Title
Presentation of the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Athlete of the year awards.
Body
Summary:
Andy Williams, Head Track Coach of the Deer Park Summer Track Program and Lacy Stole, Athletics / Aquatics Supervisor will be present to present plaques to the TAAF 2016 Female Athlete of the year for the City of Deer Park and the presentation of the Male Athlete of the year award for the City of Deer Park as well as the winner of TAAF Regional athlete of the year 2016.
TAAF 2016 Female/Male Athlete of the year:
FEMALE: Ally Marbury (winner of Female Athlete of the year for the City of Deer Park)
Ally is 8 years old and this is her first year running track. She's an athlete who plays basketball, is a cheerleader for the DP Seminoles football team and has played softball for 4 years in Pasadena and Deer Park. She was selected for the all-star team twice in the 6 and under division. Running track has brought out a new competitive spirit and she loves it. She looked forward to going to track practice each morning and running with her new friends. At Regionals in La Porte, she qualified for State in all three of her races, the 200, 100 and 50M dashes. She won both the 100 and the 50 and came in third in the 200. In the state meet in McAllen, she finished 15th out of 45 competitors in the 100 and 15th out of 40 competitors in the 50. For her first year competing, she feels very proud of herself and can't wait to compete again next year in the 10 & under division.
REGIONALS:
200M Dash - 3rd place medal
100M Dash - 1st place medal
50M Dash - 1st place medal
STATE:
200M Dash - 27th place
100M Dash - 15th place
50M Dash - 15th place
MALE: Robert Maximus Gonzalez (local athlete of the year for the City of Deer Park as well as the chosen regional winner for region 1 athlete of the year)
Robert Maximus Gonzalez is 14 years old; he attended Deer Park Jr. High where he was the recipient of the “Athlete of the Year for 2015 & 2016 as well as the recipient of the “Order of Fawn” for 2016, and a member of the David G. Burnet Chapter National Junior Honor Society. He has been participating in running events since the age of 7, his first being the 2ND Annual Fun Run at Parkwood Elementary where he obtained his first medal for arriving to the finish line in 5th place on April 15, 2009. He enjoys participating in the Annual Beach to Bay Relay Marathon in Corpus Christi, TX every May with family team members and in local 5K & 10K runs across town. He was enrolled for the first time in Summer Track in 2012 to prepare him for the heat during summer, as he would be playing TIFI football come August; but come to find out he LOVED running track more than playing football. Maximus’ first year to qualify for State Meet was in 2014 but did not place in the top 3 in the finals nor did he in 2015, he seems to think it was because he did not train enough because of family vacations seemed to be planned a week or two before the State Meet in College Station. His goal this summer was to attend the 2 hour track practice every day it was offered in addition to run on his own for conditioning and endurance and attend the 2 track meets per week to qualify for the State Meet in McAllen. He asked his family, if possible, to refrain from planning a summer vacation until after the State Meet in McAllen because he really wanted to earn a medal for his events. At the district he placed 2nd place in the Triple Jump, 1st place in the 110 Hurdles and 1st place in the 300 Hurdles in his division. Maximus attended the TAAF 2016 Games of Texas State Meet with great pride bringing home a Silver medal for 300 Hurdles, 4th place ribbon in 110 Hurdles and 5th place ribbon in Triple Jump. He has a great work ethic, positive outlook and attitude; and pushes himself to always do better. His parents, sister, grandparents and uncles attend his state meets and cheer for him as well as his team mates.