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PRESS RELEASE: Willis HS Athletics Hosting Texas Way Sportsmanship Assembly After Cleveland Incident
Willis, TX – Willis High School will be hosting a sportsmanship assembly for all student-athletes following the unsportsmanlike incident at a recent football game against Cleveland High School. Looking to turn that negative incident into a learning opportunity, school leadership has invited player development coach Stephen Mackey, founder of 2Words Character Development, to meet with the student-athletes about The Texas Way, a statewide sportsmanship initiative launched in partnership with the Texas High School Coaches Association and Texas High School Athletic Directors Association.
The curriculum of the Texas Way focuses on three pillars:
- Respect for Others: The Texas Way teaches respect that goes beyond the scoreboard. It’s about who we are, not what others do.
- Control of Self: This pillar is about maintaining composure and grace, especially when the stakes are high. The Texas Way encourages handling challenges with class.
- Spirit of Competition: We’re here to win, but not at the cost of integrity. The Texas Way promotes giving your best effort while holding true to your values.
WHO: Willis High School football coach & athletic director, Trent Miller and Stephen Mackey, founder of 2Words Character Development
WHAT: Texas Way Sportsmanship Assembly for all student-athletes
WHEN: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Willis High School
Willis, TX 77378
**Everyone must check in at the front office
WHY: To make good sportsmanship a way of life throughout the state
NOTES:
- Please RSVP to Kirk Reynolds, kirkreynoldspr@gmail.com, if you plan to cover the assembly.
- Trent Miller, Stephen Mackey and Willis ISD Superintendent Dr. Kimberley James will be available for interviews after the assembly.
BLEEDING PURPLE: Williams has become fully immersed in the Willis ISD culture
IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN MORE THAN ONE SPORT DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR.
But, doing so simultaneously is an entirely different ordeal.
Cheer captain Mylee Williams cheers for her school-mates on the sidelines, but also stars for the Wildcat volleyball team in the fall.
“Honestly, juggling those two parts of my life as a student-athlete can be difficult,” she said. “I go into each practice ready to work and focus on that specific skill. It’s hard sometimes when managing school too, but I’m committed to devoting the time to both teams because that’s what they deserve.”
Although the senior transferred to Willis ISD from College Station just four years ago, she wasted little time in recognizing what stepping through the school’s doors meant to her.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“Being a Wildkat has been the best thing for me,” Williams said. “In my experience, I’ve seen how everyone comes together as a community, which you might see in other places, but it’s different at Willis. Everyone bleeds purple and it’s been amazing to grow up in the short time I’ve lived here.”
The same could be said for the moments she’s spent in both fields of play.
“I would just say learning about each girl and developing bonds with everyone has really helped me to improve myself in a lot of ways,” said Williams. “I feel like I’ve grown to understand how to interact with different kinds of people, which is something you definitely need, especially as a leader.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Now that Williams is approaching the final stretch of her high school career, she already has a plan locked in for what her foreseeable future might look like.
“Ideally, I’d want to go to college with a scholarship for both sports,” she said. “When it comes to my career path, education is something that I’ve really been looking into. Coaching would be fun, as well. I think that being a cheer coach would be more my style since I’m a little more familiar with that area.”
If the choices she’s made up to this point are any indication, the outlook should remain bright for Williams throughout the remainder of her formative years.