KFDM COOP Posted July 29, 2007 Report Posted July 29, 2007 Thomas nabs Leader Male Athlete of the YearVan WadeThe Orange LeaderWhen the name Earl Thomas comes to the surface, the casual sports fans will remember the 2007 West Orange-Stark graduate as being one of the best football players ever to come out of Orange County.After all, Thomas will don a University of Texas Longhorn jersey this season. Many remember Thomas’ numbers at WO-S in three years, three seasons in which the Mustangs won 30 out of 35 games and three straight District 21-3A crowns.Many will remember his defensive prowess that accounted for nearly 20 career interceptions and tight man-to-man coverage that garnered him the Willie Ray Smith Defensive Award as a senior.Of course, there were his offensive numbers that led up to 303 carries for 2,022 yards and 26 touchdowns and 66 catches for 1,223 yards and 17 TDs. Then there were those outstanding kickoff and punt returns that allowed him to account for four more TDs that gave him 47 in three years.“Without a doubt, football is my passion,†said Thomas. “I guess I’ll be remembered more for what I did on a football field. I played everything else to keep myself in good shape. My family pushed me to be the best I could be and plus, being involved in school activities can really keep you out of trouble.â€Thomas caused trouble for opponents not just on the gridiron, but in three other sports as well.He made the All-District basketball team for three seasons and was Defensive Player of the Year his senior year. The Mustangs made the playoffs all three seasons with Thomas at guard, including a Region III crown and a trip to the Class 3A State Semifinals as a junior in 2006.There were just as many exploits out on the track as Thomas totaled three bronze medals at the 3A State Track Meet, including two his senior year in the long jump and the 400-meter relay.Last, but certainly not least, was his All-District recognition in baseball for three seasons. As a senior, Thomas batted over .400 and led the Mustangs in home runs and steals.Without question, Thomas left his mark on not only the WO-S athletic program but on Orange County sports history as well. With his achievements, Thomas is the 2007 Orange Leader Male Athlete of the Year.“That’s quite an honor and I certainly didn’t do it by myself,†Thomas said. “God has been right by my side the whole way. I’ve been fortunate to be blessed with an outstanding family that was right there by my side from Little League days on up. I had the pleasure of working beside some outstanding teammates that always pushed each other. The coaching staff at WO-S, they were like my second family too.â€After getting some late time on the varsity at Little Cypress-Mauriceville as a freshman, Thomas transferred to WO-S for his sophomore season and exploded onto the county sports scene.He made an immediate impact on the football field and the rest is history.“Coach (Dan) Hooks showed confidence in me early and that made me feel great and everyone treated well and I was able to fit right in,†Thomas said. “Coach (Mark) Foreman, he is like a second father to me and is the best secondary coach ever. We had a tremendous run.â€The Mustangs got as far as the state semifinals in 2005, falling to eventual state champion Wimberley.“Three district titles in a row, that’s tough to do,†Thomas said. “I can say that I never lost a district game and many people can’t say that. I really thought we had a chance to get a state title the last two years, that’s the only thing that I regret. We had enough talent to get it done. There will always be those games you’d like to play over again but that’s just part of football.â€Coach Hooks has seen many outstanding gridders come through the pike but Thomas was definitely one of those rare players.“Earl Thomas is one of those unique individuals that can do it all,†Hooks said. “He rarely had a chance to come off the football field. He played offense, defense and special teams. Sometimes you just wanted to give him the keys to the bus too. He has tremendous stamina. He might come out a play or to here and there and then immediately wanted back into the game.â€Thomas is currently busting his “backbone†at Texas, getting ready for the first official day of practice Aug. 6.He’s already had a taste of college life, taking some summer courses and working out hard with his Longhorn teammates.“It’s crazy how hard the guys work out up here,†said Thomas. “I’ve never worked so hard in my life. I wasn’t in the weightroom a whole lot in high school because of the other sports I was playing. It was tough at first, but I’m starting to feel pretty good now and I’ve adjusted to college life.â€â€œEarl’s going to be just fine,†Hooks said. “He was such a great athlete in everything and it was fun to watch him do so well in all the other sports. There wasn’t much weight-training after his football seasons here but I understand he looks really good and has built up a lot of strength.â€Thomas, who will play in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football Game Tuesday night, is anxious to get his college career going. He understands that there will be a big difference between playing the likes of Dayton and Hamshire-Fannett to playing titans like Oklahoma and Texas A&M.“Nothing against high school, but these guys up here (Austin) are so huge and so fast,†Thomas said. “It’s a whole new game. If you don’t keep up, then you want play much. They have a routine set up and they make sure you do it. I can’t wait to see what it’s like to play in a Big 12 game, that’s going to be awesome.â€Thomas has great memories of the other sports he competed in as well.“In basketball, we had some great runs and great times,†said Thomas. “I think we shocked everybody, including ourselves, when we went to state in 2006. Nobody gave us a chance to go that far but as the season went along and when we won some tough playoff games, we knew we had it in us.â€His track days were always pleasant as well and mixed in that sport at the same time with baseball. He was an important leg on both the state-qualifying 400 and 800-meter relays that included Dominique Rhodes, Jacoby Franks and Josh Gloston“Trips to Austin two straight years in the relays were a highlight for me,†Thomas said. “I loved being around those guys so much and we were always kidding around and cutting up. Coach (Toby) Foreman was a super track coach too, always pushing us to be the best.â€Though the Mustangs struggled at times on the baseball diamond, Thomas had no regrets.“It’s tough when you don’t win as many games but I loved my teammates and everyone played so hard,†Thomas said. “I grew up loving baseball and it was something I didn’t want to give up.â€Thomas may wear burnt orange now but he we always treasure his days in blue and silver.“I could’ve just played football and just went on with it but high school is suppose to be one of the best times of your life so I wanted to everything that I could possibly do,†Thomas said. “I met a lot of great people along the way that has helped guide me and even better, I know I can always go back and those people will still be there for me. There’s nothing like being a part of the Mustang family.â€Orange Leader Athletes of the YearVan WadeThe Orange LeaderOrange Leader Athletes of the Year1974Athlete of the Year — Ray Pousson, West OrangeFootball — James Long, West OrangeBasketball — Waymon Sibley, West OrangeBaseball — Paul Richardson, West OrangeTrack — David Guidry, Bridge City1975Athlete of the Year — Dale McCall, LC-MFootball — Craig Couvillion, StarkBasketball — Donald Mosby, StarkBaseball — Billy Bayliss, StarkTrack — Greg Peveto, Stark1976Athlete of the Year — Andre Robertson, West OrangeFootball — Randy Fults, Bridge CityBasketball — Bill Grayson, StarkBaseball JE Lancaster, West OrangeTrack — Gary Worster, Bridge City1977Athlete of the Year — Dudley Kraus, OrangefieldFootball — Jeff Fruge, OrangefieldBasketball — Randy Martell, West OrangeBaseball — Kim Bryant, Bridge CityTrack — Patrice Roberts, Stark1978Athlete of the Year — David Jones, Bridge CityFootball — Tony January, WO-SBasketball — Acy Duhon, Bridge CityBaseball — Harlan Robertson, WO-STrack — Greg Hill, WO-S1979Athlete of the Year — Bryan Ward, Bridge CityFootball — Jimmy Jones, VidorBasketball — Greg Marshall, WO-SBaseball — Pat Meeks, Bridge CityTrack — Greg Hill, WO-S1980Athlete of the Year — Keith Little, OrangefieldFootball — Kerry Franks, WO-SBasketball — David Ess, Bridge CityBaseball — Patt Meeks, Bridge CityTrack — Mark Kelly, Bridge City and Bradley Peveto, Orangefield1981Athlete of the Year — Louis Moore, WO-SFootball — Lawrence Hardin, WO-SBasketball — Wendell Martin, Bridge CityBaseball — Wade Phillips, WO-STrack — Bradley Peveto, Orangefield1982Athlete of the Year — Cazzy Francis, LC-MFootball — Tommy Peevey, OrangefieldBasketball — Walt Montet, Bridge CityBaseball — Mike Perkins, LC-MTrack — Larnell Thomas, WO-S1983Athlete of the Year — Home Rhodes, LC-MFootball — Tim Hagler, VidorBasketball — Connally Brown, WO-SBaseball — Greg Choate, LC-MTrack — Aaron Hollier, Bridge City1984Athlete of the Year — Harold Green, WO-SFootball — Homer Rhodes, LC-MBasketball — Anna Cooper, LC-MBaseball — Tony Dallas, WO-STrack — Derek Anderson, LC-M1985Athlete of the Year — Johnny White, OrangefieldFootball — Harvey Granger, OrangefieldBasketball — Bonnie Henson, WO-SBaseball — Shon Shelton, WO-STrack — Andrew Hollier, Bridge City1986Athlete of the Year — Roderick Robertson, WO-SFootball — Mark LeBlanc, Bridge CityBasketball — Michael Chavis, WO-SBaseball — Mike Stewart, LC-MTrack — Troy Guilbeaux, LC-M1987Athlete of the Year — Troy Guilbeaux, LC-MFootball — Jeff Knox, WO-SBasketball — Tonya Dove, WO-SBaseball — Brian Daniels, LC-MTrack — Brian Cleveland, WO-S1988Athlete of the Year — Kevin Smith, WO-SFootball — Quinton Tezeno, WO-SBasketball — Gary Scott, WO-SBaseball — Thad Chaddrick, Bridge CityTrack — Krista Vicknair, Bridge City1989Athlete of the Year — Jeff Granger, OrangefieldFootball — Terrance Brown, WO-SBasketball — Travesa Gant, WO-SBaseball — Bruce Aven, WO-STrack — Wayne Guidry, Orangefield1990Athletes of the Year — Jeff Granger, Orangefield and Sondra Ancelot, OrangefieldFootball — Ron Hasley, WO-SBasketball — Travesa Gant, WO-SBaseball — Bo Mires, Bridge CityTrack — Wayne Guidry, Orangefield1991Athlete of the Year — Laney Menard, Bridge CityFootball — Tim Allen, WO-SBasketball — Kelly Colburn, LC-MBaseball — Kelly Free, WO-STrack — Wayne Guidry, Orangefield and JoJo Harris, Orangefield1992Athlete of the Year — Kerry Bennett, WO-SFootball — Frank Carpenter, Bridge CityBasketball — Shandi Brister, OrangefieldBaseball — Steve Martin, Bridge CityTrack — Wayne Guidry, Orangefield1993Athlete of the Year — Bob Buxton, DeweyvilleFootball — Frank Turner, WO-SBasketball — Candie Holt, OrangefieldBaseball — Frankie Tays, LC-MTrack — Meshell Richard, WO-S1994Athlete of the Year — Kendall Cleveland, WO-SFootball — Warring Vital, WO-SBasketball — Nicole Daniels, OrangefieldBaseball — Stephen Gilbert, DeweyvilleTrack — Jacob Davis, Orangefield1995Athletes of the Year — Becca Mathews, Bridge City and Ramona Papillion, WO-SFootball — Buster Ascol, LC-M and Josh Tims, WO-SBasketball — Jessica Callahan, DeweyvilleBaseball — Kevin Kirby, OrangefieldTrack — Jacob Davis, Orangefield1996Athletes of the Year — Eric Anderson, WO-S and Charlie Nichols, LC-MFootball — T.J. Locks, WO-SBasketball — B.J. Evans, LC-M and Tiffany Rogers, WO-SBaseball — John Patterson, WO-STrack — Brandy Spencer, WO-S1997Athlete of the Year — Norris McGhee, WO-SFootball — Logan Moore, DeweyvilleBasketball — Jason Throop, LC-MBaseball — Beau Hale, LC-MTrack — Brandy Spencer, WO-S1998Athlete of the Year — Roy Locks, WO-SFootball — Charles Sias, WO-SBasketball — Leanne Stark, LC-MBaseball — Jeremy Green, LC-MTrack — Jonathan Henley, Orangefield1999Athletes of the Year — Eric Eshbach, Orangefield and April Belk, Bridge CityFootball — Beaux Daville, OrangefieldBasketball — Marcus Campbell, LC-MBaseball — Billy Burrow, LC-MTrack — Kim Riley, LC-M2000Athletes of the Year — Gayron Allen, WO-S and Kacey Worthy, OrangefieldFootball — Dane Savoie, OrangefieldBasketball — Marcus Campbell, LC-M and LaToya Lewis, LC-MVolleyball — Erin Dillow, Bridge CityBaseball — Josey Kelley, LC-MSoftball — Laura Gremilion, Bridge CityTrack — Sharonda Renfro, WO-SSoccer — Derek Knapp, LC-MTennis — David Duplechin, OrangefieldGolf — Michael Arnaud, WO-S2001Athletes of the Year — Ben King Bridge City and Melanie Hamerly, LC-MFootball — Jermaine Hope, WO-SVolleyball — Jessica Johnson, Bridge CityBasketball — Anthony Acosta, Bridge City and Labarbara Locks, WO-SBaseball — Chad Barbre, WO-SSoftball — Laura Gremillion, Bridge CitySoccer — Cody Davis, LC-MTrack — Donald Paul, WO-STennis — Brandon Odom and Joseph Hannon, WO-SGolf — Katie Harrison, LC-M2002Athletes of the Year — Jamey Knight, Bridge City and Nikki McCall, DeweyvilleFootball — Luke Wolfford, Bridge CityVolleyball — Stephanie Hyatt, LC-MBasketball — Joey Byerly, WO-S and Layne Riddick, VidorSoccer — Matt Day, LC-MTrack — Brandon Johnson, WO-SBaseball — Luther Sanders, Bridge CitySoftball — Maranda Hester, DeweyvilleTennis — Justin Boynton, LC-MGolf — Hunter Cooper, Community Christian2003Athletes of the Year — Jamey Knight, Bridge City and Kimmie Bayliss, LC-MFootball — Matt Peebles, Bridge CityVolleyball — Jayme Powell, LC-MBasketball — Joey Byerly, WO-S and Geneva Spears, WO-SSoccer — Kristen Lanning, LC-MTrack — Brandon Johnson, WO-SBaseball — Derek Blacksher, Bridge CitySoftball — Heather Bobbitt, VidorTennis — Bobby Seals and Jacob Moore, WO-SGolf — Hunter Cooper, Community Christian2004Athletes of the Year — Zane Williams, Deweyville and Brittany James, WO-SFootball — John Modica, OrangefieldVolleyball — Erica Sibley, LC-MBoys basketball — Austin Farias, OrangefieldGirls basketball — Kirby Myers, OrangefieldSoccer — Jonathan Davis, LC-MTrack — Michael Gauthier, Bridge CityBaseball — Shon Landry, LC-MSoftball — Cody Trahan, LC-MTennis — Michael Moore and Daniel Marshall, WO-SGolf — Hunter Cooper, Community Christian2005Athletes of the Year — Cody Sparks, Bridge City and Brittany James, WO-SFootball — Kenneth Beasley, WO-SVolleyball — Erica Sibley, LC-MBoys basketball — Chris Barnes, LC-MGirls basketball — Kirby Myers, OrangefieldSoccer — Kayla Williams, LC-MTrack — Aaron Brannen, Bridge CityBaseball — Kevin Angelle, Bridge CitySoftball — Meagan Godwin, Bridge CityTennis — Kody Duplechin, Bridge CityGolf — Hunter Cooper, Community Christian2006Athletes of the Year — Cody Sparks, Bridge City and Brittany James, WO-SFootball — Kenneth BEasley, WO-SVolleyball — Andie Myers, Bridge CityBoys basketball —Seth Harley, LC-MGirls basketball — Brittney Scott, WO-SSoccer — James Medley, VidorTrack — Aaron Brannen, Bridge CityBaseball — Kevin Angelle, Bridge CitySoftball — Cody Trahan, LC-MTennis — Kody Duplechin, Bridge CityGolf — Ryan Prejean, LC-M2007Athletes of the Year — Earl Thomas, WO-S, Christina Jaques, Bridge CityFootball — Justin Williams, DeweyvilleVolleyball — Julie Mason, LC-MBoys basketball — Richard Netherly, WO-SGirls basketball — Brittney Scott, WO-SSoccer — Kayla Williams, LC-MTrack — Drew Bean, LC-MBaseball — Johnny Dishon, Bridge CitySoftball — Shandi Conner, Bridge CityTennis — Devin Armstrong and Shanita Maceda, Bridge CityGolf — Natalie McLane, Orangefield
Gabe Posted July 29, 2007 Report Posted July 29, 2007 Congratulations to an extremely gifted athlete. You know I challenged Earl to a race at the district track meet and he never took me up on the offer. Of course I said I had to get a head start and be driving in my car. Cant wait to see Earl in a UT jersey.
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