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FORGING OWN PATH: Allison bringing unique perspective to TWCA
DUAL-SPORT WARRIOR ARDEN ALLISON HAS BEEN POUNDING THE CROSS-COUNTRY PATHS ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON THIS FALL BEFORE LACING UP THE CLEATS FOR THE BASEBALL TEAM COME THE SPRING.
VYPE caught up with the senior in between races, getting in the head of the long-distance runner and pitcher. He has an interesting journey.
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Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
VYPE: How did you get into both sports? They are so different.
ALLISON: “My Mom and I started running little 5K fund-raisers when I was like seven-years-old. When I got to TWCA, I just started running competitively. I fight with myself during every race. It’s a constant battle of not burning out... speeding up and slowing down. My Dad played baseball and got me into the sport early. I love to have the ball in my hand on the mound.”
VYPE: How does cross country help you in baseball?
ALLISON: "Obviously, it keeps me in shape, but the running motion with my arms really helps my shoulders stay healthy."
VYPE: What do you like to do outside of sports?
ALLISON: “I have been involved in Boy Scouts and the Venture Crew all my life. I love camping and I’m also on a team that competes in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). I’ve gotten pretty good. It’s a competition where we shoot at steel targets while being timed."
VYPE: What is your plan for the future after TWCA?
ALLISON: “I want to play baseball at LeTourneau University. I really like the school. I love working with my hands and want to get into something like being a mechanic. I love to build and fix things.”
VYPE: What is your favorite movie?
ALLISON: “I really like the Mission Impossible movies.”
VYPE: You came to TWCA as a sophomore and as a home-schooler. How was the transition?
ALLISON: “It’s been great. The academics are much tougher, but the best part is the social aspect. Just meeting and hanging out with people has been the greatest part of the move. I’ve learned so much from my coaches, teachers and new friends. It’s been so much more fun and I’ve grown so much.”
VYPE: What has been your childhood dream?
ALLISON: “I’ve always wanted to fly planes.”
FULL-TIME COMPETITOR: Arzu plays a key role for Lee, as a three-sport athlete
OF THE VARIOUS SKILLED RUNNERS ON COACH KIERSTON DUTTON’S BOYS CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM, AMANI ARZU IS PERHAPS THE MOST HIGHLY REGARDED.
Rightfully so, as he excelled in district a year ago prior to reaching the UIL-5A Region III Meet.
Surprisingly, however, cross country wasn’t always something Arzu saw himself committing to, long-term.
“Initially, I started off in this sport just to stay in shape,” he said. “But, I’ve really come to love it, the competitive nature of it. It’s more fun than people might think. Of course, it’s also a great source for conditioning as an athlete.”
Additionally, Arzu competes for Lee’s basketball and track teams throughout the school year.
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Naturally, being a tri-athlete comes with certain responsibilities.
“I’d say it takes a lot of dedication,” said Arzu. “It’s Texas, so it’s no secret that it gets hot out here and that makes you want to miss practices. But, you’ve got to stay with it and go out there every day. The weather isn’t an issue during basketball season, but it still requires that same level of commitment year-round for me.”
As previously mentioned, Arzu was among the eight Ganders who advanced to Regionals last Fall. He was the second Lee athlete to cross the finish line in the 5K race, with a time of 19:10.51.
Now that he prepares to lace up for one last year, he has distinct plans in mind for the future.
“I just want to get some new PRs (personal records),” he said. “I’m trying to finally go under the 19-minute mark, and hopefully make it back to Regionals alongside my teammates.”
2024-25 Baytown Lee Cross CountryJamey Wright (VYPE)
Despite the fact that his schedule is clearly going to be completely booked well into 2025, that doesn’t mean this Lee senior won’t have time to enjoy the final stretch of his high school career.
“I’m definitely going to be busy,” Arzu laughed. “I’ll still make time to hang out with my friends, play games online and I’ll always be watching some anime. My favorite has got to be One Piece.”
For those unfamiliar with that particular anime show, One Piece is one of the longest running of its kind, first airing in 1999, with over 1,100 episodes and counting.
Arzu wasn’t joking when he said he was dedicated.
Now, he’ll let his performance do the talking in the coming months.