperas Cove in the Pirate Booster Club Tournament. I can still see Jia starting a 13 point run to beat Cleburne for the Lady Pirates 50th District win. I can still see Jia hit 6-3’s as a

freshman at Texas Tech to beat Kansas State and her old team mate Morgan Finneran. I can still see Jia playing at the Lloyd Noble Center at OU playing against her former team mate Emily Britt. I can still see Jia hit 16 points in the WNBA All-Star game in 2009. I could go on, but I’m holding out for the next great moment Jia Perkins will give us all here in her home-town of Granbury. God drives and shapes Jia’s life. She is about her family and her lovely daughter Aalirah. We have been blessed to be a small part of this amazing ladies life. Jia Perkins is Granbury’s bright shining star and its greatest ambassador. Play on “Silk”.


TOLAR RATTLERS

Mike Franklin, Tolar athletic director & head

football coach, is a rarity in the high school coaching profession. Mike has coached for 22 years in Hood County, 12 years in Tolar, and 10 years in Granbury. For a coach and his family to live in the same community for 22 years is unheard of. This profession is not only demanding, but the dedication required to be successful is unparalleled. But usually the moving van is not far away, as coaches move a lot until they get it right. Mike got it right.

Mike Franklin grew up in the Cypress-Fairbanks area. His high school graduating class had 900. Cy-Fair, as it’s called,

now has 10 high schools. What a culture shock! Tolar now has an enrollment (9-12) of 225. But Mike seems to be right at home. After graduat-ing college, Mike coached at McGregor for one year, then Kline district for two years, then Granbury, and now Tolar.

Mike’s coaching experience in Granbury was influenced by many. Randy Leech, Shay Nanny, Biff Peterson, David Kubiak, and Danny Jones, all helped Mike become the suc-cess he is today in Tolar.

Tolar is now in its 3rd year of being a 2A school. Athletically they have adapted. When Mike went to Tolar, Tolar

was in a district with Lipan in basketball. Now with 225 high school students, Tolar is playing teams like Godley, Whitney, Rio Vista and Millsap. They are play-ing teams with close to a 400 student enrollment. But, the Rattlers have met the challenge. Considering that Tolar plays in two districts, one for football and the rest in another, they have com-peted very well. For football:

TOLAR

Tolar 2A? No problem!

Millsap, Rio Vista, Scurrey Rosser, Blooming Grove, Rice, Corsicana Mildred

(lost in State Championship game) and Dallas Life Oak Cliff Charter. For the

other sports: Godley, Rio Vista, Keene, Grandview, Maypearl and Whitney.

The Tolar Rattlers’ football team has been in the play-offs 7 of the 12 years Mike Franklin has been coach. They have four district championships, three they were undefeated in district. Three times they have finished second. Tolar has had two playoff wins, 2006 & 2012, in that span. Boys & girls basketball is a mainstay in the playoffs, and vol-leyball as well. Baseball and softball are looking forward to the season. Tolar track has had representation at the state meet 9 of the 12 years that Mike has been at Tolar. Seven of those years he was also head track coach. In 2009 Tolar was 3rd in state.

It’s a new day in Tolar; the town is growing as is the student population. The Tolar campus is new and alive. The arena is playoff worthy. The football field is first class. The new field house finishes the deal. The future for Tolar athletics

MikeFranklinAthletic Director

tolar

The Tolar Rattlers’ football team has been in the playoffs 7 of the 12 years

Mike Franklin has been coach.

is awesome! Mike Franklin has his stamp on this entire program and that has led to the successes the Rattlers are enjoying. And that is at any level 1A or 2A. There is a pride that you can feel when

you are there. Kids know it and portray it. This goes back to what I was talking about earlier, you look for people who care about working with kids. Mike Franklin does and Tolar knows it.

GOLF

GRANBURY PIRATE VARSITY BASEBALL

PIRATE AND LADY PIRATE TENNIS

GRANBURY PIRATES BASEBALL JV PURPLE

PIRATE GOLF SPRING * DISTRICT

HOOD & SOMERVELL COUNTY SCHOOL SPORTS

5-Apr *South Hills 6-Apr *O.D. Wyatt9-Apr *Western Hills12-Apr *Southwest16-Apr *Trimble Tech 19-Apr *Aledo 20-Apr Weatherford26-Apr *Arlington Heights

*District 7-4A Games

8-Apr @Fort Worth9-Apr @Fort Worth

5-Apr-13 *Western Hills6-Apr-12 *Arlington Heights8-Apr-13 *South Hills12-Apr-13 *Aledo13-Apr-13 Venus 15-Apr-13 *O.D. Wyatt19-Apr-13 *Aledo20-Apr-13 Weatherford


GRANBURY PIRATES BASEBALL JV GOLD

5-Apr-13 *Western Hills6-Apr-12 *Arlington Heights8-Apr-13 *South Hills12-Apr-13 *Aledo13-Apr-13 Venus 15-Apr-13 *O.D. Wyatt19-Apr-13 *Aledo20-Apr-13 Weatherford


5-Apr District McLeland8-Apr District TCU9-Apr District TCU15-Apr Regionals Abiline16-Apr Regionals Abiline29-Apr State Austin30-Apr State Austin

PIRATE GOLF SPRING * REGIONAL

15-Apr @Abilene16-Apr @Abilene

PIRATE GOLF SPRING * STATE

29-Apr @Austin30-Apr @Austin

GLEN ROSE TIGERS JV/VARSITY BASEBALL

GLEN ROSE TIGERS JV2 BASEBALL

5-Apr Alvarado 6-Apr Venus 9-Apr Hillsboro 12-Apr Stephenville 16-Apr Brock 19-Apr Alvarado 20-Apr Alvarado 23-Apr Venus 26-Apr Hillsboro

5-Apr Alvarado6-Apr Venus8-Apr Reicher13-Apr Stephenville20-Apr Alvarado22-Apr Venus

GLEN ROSE LADYTIGERS SOFTBALL

5-Apr Stephenville6-Apr Springtown9-Apr @ Alvarado12-Apr Venus16-Apr @ Hillsboro

BA

SE

BA

LL

TENNIS

GOLF

LIPAN INDIAN BASEBALL

5-Apr Ranger9-Apr Santo12-Apr Eula16-Apr Graford19-Apr Baird23-Apr Gordon26-Apr Albany

TOLAR RATTLERS BASEBALL JV/AVR

5-Apr Godley9-Apr Rio Vista12-Apr Grandview16-Apr Maypearl19-Apr Whitney22-Apr Godley

*District

HOOD & SOMERVELL COUNTY SCHOOL SPORTSGLEN ROSE SPRING GOLF DISTRICT B&G

8-Apr Cleburne9-Apr Glen Rose

5-Apr District McLeland8-Apr District TCU9-Apr District TCU15-Apr Regionals Abiline16-Apr Regionals Abiline29-Apr State Austin30-Apr State Austin

15-Apr Lubbock16-Apr Lubbock

17-Apr Lubbock18-Apr Lubbock

GLEN ROSE SPRING GOLF DISTRICT B&G

GLEN ROSE GIRLSREGIONAL GOLF

GLEN ROSE BOYSREGIONAL GOLF

TOLAR LADYRATTLERS SOFTBALL

5-Apr Godley9-Apr Rio Vista12-Apr Grandview16-Apr Maypearl19-Apr Whitney

TENNIS SO

FT

BA

LL

Look for us at your local retailer!

817-219-4166


Have you been to Glen Rose lately? Well, if you haven’t, you are miss-

ing it. Glen Rose ISD’s athletic complex is something to behold. And folks trust me it is a complex! A brand new basketball arena that most colleges would love to have. As you can see by the pictures, it is an amazing facility. The Granbury Lady Pirates had a basketball playoff game there against Aledo, unfortunately lost, but that experience was enthralling. They have a huge score board center court with big screens on 4 sides showing the game as it’s happen-ing. It puts the state in state of the art. Athletic director and head football coach, Tommy Dunn, gave me

the full tour on a visit I had a few weeks ago.

Tommy came to Glen Rose in 2006 and became head coach in 2008. He is also athletic director. Coach Dunn began his

coaching career in Brownwood then went on to Stephenville. Think

about that, Tommy got his coaching skills from Gordon

Wood and Art Briles. Coach Wood is the win-

ningest coach in Texas high school football history with seven state championships in

Brownwood. Art Briles, now coach at Baylor,

coached Stephenville to four state championships.

Not a bad pedigree.

We were sitting in Tommy’s office

on the east side of the new arena; the sun was coming in the win-dows as we looked out at the football field. Turf surface red end zone, at the far end is the indoor practice facility. Coach Dunn is very proud to show this complex off. As I look out the west side of the arena, I can see the baseball and the softball fields. Both have turf surfaces and both are pristine and ready for the season. I walk around the arena in awe and amazement. They have a glassed in Hall of Fame section with Glen Rose memorabilia dating back 100 years. They have done it right. Volleyball and basketball all are established as yearly pow-ers, but this brings things into a new perspective and feeling of pride. There is red everywhere,

Athletic Director Tommy Dunn

Paul ran away lamely. Umpteen Jabber?wockies mar-ries the Klingon.

Second to none sports complex

GLEN ROSE SPORTS COMPLEX


GLEN ROSE SPORTS COMPLEX

there are Tigers everywhere. And the night we came for the Granbury-Aledo playoff gam,e there was room every-where. We had a huge crowd and still didn’t fill it. And trust me many a playoff crowd will try. If you build it they will come! They have and they will.

Glen Rose athletics wins. Cross country sent a girl to regionals, volleyball lost to Llano in the bi-district round. Tiger football went 10-2. They lost to state champ Stephenville and state semi-finalist Graham. Quarterback Colton Britton is headed on to Stephen F. Austin to play football. Defending state champion power lifter and defensive tackle Jarod Thomas, is headed to Tarleton to play football. Both basket-ball teams made the playoffs. Baseball and softball are look-

ing at district championships. Track has regional & state quali-fiers returning to the program. As I said, Glen Rose wins. Their football program has produced Dan Campbell, who played in college at Texas A & M, then the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys

and the Detroit Lions. Gary Kiethly played offensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers.

When you add in the con-cert sized Glen Rose High School auditorium to the

new arena and turf about everywhere, you have it all in Glen Rose. The pictures say it all about this story. We will be back with more next month from Glen Rose, home of the Tigers.


LIPAN ARENA

If you’ve been in Hood County for a few years & someone men-

tions Lipan, you ask how far did they go in the basketball playoffs, did they win state again? Lipan is a basketball mecca. It is a school that has 89 students, making it a small 1A division 2 ISD. But, that doesn’t mean a thing to this small com-munity in northern Hood County. They have three state champion-ships for the boys program. Before this year, the girls had been to Austin three years in a row. All of this great basketball is being played in a facility that has a lot of similarities to Decker Gym. That all changed October 23, 2012, with the grand opening of the new Lipan gym. The process to build a new facility for Lipan began several years ago. But a lot of circumstances got in the way, and the shell of the building sat unfinished for many years. But with the efforts of many,

including Lipan superintendent Dr. Cindy Edwards, what many thought never would, finally did. I had the opportunity to visit with Lipan high school principal and athletic director, Mike Permenter, who shared with me a first class facility for a first class program.

Lipan is growing at a rate of 20% a year. Lipan ISD is ready, with new high school facilities, a new gym and a new AG facility. In addition to the successful boys and girls basketball programs, Lipan’s cross country program has enjoyed their own success. Three of the last four years they have made it to region-als. They field a successful baseball program, boys and girls track, golf & tennis. Golf has made it to region-als the last two years. The success of the boys’ basketball program is almost automatic. The guys failed to make the playoffs for the first

time since 1990. The girls made three trips to Austin before losing in the regionals this year.

The storied basketball program in Lipan is coached by two people who have made their own his-tory in Lipan basketball lore. Boys’ coach Cody Chandler was a starter on the state championship team in the 90’s. Girls coach Amber (Tate) Branson, is not just considered one of Lipan’s greatest players, she played college ball at Texas Tech before going to ACU where she was an All-American. But you might remember Amber’s story from last year from the regional tournament in Abilene. Amber was pregnant, she coached the Lady Indians at 5 pm, drove herself to

No one deserves it more,

The Lipan Arena


the hospital and had her baby at 9, then coached the ladies the next day at 3pm. The story received national notoriety as ESPN’s Chris Berman called Amber to tell her story.

High school principal & ath-letic director Mike Permenter came to Lipan in 2007. He also adds to his duties coaching golf. Mike grew up in Brownwood across the street from the leg-endary Gordon Wood, who coached Brownwood to seven state championships. And yes, Mike played football for coach Wood. Mike played football at Tarleton State and began his coaching career at Cisco JC. He coached at Cross Plains, Santa Anna, Bangs, May, Bartlett & Seleda. Mike and his wife decid-ed to settle close to Fort Worth

for her job, and Mike has been where he belongs ever since.

But, the story here is the new basketball gym in Lipan. I can’t think of a more deserving com-munity than this to have the facility they have. I remember interviewing the state cham-pionship team from the 90’s in the old gym. If you’ve been in Decker, it has a stage at one end and bleachers on one side, well there you go. That is what Lipan played in for years. But now Lipan is ready for that 20% growth they are experiencing every year. You can see the pride on the faces of all the kids I saw, it’s their house. The Indians have a new home and you’d best be prepared when you walk in. This is the home of the Lipan Indians.


Johnnie Perkins Field is about to get a major face

lift. With the conclusion of soccer season, Hellas Sports Construction will begin the process of installing synthetic turf replacing the existing grass field. The surface is called Matrix turf. This is the latest and the greatest of arti-ficial surfaces. “Neo” would be proud!

Matrix turf consists of five levels of materials. Dwight Butler, Granbury ISD athletic director said, “The first pro-cess will be to remove the existing grass.” This by the way will be moved to Acton Middle School for their foot-ball field. Dwight went on to say, “I was told our existing

surface and base are uneven so before the process begins the floor will have to be leveled.” This means when finished the surface will be lower than the existing grass field. There is a layer of sand and a layer for drainage. Then comes RealFill pea gravel. Next the layer of RealFill InFill rubber. And finally, the turf fiber. But here is the differ-ence. Most of the rubber fiber fields leave a cloud of rubber fiber when run on. But, the difference with the Matrix turf is that the turf fibers are woven together, which keeps the rubber in place. The life expectancy of the turf is 8-10 years. But when you replace the surface, the only part you replace is the surface. And

Johnny Perkins Field gets a face lift!


cer. Most importantly, we can play where we practice, adding to true home field advantage.”

Hellas Sports Construction has installed turf at Baylor, Texas Tech, Allen HS, Joshua, SL Carroll, Godley, Venus and Desoto. The company is out of Austin. Dwight went on to say, “I’m excited for our young people and for the opportunity this opens up. I can’t thank Dr. Largent and the GISD Board enough for allowing this awe-some chance for all programs to use our facilities, not just athletics.”

Also, for some forward think-ing. The field will already be marked for soccer, allowing for post season playoff games for both football and soccer, creating a new revenue stream for the ISD.

Now I know we have a great surface now, but this surface is maintenance free, no water-ing required. This puts Johnny Perkins Field at Pirate Stadium where so many other schools have gone. This is such a huge improvement from the early days of turf. Johnny Perkins, who played seven years for the New York Giants from 1977-1984, told me “Youker, let me explain the turf we played on. Go out to the Wal-Mart parking lot and put a layer of carpet on it. That’s what we played on!”

So folks, GISD got it right. The new turf will be in place for the next school year. Before you know it all of the kids will have a chance to play and practice on the newest technology in stadium turf. It’s also very fitting that the field that Johnny Perkins is named for, would be a turf worthy of what “Perk” would have loved to play on.

because GISD is entering into a long term energy conservation effort, instead of the normal cost of $900,000 to $1 million, the cost will only be $415,000. Hellas Sports Construction is the same company that replaced the track at Granbury Middle School, which according to Dwight Butler, “gives Granbury a top notch track facility that ensures we will have the Johnny Perkins track relays.”

Well the first thing people will say is it’s all for football. How wrong they are! According to Dwight Butler, “JROTC, GHS Band, GHS Stowaways, Cheerleaders, JV and Varsity football, and boys and girls soc-cer will be using the field every day.” Scotty Pugh, Pirate football coach said, “We can host band competitions, have some pee wee football, and beginner’s soc-

Johnny Perkins Field gets a face lift!

Left: experru ptatem fugias ma seditatur? Quis maios dem


When you walk into the office of Dwight

Butler, Granbury ISD athletic director, you know what this guy is all about. Hanging on the wall is an autographed, game worn Green Bay Packer jersey of Bubba Franks. Bubba hails from Big Spring, Texas. He was an All-American at Miami University and a top 10 draft choice of the Packers. He spent 10 years in the NFL and is now retired living in love and life with his wife and kids. Bubba’s career would have never happened if not for Dwight, who coached for 18 years in Big Spring. Dwight made a difference in Bubba’s life by helping him become the man he is today. He did this by just taking an interest in a kid who didn’t have much, and helping him realize how to use the talent he had and using it to the fullest. Bubba knew how much Coach Butler meant to him. When Bubba

made the Pro Bowl in his second year, he flew Dwight and his whole family to Hawaii for the week of the event, all expenses paid. This is who Dwight Butler is. It always has been and always will be about the kids. Dwight had the privilege of coaching both his kids while at Big Spring. He is the all-time winningest coach in Big Spring football history. But, after both kids had gradu-

ated he told me there was an emptiness, something miss-ing. So he felt a change was needed, therefore Granbury became the beneficiary of Dwight’s vast experience in coaching and working with kids. Now he gets the chance to oversee all of our athletes, a job that he does very well.

Dwight grew up in Artesia, New Mexico, “The city of Champions,” as Dwight called it. Upon further inves-tigation, that statement is true. From 1957-2011, Artesia had 56 State Championships overall and 27 in football. So, yeah, that statement is true. Dwight attended Eastern New Mexico where his col-lege roommate was Mike Lebby, former Granbury Pirate football coach. Ironically Coach Lebby recommended Dwight for athletic director. And, the rest as they say……..! Dwight has always believed an ath-lete should play multiple sports, because the reality is that only about 1%% of high school athletes are successful. Dwight said, “High school is the best time for athletes, college is a job.” And, as far as coaches are concerned he

Dwight ButlerHas always been about the kids!


said, “It’s important to have people who care about work-ing with kids.”

The success of Granbury Pirate sports continue to improve each and every year. Lady Pirate volleyball has made it to the regional quarterfinals three years in a row. That program led by Tammy Clark, always seems to just reload each year. You don’t hear, “Well this is a rebuilding year.” They don’t have those. Granbury Pirate cross country led by Amber Ward is always vying for a district championship or qualifying for regional as a team or individual qualifiers. Football coach Scotty Pugh has brought the program to where it has not been in 50 years. Granbury Pirate foot-ball has been in the playoffs three years in a row for the first time since the 60’s. The 1960’s were the heyday, but Coach Pugh has Pirate foot-ball on the map. Sure there are four teams that make the playoffs, but that is all sports. But, there are many more high schools at all levels. It is the system we have, so that is why we play the games. Granbury Pirate swimming is a freak of nature. These kids are in the pool, in Fort Worth about 5:45 am, swim for 1 ½ hours and are back and ready for school to start. Over 20 kids qualified for regionals. But with GISD working with Hood County, the new YMCA will allow the swim program to not only practice there, but host meets. No one deserves it better.

What else can you say about Leta Andrews and Lady Pirate basketball that hasn’t been said? Leta now has 1,397 wins and the Lady Pirates made it to the regional quar-terfinals. Lady Pirate bas-ketball is a factory of great

basketball. Pirate basketball accomplished something they haven’t done since 1999. They made the playoffs! In one of the most competitive districts in the area, Coach Brazielle and the guys made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. But don’t look for the guys to rest on that, these guys are ready for next year, already. Granbury Pirate soccer, enough said. Year in and year out they are either District Champions or in the playoffs. When you con-sider the head coach Doug Kissinger was the captain of the 1999 State Champion Pirate soccer team, guess what Doug has in mind as a coach? Another crown! Look for Coach Kissinger to be highlighted in an upcom-ing issue of Hood/Somervell Hometown Sports Magazine. Lady Pirate soccer coached by David Winkleman just wins. They are rebuilding a little this year, but the ladies, like the guys, are always in the hunt for the district title.

L-R, Bubba Franks, Dwight Butler, Kurt Warner


The tradition that is Pirate baseball has been around a long time. You can count on one hand the number of times the guys have not made the playoffs. This year is no excep-tion. When you talk Pirate baseball, you talk about how high they will finish in the dis-trict. Coach Hart has the team primed to meet that goal again. Lady Pirate softball is rebuild-ing this year with a great lineup of young talent, but that talent is aware of the tradition that has become Lady Pirate softball. Pirate track is poised to have a banner year. With a Northcutt pole vaulting, Shelby GT Cline possibly qualifying for state in the high jump, the speed of the runners, sprint & distance will do well with the help of the brand new track at GMS. I’ll have a full report on that along with the new turf coming to the football stadium in another article in this issue. Powerlifting will compete at

a high level because of the rigorous weight programs in all the sports. Granbury golf is one of the top golf programs in the area. There are frequent visits to state by teams as well as individuals. This year could be one of the best. The girls are a young team but looking at making the playoffs. The guys could have a team that could rival the great teams of the 90’s & 00’s. Travis Benson has a full ride to New Mexico State and Justin Largent is a huge addi-tion. The team is so good and deep weekly qualifying will be highly competitive.

Our athletic facilities are sec-ond to none. With turf com-ing to the football field, the track upgrade, and the new YMCA, GISD athletics are primed for continued great-ness at all levels.

Dwight Butler insists on max

effort by his coaches and athletes. But, let me leave you with a side of Dwight that will explain why he is so successful. I asked Dwight why he stayed in Big Spring as long as he did? His simple answer, “The kids needed me.” That’s the athletic director that is overseeing your kids at GISD. You can feel very comfortable with that. I know I do.

Documents

Hometown Sports Texas