Oilers finish tied for 8th for Lone Star Cup

July 7, 2009

PEARLAND — The University Interscholastic League (UIL) has a measuring stick to see how well-rounded other school districts are to one another. That stick comes in the form of the annual UIL Texas Dodge Lone Star Cup.

Schools in each of the five UIL classifications (5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A) compete each year for the coveted Cup. High schools accumulate points based on their team performance in district and state championships. The winning schools in each classification receive the Lone Star Cup™ trophy and a $1,000 scholarship, also presented by the Texas Dodge Dealers.

Schools receive points based on the following: State and Area Marching Band, Team Tennis, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling, Girls and Boys Basketball, Soccer, Golf, One Act Play, State Academic Meet, Track & Field, Softball and Baseball.

When Pearland ISD athletic director Mike Watson came to the district -- he was very clear that he wanted to see all of the athletic teams at Pearland HS become well-rounded and competitive programs.

"When I came here nine or 10 years ago, I didn't want us to be a one-trick pony," Watson said. "I came from Clear Lake and we produced a well-rounded program year-after-year and I wanted to see the same thing happen here at Pearland."

When Watson assumed the duties as the athletic director -- he did so with great care and consideration. Unlike some new athletic directors who immediately get rid of well-respected and successful coaches to bring in their own people...Watson used understanding and maturity to work with each coach and their respective sports.

"My purpose from the beginning was to help each coach be successful," Watson said. "As long as I have a coach who is working hard and maintaining their focus to make their student-athletes, not just better athletes, but better individuals -- then everything will work out just fine."

Watson asks all of his coaches to see beyond the field of competition.

"We are in the business of helping young people to mature in life," Watson continued. "Most of the student-athletes will never advance to the pro ranks. So we want to make sure they are productive young men and women in society and we are helping lay the foundation to make that happen."

Another unique attribute that Watson brought to the table was asking each head coach of the various sports to get involved in community service projects.

"I want our coaches and student-athletes to be helpful to others in the community," Watson said.

To illustrate this -- volleyball head coach John Turner hosts the largest volleyball tournament in the nation and one of the motivating factors is to raise money for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The tournament has generated over $20,000 in helping others.

The PHS girls athletics combine their efforts each year to gather canned goods before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays to support the Pearland Neighborhood Center. This past year - they gathered over two tons of canned goods.

The Pearland girls softball is also heavily involved in giving back to others. For 2008-2009, the Lady Oilers booster club totaled $5,850.00 in scholarship money. They also donated the following this year: $3,000.00 to the Galveston ISD softball program, $1,000.00 to the High Island softball team following hurricane Ike, and $3,500.00 to the Gabby Romero family.

The Pearland Touchdown Club gave out $10,000 in scholarship money and lead the way with a total of over $60,000 over the past eight years.

These are just a few of the examples of what is happening just from the athletic side at Pearland ISD. Other coaches have had their players serving food to the homeless during holidays or working on building homes for the needy.

In relation to the Lone Star Cup - there are 246 Class 5A schools and it is a remarkable feat for Pearland HS to finish in a tie for 8th place in the state.

Conroe The Woodlands captured firsplace for the Lone Star Cup with 112 points followed by Austin Westlake (90), Katy and San Antonio Reagan (74), Lewisville Marcus (72), Humble Kingwood (60), Coppell (58), and Pearland (52) who tied with A&M Consolidated, Clear Lake, and Cinco Ranch.

Pearland won a fourth straight Academic Decathlon region title and then were crowned 2009 Academic Decathlon state champions beating out 39 other Class 5A schools at the state meet.

Athletically, the Oilers advanced to the 5A state quarterfinals in football finishing with a 12-1 mark while winning the District 22-5A crown. The softball team won the district title and then the 5A Region III championship to advance to the state softball tournament. A 3-0 win in the state semifinals sent them to the finals before dropping a 1-0 heartbreaker to Smithson Valley in the state championship game.

The Pearland diamondmen advanced won the 5A Region III crown to advance to the state baseball tournament. The Oilers lost to Lufkin 4-2 in 11 innings in the state semifinals.

Add senior diver Sam Decker who won the first gold medal for Pearland at the 5A state swimming and diving meet.  Senior Dallas Whitney Rose repeated as the 5A state triple jump champion.

All-in-all, the 2008-2009 athletic season was one of the most successful in Pearland ISD history.

"This past year has proven that our approach is very successful," Watson said. "I want to make sure that the entire coaching staff gets credit for the achievements on and off the field. They are dedicated men and women who love young people and are dedicated and determined to see them become the very best they can be as adults - educationally and athletically."

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