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Nicki Polocheck is a star at Memorial
No. 12 Memorial has star power in Polocheck
Memorial pieced together a nice run in 2023, reaching the Regional Semifinals before bowing out of the playoffs.
The Mustangs finished 28-11 overall and went an impressive 13-1 in district play.
Jyusef Larry enters his 14th year leading the program and has three starters returning as they seek their fifth-straight year of making it to the postseason in 2024.
University of California at San Diego-commit Nicki Polocheck is the leader of this group. The senior was the District 17-6A MVP a year ago, while also being an All-Regional selection.
First-team,all-district pick Draden Moss and second-teamer Ivy Oliver are also back in the mix for the ‘Stangs. Also, watch out for senior Kendall Lyons on the hardwood.
Larry believes his team has experience, but they will need to grow into different roles in 2024 than in year’s past to find success again.
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BUILD A BEAR: Memorial’s Dotson Has Star-Power
As the baby of the family, Memorial’s Indya Dotson has always been competitive.
Her dad Santana Dotson was a force on the famous 1985 Yates State Championship team before going onto to be an All-American at Baylor in 1991 and the 1992 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He had a 10-year career in the NFL and was a member of the Super Bowl XXXI Champion Green Bay Packers.
Oldest sibling Khari Dotson played football at UH, sister Amani Dotson was a thrower for the Baylor track and field team, and Sanaa is a starter for the LSU Tigers volleyball team.
“Sports has always been in our lives and we have always been competitive,” Indya said. “Even though I am the youngest, I always was competing with them to be the best. We are all pretty balanced though, it’s all fun and games.”
Iron sharpens iron inside the Dotson family and it has paid off as the junior advanced to the Regional Meet in five different events – the long jump, triple jump, 200-meters, 400-meters and 4x200 relay. She reached UIL State after winning the long jump at the Regional Meet.
“I didn’t know track was even a sport before junior high… I just played soccer,” the two-year soccer letterman said. “I just went out for track in the seventh grade because everyone else was doing it. I started jumping and found out quickly that I was pretty good at it.
“Now, I want to run in college and see how good I can be. My goal is to get some championships at the college level.”
Since starting track and field, she has been a trophy hunter – earning medals at every level and every event. Where to put all the hardware?
“So, funny story,” she said. “We had this big sister-little sister gift exchange in soccer. I gave my big sis a bear and a blanket and some candy. Well, the bear never made it out of the locker room, so I just used up to put my medals on. Now, it’s a tradition. I get a new bear every year and wrap all of my medals around it.”
Off the oval and pitch, Dotson immerses herself into clubs – from choir, Girls Helping Girls and Mustangs Military Support.
“I also love animals,” she laughed. “I’m going to volunteer at an animal shelter this summer.”
Who knows, she may trade in her stuffed bear for a live animal to wrap her medals with next season.