HOUSTON - Emanuel Galdino put a golden finish on his high school running career under the state's brightest lights.
In the same stadium that just a year ago, the Stratford senior raced to a third-place finish in the 1600-meter run, the Iowa State-signee kicked it into another gear in 2022. Coming down the home stretch of Mike A. Myers Stadium, Galdino raced across the line more than 10 seconds faster from 2021.
Galdino crossed along at 4:06.40 - a personal best good enough for the Class 6A 1600-meter State Championship.
"This is what every runner has been working for is that state gold medal," Galdino said.
Emanuel Galdino from Houston Stratford takes the 6A boys 1600m win in a time of 4:06 ahead of Plano West’s Hudson Heikkinen. pic.twitter.com/bbZmksVLti — Texas MileSplit (@TXMileSplit) May 15, 2022
The Stratford senior this spring finished in either first or second in every race he ran. Of his 19 races, Galdino took first in 15 of those.
His 1600-meter time went from a 4:20.95 in the opening race of the season at the Spring Branch ISD Will Taylor Relays in February to shaving off more than 14 seconds by this past weekend's UIL State Track & Field State Championships.
So, when did he know that a gold medal would be his destiny?
"The moment I woke up that morning," Galdino said. "I knew when I was going to step on that line, I was going to win."
As Galdino walks away from Stratford, he hopes that people remember him for being "exhilarating" and driven.
"If you want it and dream about it, go get it," Galdino said.
IT’S RARE FOR A CITY TO HAVE ONE OR TWO NATIONAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL RECRUITS IN A CLASS.
Well, the Class of 2027 in the city of Houston is special.
The popularity of girls’ basketball has completely skyrocketed. Names like Caitlyn, Angel, A’ja, Breanna, Kelsey and Sabina are mainstream, household brands, who are changing the game as it relates to marketing and how the game is played.
Jemini Mitchell exploded onto the Houston high school scene with a breakout season alongside South Carolina-commit Ayla McDowell. The dynamic duo has the potential to be cutting down the nets inside the Alamodome this March. The 6-foot-3 star can do it all.
Cy Springs' Jemini MitchellBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I think she’s the most versatile recruit for the Class of 2027 in the country,” Cy Springs coach Taneisha Rogers said. “Her versatility is what sets her apart. She can guard anyone on the court.”
Relatively new to the game is Hightower’s Ogechi Okeke, who is the centerpiece for the Hurricanes’ present and future.
“She hasn’t been playing very long but she is a sponge,” Hightower coach Jasmine Brewer said. “She was starting on varsity as a 14-year- old. Her ability to be coachable and pick up concepts is really impressive. She’s a great teammate and student as well.”
Kinkaid coach Stacey Marshall has the luxury of having three sophomore game- changers on one team... Ma’Ryiah Alfred, Lauren Hull and her daughter Sydney Marshall.
The stars of 2024-25 Kinkaid Girls BasketballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“This is a one of the best all-around classes I’ve ever seen here, and Houston has been a hotspot for recruiting for decades,” she said. “Sydney has an advanced understanding of the game and can really shoot the ball, while Lauren hasn’t even tapped her ceiling. She is an elite defender and can really finish around the rim. Ma’Ryiah is one of those ‘Three and D’ players who is so creative. She will also make the extra pass and has a high motor. Those three are high-level recruits.”
Down south is Pearland, home to A’Zyua Blair and Shiloh Grays, who also had big freshman seasons. They are getting a lot of recruiting attention already.
Pearland's A'Zyua BlairBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“A’Zyua really pushes the pace and will be a great college floor general,” Pearland coach Jere’ Adams said. “She gets her teammates involved and know when her teammates need her to take over. Shiloh is not her sister, RyLee. They are two different players. Shiloh can play inside and out and is a great rebounder. We call her a ‘walking double-double’.”
With a stellar sophomore class in H-Town, the future looks healthy for the Space City. It will be exciting to see how they develop and where they end up at the college level.
The stars of 2024-25 Concordia Lutheran Girls Basketball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
5 — CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CRUSADERS
Under the direction of head coach and CLHS AD Matt Neidigk, the Crusaders enjoyed their best season in years last winter, as they went 27-9 and reached the TAPPS-6A Regional round.
Fortunately for Concordia Lutheran, they have the luxury of bringing back nearly the entirety of their 2024 stars.
Senior forward Kenley Benson will continue to be the catalyst for the group, following yet another dynamic showcase that garnered her first-team, all-state honors.
Second-team, all-district selection and all-state honorable mention Leah Jurischk (Jr. G) also returns to provide additional veteran leadership, alongside fellow upperclassmen Kaitlin Rich (all-district honorable mention) and Megan Ingraham (Jr. F).
The Crusaders are in pursuit of their first State Final-Four appearance since 2016 and they just might have the fire-power to do so.
Cy Springs' Jemini MitchellBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The stars of 2024-25 Kinkaid Girls BasketballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Pearland's A'Zyua BlairBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
