Emily Forner: Miracle in Maypearl

Emily Forner, Maypearl High School Senior, won her second straight Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Championship (Division 3) earlier this month (March 16, 2023) in Frisco, Texas.

Forner dominated the 97 pound weight class outpacing second place by 95 pounds. She set state records in her division and weight class for bench press (165 lbs.) and total (715 lbs. (squat 275 lbs., benchpress 165 lbs., dead lift 275 lbs.))

But the state meet was proceeded by a scary moment … and a miracle.

A couple of weeks prior to the regional meet, Emily, a passenger in a vehicle, was involved in an accident. Along with significant facial bruising, Emily suffered a concussion. Scary.

Yet, in a few days, Emily was medically cleared to participate in the regional meet (she won). A miracle.

Powerlifting started for Emily her freshman year when Coach Jim Wood (then, MHS’s Volleyball and Girls Powerlifting Coach) noticed Emily’s potential for powerlifting and asked her to join the team. She said yes and her storied career began, but not without some bumps in the road.

Emily didn’t go to state her freshman year. No one did. The meet was cancelled due to COVID. Forner’s second year was lost due to injury. It wasn’t until her junior year when she was injury free that Emily won her first state championship. The second championship was earned this year.

Shawn Peach, her MHS Powerlifting Coach, notes that among a host of great qualities, Emily’s perseverance stands out. She refuses to quit. Emily says, “Don’t get discouraged. Just because you get a red light, just because you get all three red lights, does not mean that you can’t do what you want to do.”

MHS Principal, Brandi Shisler, believes Emily is great. “Just one of the kids you love to have around. She supports everyone else.”

If you’re a high school girl interested in powerlifting, Emily’s advice is, “I would highly recommend it. Not only do you grow your strength physically, but you can grow your strength mentally. It is extremely beneficial for your body, your mind, your emotions.”

The high school powerlifting season is over, but Emily is still lifting. She’s an Olympic hopeful lifting full time for Team USA at BlueWave, Forth Worth, Texas. So, next year it’s full time with Team USA or, if that’s delayed, then it’s off to college, lifting, and keeping the Olympic dream alive.

Emily Forner is a two-time state powerlifting champion … and the Miracle in Maypearl.

Marte Amrine Building Championship People

Coach Marte Amrine is all about building championship people.

Maypearl ISD recently hired Marte Amrine as its Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. Amrine is on the job now, a job that is his mission and his calling.

Coach Amrine said that he knew Maypearl was special and that MISD was “the right place” for him and his family from the beginning of the hiring process.

Amrine’s goal is to build “championship people.” Pursuing that goal involves “loving the kids, coaching the kids hard, [and] holding the kids accountable.”

There’s more to building championship people. He called it “strain.” Amrine defined strain as “a relentless pursuit of a goal.” I expect,” Coach Amrine said, “our coaches and kids to work as hard as they possibly can every day.”

“I expect [our coaches and kids] to do it the right way … to have character and integrity,” Coach Amrine emphasized.

“The number one thing I want people to see, and I think is my biggest coaching point, is play as hard as you can at all times. Don’t disrespect your teammates. Don’t disrespect the game.”

Amrine believes in “the building of relationships with the kids and the staff and the community.” Relationships. That’s one of the great things about high school sports, especially in small towns.

Coach Marte Amrine, Maypearl’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, is on a mission, answering a calling to build championship people.

A Maypearl Gem: Emily Forner, MHS senior, Powerlifting State Champion and Olympic Hopeful

Walking the halls of Maypearl High School is a state champion and world class powerlifter: Emily Forner, senior.

Last school year, Emily took the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) community by storm when she won the THSWPA 3A Big School Division’s 97 pound weight class outpacing second place by a whopping 55 pounds. She posted a 250 pound squat, 130 pound bench press, and a dead lift of 250 pounds for a 630 pound total.

And when the THSWPA state championships roll around in the spring of the 2022-23 school year, Emily is the odds on favorite to win her second title at the 97 pound weight class.

This past summer, Emily competed in a powerlifting competition sponsored by the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL). Her performance in that event earned the attention of Team USA, an Olympic athlete development organization, and an invitation to audition for a spot on its Powerlifting Team. That audition happened Saturday, October 1, 2022, and Emily described their reaction: “They were amazed!”

Emily’s powerlifting journey began her freshmen year at Maypearl when Coach Jim Wood, at that time MHS’s head volleyball coach, saw her lifting weights during an off season workout. Coach Wood said, “We’re starting up our girl’s powerlifting program, again, and we want you to do powerlifting for us.”

Emily agreed to give it a try and a few years later she has a state championship to her name and Olympic aspirations.

For those high school women who might be interested in lifting for health benefits and/or competition, Emily said, “Come down to the weight room. Just try it.”

Emily has advice for her fellow high school women powerlifters, “If you don’t win, walk off with a smile on your face. Make sure you’re respectful.”

Great meet day advice with a real life application as well.

State champ and Olympic hopeful. Maypearl HS has a gem in senior Emily Forner.

It’s a Dream Come True: Adam Olson, Maypearl ISD’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.

Along with a new school year for Maypearl ISD there is a new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach: Adam Olson.

Coach Adam Olson, Maypearl AD and Head Football Coach

Coach Olson is in his 17th year of teaching/coaching and 3rd year with Maypearl ISD. He described the moment he learned that he would be MISD’s next AD/Head Football Coach as “a dream come true.” He added that, “I was extremely happy” and so were my wife, Becki, and our children, Blayze (8) and Phoenyx (6). “We love this community … and we want to give back in every way we can.”

Adam’s leadership philosophy is straightforward: be a servant leader and a difference maker. A servant leader is someone who finds needs in the organization and then empowers people to address those needs. But it doesn’t stop there. If needed, a servant leader will work alongside anyone and everyone to get the job done noting that “there is no job too small.” A difference maker adds value to whatever he/she does leaving “[it] better than what it was before.”

Olson believes that overall leadership is about relationships, not just with the athletes and their families and coaches, but also with all the MISD faculty and staff and the Maypearl community.

Goals for the program? Coach Olson has two. First, “whenever a kid leaves here I want them to be more prepared for life after high school than they were when they came into our program.” Second, “athletically, I want us to be as competitive in every sport as possible. Classy. Respectful. And play really, really hard.”

For his athletes, Coach Olson looks for effort and character and when building a program “you have to have your best players be your hardest workers and when you have that engrained into your culture you really got something.”

It’s a new year. It’s a dream come true. And Coach Adam Olson is ready to serve and to make a difference.

A Positive Impact: Maypearl’s Girls Basketball Coach Allex Hensel

Allex Hensel, Maypearl’s Girls Basketball Coach, believes in a positive approach to coaching and that philosophy has her team ranked 16th in the state (3A) with a 14-1 record.

Maypearl Basketball Coach Allex Hensel (foreground) at the Venus Tournament, Venus High School, December 4, 2021

It’s a great start to the 2021-22 season. Not bad for Coach Hensel’s first time at the helm of the program.

Hensel, a 2011 Maypearl High School graduate and student/athlete (including basketball), played basketball at UT Dallas and finished her time as a student assistant with the program.

Upon graduation from UT Dallas, Hensel started her teaching/coaching career in 2014 at Mansfield ISD. The transition to Maypearl began when a fellow Mansfield teacher/coach, Greg Kudrna, offered her the opportunity to go with him to Maypearl starting in 2016-17. It worked out. The two went to Maypearl. Greg would be the head girls basketball coach and Allex would be the assistant.

After a successful run, Coach Kudrna retired at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Maypearl promoted Hensel to the head coaching position.

What does it mean to be the head girls basketball coach? Coach Hensel said, “I’d like it known that I can always find a positive. I can lift others up. I have a servant’s heart.”

Coach Hensel added, “I’ve been with [these girls] since they were in the 7th grade. I’m not super loud unless I’m bringing positive energy. I want it always to be a positive environment. A positive environment will help everything.”

Building a strong, senior leadership component is a critical part of the positivity Coach Hensel preaches and seniors Lex Berryman, Jaylee Dodd, McKinley Terry and Lauren Peiper are building that culture with the charge to “help others be successful.”

Coach Hensel said, “I love what I do. I love being an educator, I love being a coach.”

“My biggest spin: always keep it positive.”

Maypearl Football 2021: The Next Step

They did it!

The Maypearl Panthers Football Team under the direction of Sam Riepe, MHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, reached an important goal last season (2020), they qualified for the state playoffs.

Sam Riepe, Maypearl Athletic Director and Head Football Coach

For the 2021 football season, Coach Riepe would like to take the next step to not only qualify for the state playoffs, but also get a win (or two, or more).

To make a run in the post season Coach Riepe noted a couple of his teams’s strengths, “We’re strong with our seniors … [and] our skill kids.” Included in those two groups are Timmy Gracey, Charlie Houdmann, Aaron Jett, and Heath Roesler.

The Panthers put in a lot of work this summer with strength and conditioning workouts, 7-on-7 contests, and a lineman challenge.

“The Next Step” continues with the Maypearl’s first practice Monday, August 2, 2021.

Coach Jim Wood 500 Career Wins

Jim Wood, Maypearl High School Volleyball Coach

Jim Wood entered the teaching/coaching profession in the early 90’s and from the beginning he had a special goal: 500 wins. On Friday, August 28, 2020, Maypearl’s volleyball coach reached that goal.

To secure a place in Maypearl and Texas sports histories, Coach Wood’s Lady Panthers defeated Tolar at THS in three sets 25-21W, 25-11W, 27-25W for victory number 500.

Asked about his feelings after the win, an emotional Coach Wood said, “I’m speechless.”

Jim’s volleyball coaching career began at Ingram ISD (Ingram, TX) in 1993 at the sub varsity level.  He had stops at other districts along the way with the 2020-21 school year being his sixth season at Maypearl High School.

Wins are important, but Coach Wood wants more for his players. “In the long run, I just want kids to be successful. I want them to … learn a life lesson, not just the X’s and O’s. When they get 10, 15, 20 years down the road that they remember something that I taught them while coaching.”

Sam Riepe, Maypearl’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, said, “Maypearl ISD is very lucky to have such a great coach/person on staff.”

Maypearl High School Principal, Eric Janszen, said, “Coach Wood is a man who provides care and attention beyond the call of duty. His success is due to the inspiration, guidance, and encouragement he provides his athletes and students.”

Maypearl ISD appreciates Coach Wood and he appreciates Maypearl ISD. “The coaching staff has been tremendous. The administration has been tremendous. The teachers, the community, the kids they just work so hard.”

Mr. Ritchie Bowling, MISD Superintendent, noted that Coach Wood, “Builds relationships and genuinely cares for his athletes.”

In that regard, Coach Wood said, “I want the kids to be successful, regardless of the wins and loses, if they’re successful I’m happy. [I want them to be] confident in themselves … not having any self-doubts, not putting yourself down.”

And Coach Wood preaches, “Don’t ever tell yourself you cannot do something.”

Coach Jim Wood lives that belief. He never stopped believing he could reach that special goal … and he go it: win number 500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Explanation

To the Maypearl ISD and TCU Lacrosse Communities:

I have not been taking and posting photographs of your most recent sports activities. I apologize.

Here is why.

Several moths ago, TCU posted its 2020 spring lacrosse schedule and it had a three-game stint in Pensacola, FL (Feb 28-Mar 1, 2020).  My nephew plays for TCU Lacrosse and his mother, my sister, thought it might be a great idea if we planned a small family reunion around those three games. It was a great idea. The plans were made.

Well, on the Tuesday before the trip (Feb 25) my younger brother, who lives in Pensacola, suffered a stroke. He survived the stroke – miracle upon miracle – and had very few post-stroke effects. As one physician put it, he was a “one in a million case.” But he and his family still needed help.

I traveled to Pensacola on Feb 27 and stayed through Mar 11 to provide as much support and help as I could. I’m glad I did, but it meant that I haven’t been at any MHS softball and baseball games, I missed a TCU Lacrosse game, and I have not posted photos from the TCU Lacrosse Pensacola trip.

The irony is that now that I am home, the TCU Lacrosse season has been cancelled and I’m not sure about the future of UIL spring sports activities for MHS (and all Texas schools).

I needed to write this after I came home, and I wanted to write it so that you knew that I had not dropped volunteer sports photography for MHS and TCU Lacrosse.

Thanks for understanding and thank you for the opportunity to photograph MHS sports and TCU Lacrosse. I am blessed.

_________________________

My bother is doing well. He has before him a recovery and rehabilitation process in which he, if you are so inclined, could use your prayers.

 

 

 

 

Maypearl’s Faith Collins Principal Nominee to Air Force Academy

Faith Collins, Principal Nominee to Air Force Academy

Faith Collins is the first Maypearl High School (MHS) student to receive a nomination to a military academy.

In January (2020), U.S. Congressman Ron Wright called Faith from his office in Washington, D.C. and informed her that she had received his Principal Nomination to the Air Force Academy (AFA), Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Congressman’s call came to Ms. Collins in the MHS school library during 8th period. “It was exciting,” she recalled. Her friends in the library were excited, too. After the call, they all jumped up with congratulations and support.

Although Faith has “always been interested in the military” the thought of attending a military academy began in the summer of 2019 during conversations with her father’s cousins who were serving in the Navy.

Faith began research into the Air Force Academy. She showed her mother a video produced by a female cadet in the AFA and said afterward, “I think I’m going to apply.” Her parents, Jason and Sara Collins, have been “super supportive” throughout the process.

At the Academy, Faith plans on a pre-med academic path. Eventually, she would like her medical career to have a mission focus. Something that intrigues her is Mercy Ships, where “free lifesaving surgeries are preformed aboard … floating hospital ships.”

Fatih Collins, student manager MHS Boys Basketball Team, Jan 31, 2020

Faith is a very special MHS student. As a junior, she will graduate one year early (May 2020), and upon graduation she will have earned not only a high school diploma, but also an Associates of Arts (AA) degree.

Faith’s favorite subject is math, and her favorite teacher is Ms. Wiggins, her 7th grade advanced math teacher.

Ms. Collins naturally stays busy with studies, but also she is a student manager for the MHS Boys Basketball Team, Vice-President of the Junior Class, a peer tutor, and a member of the prom committee.

Faith Collins is a Christian and her faith is a guiding force. The advice that she would give her classmates is something she follows, “Believe and pray about what you want. Go for your dreams.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Went To The Bank To Borrow $23T

I learn by example, so after observing how the federal government works I went to my local bank to borrow $23 trillion. Here’s how that conversation between the loan officer (LO) and me went.

ME: “Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. To respect your time, I’ll get right to the business at hand. I’d like to borrow $23 trillion.”

LO: “Wow. That’s a lot of money. What collateral do you have for the loan?”

ME: [I handed the LO paperwork that documented my financial position.]

LO: After examining the paperwork – “If I do some rounding, it seems that you are $23 trillion short of covering the loan. How would you pay it off?”

ME: “That’s not a problem. I will take the money from every American adult and, in the future, their children, and grandchildren.”

LO: “Won’t they balk at that?”

ME: “That’s not a problem. If they resist, I’ll just come back here and borrow what I need.”

LO: “That may not work with us.”

ME: “That’s not a problem. I have a printing press in my basement. I’ll just print what I need.”

It seems that operating like the federal government in one’s personal life is not appreciated. The LO called the police, and that conversation went as well as the one between the LO and me, but with handcuffs.

My humble words of advice are that stealing from Americans is best left up to the federal government – they’re the experts and it’s legal.