2012-2013 School Highlights

The State Track Meet was Friday and Saturday.  WOS boys finish second as a team. On Friday, LCM's Zoe Casteel vaulted 11-0 to finish 8th in the pole vault. Alexus Henry, BC, High Jump, 6th (5-6) Kati Thornton, BC, Pole Vault, 9th (10-6) WOS 4x100 finishes second to Kennedale at State. Kennedale ran a 41.24 and the Mustangs 41.25 WOS girls 4x200 finishes 6th (1:41.33) Waco LaVega won with 1:39.21 WOS 4x200 finishes second (1:26.14) Paris won with a new state record 1:25.82 RaShon McDonald was 9th in 400 and Will Johnson 9th in 300 hurdles WOS 4x400 finishes fifth (3:21.85)  Celina wins (3:16.15) and Celina wins team title.  WOS boys finish second.

When visitors to the West Orange – Stark Middle School campus walk through the main corridor which links the new office area to the Stark Building, they are stopping in their tracks to view the documents and photographs on the wall.  The information is unusual. It is not art work, reports, and meeting information. The wall of this middle school main walkway is covered with contracts ---  the signatures and photographs of students who have pledged to be brilliant. The “Pledge to Brilliance” concept originated with District Superintendent James Colbert. more

Former McNeese Cowboy Seth Thomas signed a free agent deal Saturday following the conclusion of the 2013 NFL Draft. Thomas, a 5-9, 190-pound cornerback from WOS signed on with the Washington Redskins. Thomas played in all 11 games for the Pokes and accumulated 42 tackles with a tackle for a loss. He led the Cowboys with three pass interceptions and had five break-ups.

WOS Boys Win Regional Track Meet The running finals of the Region 3 track meet wrapped up Monday with the WOS 4x100 heading to State after winning with a time of 41.67.  The WOS 4x200 also won with a time of 1:26.49.  Navasota second 1:27.00. WOS girls finished third in 4x200 but will qualify as the ninth best time in 4A.  Will Johnson finished second in the 300 hurdles and Rashon McDonald was second in the 400.

Mustang Boys, Hamshire-Fannett Girls, capture team titles at the 21-3A Track Meet held at WOS High School.  The top four in each event advance to the Area Meet at WOS on April 18. Photos in the KOGT Photo Gallery.  Results

J'Marcus Rhodes of West Orange-Stark will play in the Texas High School Coaches Assoc. All-Star football game on July 31 at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.  The only other two local players on the South roster are Chevoski Collins of Livingston and Hunter Bergeron of Anahuac.

The WOS basketball team (2nd in 21-3A) beat Huffman in the first round and lost to LaMarque in the second round 52-47 to end the season 22-11.

Thursday, Feb. 21 former WOS Mustang assistant coach and Orange native Toby Foreman, was named the new head football coach at Beaumont Central High School.  This past season Foreman was an assistant coach at LaMarque HS.

Deon Beasley, the defensive back from Orange who spent the last three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, signed a free agent contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. Beasley joined the Bombers in July 2010 and started nine games at cornerback during his rookie season. He made only three starts at corner in 2011, despite appearing in all 18 games, and he started four games in 2012. Beasley also has the ability to return kicks. He ran back 37 of them in Winnipeg for 681 yards. He did not appear to be in the team's long-term plans.

Wednesday was National Signing Day and WOS is sending six to play college football.  From left: Daniel Woodson (Kilgore), J'Marcus Rhodes (SMU), Joe Lynch (Kilgore), Travon Blanchard (Baylor), Quinton Tezeno (UTEP), and Colin Janice (Ark.State). photo by Margaret Toal.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team has been picked to successfully defend its American Southwest Conference West Division title in the league's Preseason Coaches and Media Poll.  Hardin-Simmons grabbed two first-place votes and 116 total points for second place and Howard Payne University and Texas Lutheran University tied for third place. Cru right-hander Rebekah Ragsdale was voted ASC West Division Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Ragsdale, a junior from West Orange-Stark High School, posted a 14-7 record and 2.47 ERA. She struck out 87 batters and recorded seven shutouts on the season.

After a stellar career at West Orange-Stark and the University of Houston, WOS retired the number 11 jersey worn by Brittany Scott on Tuesday. Scott, with her grandmother Bessie Richard, still owns the career three pointers made mark at UH and is seventh all-time on the scoring list.

WOS Lady Mustangs defeated the Silsbee Lady Tigers 47-46 Tuesday to claim their first district victory.  It was a good night for Coach Bonnie Perry, who also had her jersey retired before the game. Derreashia Daughtery led the Lady Mustangs in scoring with 10 points. Adreama Beverly and Eriel Jordan each had 8 points. Jordan also had 5 blocked shots. BreAnna Preston gave an outstanding defensive effort. The next game is Tuesday at home against Hamshire Fannett.

The Coaches 21-3A All-District Football Team here.

Autumn Jones was crowned the Homecoming Queen at the West Orange-Stark football game Friday night. The Mustangs improved to 7-0 with a 54-0 win over the Orangefield Bobcats.  You can see more scores on the KOGT Sports Page. Colin Janice was crowned Homecoming King.  He returned a blocked kick for a touchdown.

West Orange – Stark Mustangs Cross Country 2012 – 2013 schedule
Sept 29 (Sat) 26th Annual Pleasure Island CC Meet (Port Arthur) 8:00 am
Oct 13 (Sat) South County Distance Classic CC Meet (Port Arthur) 8:00 am
Oct 27 (Fri) District 21-AAA CC Meet (Claiborne Park – Vidor) 9:00 am

2011-2012 School Highlights

The 2012 WOS Valedictorian is Sarah Ragsdale, the daughter of Paula and Randy Ragsdale. She will attend San Jacinto Junior College where she will play softball and major in Psychology. As a senior, Sarah has served as Class President and Cheerleader Captain. She is four year member and officer of the WO-S Student Council, the Key Club, & theWO-S softball team.  This year, she was selected as the “Outstanding Senior Girl” by the faculty and staff.

2012 WOS Salutatorian Jada Renee Semien is the daughter of Janice and John Semien. She will attend Lamar University majoring in Speech Communications & Disorders.  She was the student body Vice-President, and the Secretary for National Honor Society. Semien has also participated in Key Club, and Foreign Language Club. She will graduate will 21 college credit hours, which she earned from Lamar State College-Orange while maintaining a 4.0 college GPA.

MVP's of the West Orange-Stark Athletic Banquet

• Coaches 21-3A All-District_Baseball Team.

• 21-3A Coaches All-District Softball Team

Orange native and former major league player Bruce Aven is hit with the ice bucket Friday after his American Heritage High School baseball team beat Ponte Vedra 9-0 and won their first state championship since 2008.  For Aven, a WOS grad, it's his first season coaching the 5A team out of Broward County, Florida.

With WOS athletic director Cornel Thompson and his father, Derek Ledet, senior Derek Ledet signed to play football at Kilgore College in Kilgore.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor softball team placed eleven players on the American Southwest Conference All-West Division teams. Led by Pitcher Rebekah Ragsdale who was named West Division Pitcher of the Year, the Cru had four First Team selections, placed two players on the All-West Second Team and added five Honorable Mention All-West picks. Ragsdale, a sophomore right-hander from West Orange-Stark also named to the ASC All-Tournament Team, recorded a 14-7 record and posted a 2.46 ERA. Ragsdale also struck out 87 batters, nailed down two saves, tossed eight shutouts and completed 14 games while throwing 139.1 innings.  Ragsdale was interviewed after her win against Hardin-Simmons.

West Orange – Stark High School students earned Best of Show in two categories at the State Skills USA competition held in Corpus Christi. Ashton Lemoine won Best of Show in the Precision Machining Job Exhibit competition for the second consecutive year; while Amber Carpenter won Best of Show in Building Trades Job Exhibit Competition. Fellow WO-S Career Center classmates Michael Hagan and Matt Goff earned blue ribbons on their precision machine projects. Sterling Lewis, Bradley Freeman, Josh Blanchard, Tyler Chandler, Stephen Tramell, Dillan Trahan, and Joseph Self earned second place ribbons for their precision machine job exhibits. Goff, Freeman, Blanchard, Tramell, and Trahan are Bridge City High School students who attend WO-S Career Center precision machine classes. WO-S building trades students also competed in project exhibits and earned blue ribbons as well. They are Nicholas Tezeno and Ashley Hooper. Matthew Broussard earned a red ribbon. Carlo Paulino is the WO-S High School precision machining instructor. Randy Palmero instructs building trades.

	Jamarcus Rhodes of WOS won both the 110 and 300 hurdles held at Dan Hooks Stadium Thursday at the 21-3A Meet. more photos in our photo gallery  Boys Results  Girls Results 1 West Orange-Stark  187 2 Bridge City 109.50 3 Hamshire Fannett  106 4 Silsbee  89.50 5 Hardin Jefferson 85 6 Orangefield  35

	WOS Head Football Coach Cornel Thompson has confirmed to KOGT that longtime assistant Ed Dyer will be the Mustangs Offensive Coordinator next season.  He's replacing first year OC Stan Hodges who is pursuing a position at another school.

West Orange-Stark linebacker Trayvon Blanchard has given Baylor University a verbal commitment to play football there following his senior season.

Tuesday during the West Orange-Stark basketball game, Mustang great Travessa Gant had her jersey retired by the school.  Gant was an incredible player who could and sometimes did play every position during a game.  Gant went on to play at Lamar and also overseas.  Her former coaches, Ricky Ryan and Camille Fuller, also attended the event. photo by Meri Elen Jacobs.

Three from West Orange-Stark signed football scholarships Wednesday.  From left: Justin Thomas (Utah), Ryan Allen (Missouri Valley), and DeCarlos Renfro (UTEP).

Surrounded by her coaches and mother, WO-S senior Cassandra May signs to play softball at Lamar State College in Port Arthur. From left to right, Athletic Director Cornel Thompson, Asst. Coach Brittany Washburn, Head Coach Randy Ragsdale and Asst. Coach Michael Shugart, along with Cassandra and her mother, Carolyn May.

Britton Lindsey will play football at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. The WOS senior RB was the Offensive Player of the Year in District 21-3A last season. The Wildcats play in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and finished 2-8 last season.

The WOCCISD Education Foundation surprised over a dozen teachers at four different West Orange – Cove CISD campuses with grant awards for innovative teaching Friday, Jan. 27. A total of 13 grants were presented to teachers at North Early Learning Center, West Orange – Stark Elementary, West Orange – Stark Middle, and West Orange – Stark High Schools. more

Daniel Woodson and Britton Lindsey named MVP's on 21-3A football team

District Champion Mustangs flood All-KOGT Football Team

Academic All-State Football Team

Ashleigh Kelly of WOS named 21-3A volleyball MVP. Twelve players from Orange County named to the
 All-District Team.  Kelly was also named to the All-KOGT Volleyball Team.

Crystal Haynes was crowned the West Orange-Stark Homecoming Queen Friday.  The Mustangs defeated Hamshire-Fannett 22-12 in the 21-3A opener.  WOS also held a tailgate party before the game and did some line dancing!

For the fourth consecutive year, West Orange - Cove CISD has earned a Property Casualty Alliance of Texas (PCAT) dividend. Kerry Sims, Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer of North American Solutions made the $53,780.27 presentation to WOCCISD Superintendent James Colbert (right) this week. Previous presentations to WOCCISD have totaled more than $130,000, excluding this week’s dividend. Dividends result from lower than normal claims. PCAT is a Texas interlocal governmental risk program representing 104 school districts and over $27 million in annual contributions.

The old Anderson Elementary School has students once again. However, they are not youngsters learning their ABCs. Part of the campus is now the West Orange-Stark Academic Alternative School. In the next few months, the main part of the school will be remodeled to house the West Orange-Cove district administration offices. The changes are part of the $6 million bond issue voters approved in May.  more

Many new Directors, Principals, and Coordinators will welcome students and their families for the 2011-2012 West Orange – Cove CISD academic school year as a result of increased instructional support at the central office and campus level. “The District has experienced a great amount of change in a short amount of time. One of our major goals through these events has been to be stronger and to strengthen our leadership teams,” Superintendent James Colbert said.  Meet the new additions.

Shannon Larson, a former assistant principal for the Vidor school district, will be the new principal for North Early Learning Center. The West Orange-Cove school board Monday night approved hiring Larson, who was chosen by Superintendent James Colbert. Larson will be the second new principal for the upcoming school year. The school district has four campuses.

Katy Snell, a 2004 WOS graduate and four year starter for the softball team, has been named the new head softball coach at Lockhart HS.  Lockhart is a 4A school located just east of San Marcos.