Sports > Schools
Start of 2012 football season draws closer
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
With each passing day in August, the excitement level builds for area high school football fans as the start of the season draws nearer.
For Sunnyvale and other programs in Class 1A-3A, as well as those Class 4A and 5A programs that did not conduct official spring workouts, they were allowed to hit the field on Monday for the first day of non-contact practices.
Those teams can start contact workouts on Friday.
For the rest of the area teams, including those from Mesquite, Rowlett and Sachse, they will officially get going this Monday with non-contact drills. The first day to conduct full-contact practices will be on Aug. 17.
Once those teams begin with the official fall workouts, there is not much time before it is time to get serious.
Teams can begin participating in scrimmages on Aug. 24, with the opening day of high school football season slated for Aug. 30.
Mesquite athlete receives national grant
Roderick McGruder from Mesquite High School has won a National Athleadership Grant sponsored by NCSA Athletic Recruiting and the NFLPA. Receiving this prestigious award is not only an honor but one that is only given to a select number of student athletes throughout the country in all sports from football to track. The Leadership Grant is awarded to student athletes who qualify based on leadership in their community, academic achievement, athletics and a required essay written by the student athlete.
"We are very pleased to be involved with NCSA in assisting in the recognition and the selection of young qualified student athletes to receive scholarship opportunities," said DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFLPA. "Anytime, you can identify, help and reward future leaders to further their education and athletic pursuits, it's a win-win and we are pleased to contribute to this worthy effort with NCSA."
Following the selection of Roderick to be the recipient of this Athleadership Grant, NCSA will work with him and his family throughout his high school career and assist him to find a collegiate institution that best matches his academic and athletic achievements.
"Our passionate team of 300 former athletes will personally guide and educate Roderick throughout the entire recruiting process, giving him the tools that he needs to be successful in recruiting and in life." said Chris Krause, CEO and founder of NCSA Athletic Recruiting. "Picking the right college is a life changing decision. It's important for student-athletes to recognize that the choice of a college or university is not just a 4-year decision; it is a 40-year decision that will impact their professional future and personal success in life."
UIL announces steroid testing results
The UIL has released its annual Anabolic Steroid Testing Report for tests conducted between September 2011 and May 2012.
During that span, 3,311 tests were conducted and confirmed nine positive results and two protocol positives, which stem from a student-athlete violating the UIL steroid-testing protocol. One resulted from a student not reporting for testing and one was the result of a substituted specimen.
In addition, 217 schools were tested which included 3,087 boys across 11 sports and 224 girls over 10 sports. The sports with the most tests conducted were football (1,366) and volleyball (30) for boys and girls, respectively.
The testing spanned grade levels 9-12, with 1,045 senior student-athletes topping the scale.
For Sunnyvale and other programs in Class 1A-3A, as well as those Class 4A and 5A programs that did not conduct official spring workouts, they were allowed to hit the field on Monday for the first day of non-contact practices.
Those teams can start contact workouts on Friday.
For the rest of the area teams, including those from Mesquite, Rowlett and Sachse, they will officially get going this Monday with non-contact drills. The first day to conduct full-contact practices will be on Aug. 17.
Once those teams begin with the official fall workouts, there is not much time before it is time to get serious.
Teams can begin participating in scrimmages on Aug. 24, with the opening day of high school football season slated for Aug. 30.
Mesquite athlete receives national grant
Roderick McGruder from Mesquite High School has won a National Athleadership Grant sponsored by NCSA Athletic Recruiting and the NFLPA. Receiving this prestigious award is not only an honor but one that is only given to a select number of student athletes throughout the country in all sports from football to track. The Leadership Grant is awarded to student athletes who qualify based on leadership in their community, academic achievement, athletics and a required essay written by the student athlete.
"We are very pleased to be involved with NCSA in assisting in the recognition and the selection of young qualified student athletes to receive scholarship opportunities," said DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFLPA. "Anytime, you can identify, help and reward future leaders to further their education and athletic pursuits, it's a win-win and we are pleased to contribute to this worthy effort with NCSA."
Following the selection of Roderick to be the recipient of this Athleadership Grant, NCSA will work with him and his family throughout his high school career and assist him to find a collegiate institution that best matches his academic and athletic achievements.
"Our passionate team of 300 former athletes will personally guide and educate Roderick throughout the entire recruiting process, giving him the tools that he needs to be successful in recruiting and in life." said Chris Krause, CEO and founder of NCSA Athletic Recruiting. "Picking the right college is a life changing decision. It's important for student-athletes to recognize that the choice of a college or university is not just a 4-year decision; it is a 40-year decision that will impact their professional future and personal success in life."
UIL announces steroid testing results
The UIL has released its annual Anabolic Steroid Testing Report for tests conducted between September 2011 and May 2012.
During that span, 3,311 tests were conducted and confirmed nine positive results and two protocol positives, which stem from a student-athlete violating the UIL steroid-testing protocol. One resulted from a student not reporting for testing and one was the result of a substituted specimen.
In addition, 217 schools were tested which included 3,087 boys across 11 sports and 224 girls over 10 sports. The sports with the most tests conducted were football (1,366) and volleyball (30) for boys and girls, respectively.
The testing spanned grade levels 9-12, with 1,045 senior student-athletes topping the scale.
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