A President's farewell

5/16/2019 1:25 pm

On June 1st, I will hand over the role of President to our newly elected ROCK STAR, Rachel Perez. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last TWO years (yes, two years) as the TMABC President and I am looking forward to continuing my support of the TMABC in the PAST PRESIDENT role for 2019-2020.

 

I am taking the liberty of speaking for the TMABC Board, but I am certain all would agree, that this has been an AMAZING year for the Athletics programs at TMHS. This was the first year TMHS competed at the 6A level in District play, and the kids did MORE than just be competitive!

 

The Fall sports saw the Girl's Volleyball team, with new Coach, Keia Torres at the helm, not only compete well, they ended up winning a Co-District Championship with heavily-favored Cy Ranch! The girls were led by All-World LSU Signee, Karli Rose, and they ended up winning in the Bi-District round of the playoffs before taking #1 seeded, The Woodlands, to 5 tight games before succumbing to the Lady Highlanders. They placed several girls on All-District teams and have set themselves up as a team to beat next year!

 

Congrats again to Coach Torres and the girls on an awesome season, and I know I personally am excited for next year's campaign as my daughter, Sanna Apolskis will finish out her Wildcat career along with other senior returnees, Megan Chinn, Teegan Walton, Julia Carpenter, and Payton Torres. They have made us so proud already, let's see what they can do next year!

 

The Varsity football team lit up the scoreboards all season, finishing as runner up to Cy Ranch and playing in the Bi-District round of the playoffs against a tough Austin Vandegrift team who ended up playing two more rounds. The team saw star running back Christian Lovick go on to sign with the University of Tulsa, and Jorden Gidrey with the US Air Force Academy. There will be others from this Senior class who will have signed scholarship papers to continue their playing careers, and our hats are off to all of the boys for their excellent season! Coach Parker and his staff have done an awesome job of putting an exciting product on the field and really prepare these young men for bigger and greater things on and off the field. Looking forward to the 2019 campaign!

 

The Cross Country team placed several runners into Regionals, the Swim and Dive teams had great successes, Tennis and Golf competed hard against very tough District competition as well. 

 

The Girls Basketball team was a win away from securing a playoff spot, and Coach Davis has the program primed for greater things next year. The Girls Soccer team had a great season, ending with a first round playoff match against state power, Round Rock. They took Round Rock to 2OTs and had it not been a late goal with only seconds remaining in the second overtime, they would have taken their chances with penalty kicks. Round Rock made it to the Regional Semifinals before bowing out.  Congrats to the girls on a great season.

 

This Sprin, we saw the Baseball team turn around their season from a tough start, ending up in 3rd seed from 14-6A for the playoffs with a 12-4 District record. They lost in the first round to Austin Stony Point, but improved upon a rough start to end the season at .500 overall. 

 

The Boys Track Team WON the District Meet!! Led by several race and event winners, the boys took their first outright District crown! 

 

So in the first year of 6A competition, our kids ended up with 2 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS and finished at the top of the district in several other sports. No doubt, TMHS will be a 6A force to be reckoned with! Great job to all of the Coaches and Athletes, way to go Wildcats!

 

On the TMABC front, it was another successful year. We are proud of all of the funds we have helped raise For The Kids! The TMABC recently provided $100,000 back to TMHS Athletics for the Annual Coaches wishlist, awarded 11 Seniors a total of $19,000 in scholarships and helped fund all of the End of Season banquets over the year. 

 

We definitley could not do this without the hard work of our Board and Chairpersons! The hours, the energy, and the passion each person has put in, allowed us to answer the needs of the TMHS Athletic department and serve the kids they way we have hoped and planned for!

 

We would like to thank our TMABC Members for their financial support and time giving to help make this whole thing work! To the 140+ families who chose to be Members, we THANK YOU!

 

Big thanks go out to all of our Business Sponsors and Personal Ad buyers who helped make our Sports Program Fundraiser a success this year. We had some big transitions to make this year in how we promoted,produced and delivered the progams, but we were still able to raise more than $16,000 net,  thanks to a lot of generous support! 

 

Our Annual Golf Tournament was a smashing success, BOTH TIMES... Thanks to Mother Nature's fury we had to postpone our original event, but we were able to carry out a very successful Silent Auction and Raffle. We reconvened with over 80 golfers at a later date and had an amazing event led by our Committee of Roy Dealy, Rachel Perez, Tyler Torres, Jen Shaffer and Matt McNeese, and when the dust finally settles we will have raised greater than $21,000 net for the kids!

 

I should have led with this big thank you, but THANK YOU to our Concessions Leader, Virginia Cobb! Virginia, her family, and the many volunteers in the outdoor concessions did an absolutely outstanding job serving the masses at the many events this year. We had our highest overall sales, well beyond any other year and received many compliments from visitors from other schools who were appreciative (and jealous) of our concession stand, and that is all because of VIRGINIA!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

 

We had so many other great events and functions this year, including our monthly meetings where we partnered with a local business, Bearded Fox Brewery, to host our productive and well attended monthly meetings! Meet the Cats and Rock the Block were great this year, and both continue to grow in popularity and attendance. It will be interesting to see the crowds grow for Rock the Block!

 

On a personal level, I have so many people to thank, I can't even try to capture them all! First, my wife, Lesley, deserves thanks for all of her love, support and partnership! Coach Parker has been an amazing partner and mentor over the past two years. He has helped drive a new vision for the TMABC, and his inputs and efforts have led to much of our success, huge thanks to Coach.

 

To our outgoing Board Members - Niki Roccaforte has been an awesome example of a giving spirit. She has spent the last four years supporting the TMABC with her last two years as one of our VPs. A big thanks to Niki for all of the time, efforts, and the heart you have For The Kids!

 

I owe a large debt of gratitude  to Greg Marwill, our out-going Past President, who also spent the extra year on the Board. His vision, support, mentorship and guidance has been invaluable to not only me, but to the TMABC as a whole. I know we will all miss his direct leadership, but I know he won't be far from the action over the next few years!! THANKS Nacho. 

 

To all of you who have read this, THANK YOU!

 

I also will use this platform to beg all of you to:

- Give of yourself For The Kids! - Whether it is giving of yourself to your kids, or beyond to other kids, there can be no better feeling to see your time and efforts and LOVE shine through the kids!

- Step up and volunteer! - We love the financial giving, but we NEED YOUR TIME and presence to help make this all work. A simple hour at concessions, or on up to taking a leadership or chairperson role with the TMABC, step out and help out!

- Be a Wildcat Fan - Whether that is a fan of the Wildcats who sleep under your roof or all of the kids who wear any uniform, representing TMHS. Get out and cheer them on. You could make a difference in any of these kid's lives by a simple word of encouragement, a high five, a round of applause, a silent prayer or just by showing up to be there for them!

 

I wish our new President, Rachel Perez, the best of luck! I am obviously still a member of the Board and will be providing all requested support and guidance, but I know she will do great and I am excited to be a part of HER Board and part of the TMABC!

 

Lastly, JOIN THE TMABC! Come help out to make the TMHS Athetics programs work! Give generously, and remember, it is all For The Kids! 

 

Thank you!

 

David Apolskis

 

 

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