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Aldine ISD Magazine Feature: Say Win
AS HANK SEMLER STOOD IN FRONT OF HIS TEAM PRIOR TO THE SEASON, IT WAS SPECIAL FOR HIM.
Looking at the Class of 2021, the first group of seniors he has seen from freshman through this year, is one that means a little extra to him. "When I first got here, these guys were at Stovall Middle School and five other schools," Semler said. "We had more as freshmen and over the years you have the battle of attrition where you'll lose some, but we have 20 seniors that have made it there. They have invested four year of their lives in Mustang football. I couldn't be prouder of them."
With the start of the year being pushed back, Aldine didn't have a chance to get any tune-up games before diving straight into District 14-6A play against Spring ISD and fellow Aldine ISD programs. The mantra for this season is "Say Win". When walking around the powder blue painted locker room and weight room, every coach in sight could be seen wearing a blue shirt with a white mustang emblazoned across the front and the saying just above. "The whole thought that this is not a sleeper pick or anything like that. Our kids get upset and offended by that, so do the coaches," Semler said prior to the start of the season. "They have earned the right to be talked about for that playoff spot."
Offensively, the Mustangs will be carried by returning second-team, all-district pick receivers Draylon Haynes and Reggie Smith. After last year, Smith earned all-district nods for playing both sides of the ball and colleges are interested in him on offense and defense as well. Semler said Haynes could be another guy that could see playing time on both sides this year as well.
Defensively, Lazaro Escobar anchors the defensive line after being a second-team, all-district pick last year. Oscar Cortez, De'Terrius Davis, Zavier Gordillo and Julius Haynes are other players to watch for the Mustangs the rest of this fall.
Gridiron to the Diamond-Aldine ISD Magazine
Johnny Toups has embraced the leadership role that comes with his positions.
Being the quarterback for the Aldine football team, Toups is the natural leader of the offense. Come spring for the baseball team, Toups serves in a similar role, playing shortstop and second base.
Toups may change the uniform and gear he uses from fall to spring, but the leadership qualities he's learned on the gridiron carry over.
"Definitely, one thing I get from football that helps me with baseball is being vocal. Being the shortstop, you always have to cheer on the team," Toups said. "I think the most important thing is I have to make sure the pitcher is good. If he's not doing well, I have to calm him down."
Toups is in the middle of his junior year at Aldine. This is the year when many high school athletes know the eyes of college scouts are zoning in on them for the following year's signing class.
"They say junior year is most important because colleges look at you the most," Toups said. "I feel like in football season I cut myself a little bit short and didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. I'm definitely going to achieve what I want to in baseball season."
On the football field, Toups passed for 998 yards and four scores this past season. On the baseball diamond, Toups is hoping for another stellar year.
Last year, Toups earned first-team, all-district honors – this season his sights are set on the top award. "This year, I'm going for District MVP," he said. "The most important thing is the weight room and spending every day on the baseball field."
What's neat for Toups when he transitions to baseball is that the sport becomes a family affair.
The head coach of Aldine is Toups' father, Leonard, who is also an Aldine graduate. He's helped guide the program back to the playoffs last year. "It's fun with your dad right next to you," Johnny said. Outside of football and baseball, Toups enjoys hanging out with his teammates. They do normal activities, including playing basketball and going to Top Golf.
"I hit the back-net almost every time," Toups said about how good he is at Top Golf with a laugh.
Playing two of the more premiere sports in high school at the positions he does is impressive. But for him it's about more than the stats he's put up or the awards he's won.
"It's just the memories that I've made," he said. "They'll last forever. They say high school is the best time of your life, so I just want to enjoy it while it's here."