The Cardette Showgirls were recently recognized both for their dance skills and for excellence in academics at a recent competition in Denton. Pictured are (front) Cree Harrell, (second row, from left) Brittany Isenhower, Jaimee Bowles, Bria Molock, (back row)Aly Peterson, Megan Perry and Victoria Corley. (PHOTO COURTESY TVCC)
By Jennifer Hannigan/TVCC Public Information
The Cardette Showgirls were recognized both for their dance skills and for their academic excellence at a recent competition in Denton.
The Showgirls are a group of elite Cardettes who perform at special events separate from the main Cardette dance team. The group of seven dancers competes against other schools each spring at the American Dance Drill Team School National Competition.
This year, the group took third runner up in the dance portion of the competition. For that part, said director Darla Mansfield, the group competes in Division III with other schools of similar size.
The Cardette Showgirls chose a routine this year comprised of several songs, all of which carried a theme about candy.
For the second part of the competition, the ladies are rated based on their GPA. The TVCC group’s cumulative 3.41 GPA was the highest in the group.
That GPA earned the Cardettes the distinction of being named the competition’s National Collegiate Academic Champion. This is the second year in a row the TVCC dance team has earned that title.
“Not only are these girls talented dancers, but they are also able to maintain a high collegiate GPA while being involved in so many events as Cardettes and Showgirls,” said Mansfield.
“To carry this title two years in a row is such an honor for the team and a testimony that these girls know when to be serious and know when to have fun. Saying that I am proud of them doesn’t express the half of it.”
The group also took the title of academic champions for Division III.
It was a successful outing for the TVCC Rodeo Team in the Texas A&M event this past weekend. Seven members of the team made it to the Short Go.
Garrett Jones split fourth and fifth in Bareback Riding and placed third in the Short Go and third in average.
Hunter Ferguson placed fifth in in the Short Go and and average in Steer Wrestling.
Justus Whitcher placed third in the Long Go of Steer Wrestling and won the Short Go with a time of 6.7 seconds. He also won the average.
Wenceslao “Lightning” Aguilera and Kolby Miller qualified for the Short Go in Team Roping. Aguilera and Miller are ranked No. 1 in the Southern Region standings.
In Barrel Racing, Kacy Kirby took third in the First Go with a fast time of 16.84. Kirby also nabbed third in the Short Go and second in average.
Austin Gross finished second in Bull Riding in the Long Go and second in average. Gross is ranked No. 3 in the Southern Region.
The top three in each event in the Southern Region advance to the College National Finals Rodeo.
There are two more regional events on the schedule.
#CELEBRATING7
The college/community celebration of the Lady Cardinals’ seventh NJCAA championship is scheduled Wednesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Gym.
The public is invited to attend.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Cardinals are scheduled to be on the road Thursday, taking on San Jacinto in a non-conference doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.
The next home game for the Lady Cardinals is Saturday, April 6 against Kilgore. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.
The Lady Cardinals had the brooms out Monday afternoon at Cain Park, sweeping Angelina in non-conference doubleheader action. Coach Ashley Johnston’s squad won both games by a 7-3 score.
Erica Jordan had a huge day for the Lady Cardinals. In the two games, she went 4-for-5 with a pair of three-run home runs, a double and eight RBI.
In Game 1, Jordan was 3-for-3. Tessa Thomas was 1-for-2.
Kayla Cosby was the winning pitcher, scattering six hits.
Joining Jordan with multiple hits in the second game were Melissa Billingsley (2-for-3), Chantelle Whitehead (2-for-3), Alex el Cassabgui (2-for-3) and Thomas (2-for-3). Whitehead and Thomas each had a pair of doubles and Billingsley had a triple.
Melissa Boland had a hit and drove in a run.
Kim Leschber picked up the win on the mound.
The sweep improved the Lady Cardinals to 21-14 overall. They are 3-3 in non-conference play.
The Lady Cardinals, who have now won four straight, take to the road Thursday for a non-conference doubleheader against San Jacinto. Their next home doubleheader is scheduled Saturday, April 6 against Kilgore at 1 and 3 p.m.
SPRING FOOTBALL
The Cardinals kicked off their spring football workouts Monday and will continue through April.
Workouts are scheduled four days a week for five weeks, including some Saturday practices at Bruce Field in April. Afternoon workouts at the practice field begin around 3:15 p.m. each day and the public is invited to attend.
#CELEBRATING7
Plans for a college/community celebration of the Lady Cardinals’ seventh NJCAA championship are being finalized.
Stay tuned for the announcement when #CELEBRATING7 is scheduled.
IN APPRECIATION
The Lady Cardinal basketball team would like to send out a heartfelt thank you to the Cardinal Cheerleaders and the Cardinal Regiment Pep Band for their support all season, including at the national tournament. You are the best at what you do!
With those two outstanding groups, along with the Lady Cardinal fans attending the national tournament, it felt like home games at the Bicentennial Center. Also, the Lady Cardinals are appreciative to all the fans back home watching the games online and wearing red.
Championships are a team effort – a total team effort. Thank you for being a part of it.
Douglas Johnson of Athens lights a candle during the recent Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony in Athens. More than 50 new students joined the honors fraternity during a ceremony held at Trinity Valley Community College’s Athens campus.
By Jennifer Hannigan/TVCC Public Information
More than 50 new faces were added to the ranks of Phi Theta Kappa this week during an induction ceremony at Trinity Valley Community College.
Iota Alpha, the TVCC branch of the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society, is comprised of outstanding students at TVCC’s four campuses. Students are eligible to join Iota Alpha if they have earned at least 12 semester hours of transferrable credit at TVCC with an overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. The organization provides opportunities for leadership and service development.
The group also provides members with an intellectual climate for fellowship and discussions on pertinent topics.
The organization developed in Missouri in 1910. Today Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education, with chapters located in all 50 states as well as several other countries.
Iota Alpha was named one of the honors fraternity’s top 10 chapters last year.
Students who were recently inducted into Iota Alpha are (listed alphabetically by hometown):
ATHENS: Adam Charette, Tanner Choate, Paula Contois, Parker Fincher, Nancy Galvan, Lauren Green, Madeline Harrell, William Hopper, Channing Horton, Kacie Ingram, Douglas Johnson, Juan Lopez, Tiffany Sexton, Kaitlyn Sloan, Caroline Whitaker
BEN WHEELER: Joe Elerson
BROWNSBORO: Brittanie Scheen
BURLESON: Nicole Wofford
CANTON: Anthony Gomez, Katherine Thomas, Natalie Watts
CRANDALL: Matthew Long
FRANKSTON: Cheyenne Gideon, Caleb Whitehurst
GRAND PRAIRIE: Bria Molock
GUN BARREL CITY: Dawn Gray, Amber Gregg, Cliffton Rudman
HEARTLAND: Shaimariah Jackson, Lauren Stevens,
KAUFMAN: Melanie Reeves, Melissa Warner
KEMP: Brittany Albright, Dawn Barber, Margaret Floyd, Mary Franklin, Juan Montoya
KEMPNER: Macie Moses
MABANK: Justin Collier, Jessica Schaefer
MESQUITE: Allyson Braggs
MURCHISON: Kassandrea Buckalew, Tiffany Parker, David Thrasher
PALESTINE: Anna Clark, Mary Masters, Christopher Winfield
POINT: John Feistner
ROYCE CITY: Emerald Griseta,
SAN ANTONIO: Ada Hollifield,
SCURRY: Luis Garcia
TOOL: Barbara Baxter, Jordan Quintanil, Jordan Vanover
The National Champion Lady Cardinals arrived home Sunday night and were greeted by more than 100 fans. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
How sweet it is!
Shortly before 7 p.m. Sunday, the 2013 NJCAA champion Lady Cardinals pulled intot he parking lot in front of Cardinal Gym. They were greeted by over a 100 cheering fans. Wearing broad smiles, they departed the bus with the championship trophy hoisted high above their heads. The hugging and photo taking began.
For the record, the Lady Cardinals scored an 83-71 win against Central Arizona in the NJCAA title game Saturday night at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, KS. It was the third straight year they had appeared in the final game of the tournament and the third time they had faced Central Arizona for the title.
In addition to keeping the Lady Cardinals atop the world of NJCAA women’s basketball, the win gave them an official 36-1 record for the season. On the court (not counting the forfeit to Weatherford in December for a lack of healthy eligible players), they were 36-0 for a second consecutive year.
Against Central Arizona, the Lady Cardinals built a 46-33 halftime lead. Shlonte’ Allen led four players in double figures with 22 points. Krystle Henderson and Shannon Smith had 14 each and Adut Bulgak 10. Savannah Carter tossed in nine.
Victoria Wells finished with seven points and led the Lady Cardinals with seven rebounds. She also had one block and one steal.
Roddricka Patton led the defensive effort, which forced 18 Central Arizona turnovers. Patton had a game-high five steals.
Central Arizona, which has four national titles (second to the Lady Cardinals’ seven) and has lost in the title game four times, closed the year 32-2 (both losses to the Lady Cardinals).
Smith, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She was the top Lady Cardinal scorer in three of their four games and averaged 22.0 points per game. She shot 52.8 percent from the floor.
Allen and Henderson were both named to the all-tournament team.
The title game appearance was the 10th for the Lady Cardinals, who are 10-0 in national semifinal games. They are now 7-3 in title games, having won the title in ’94, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’04, ’12 and ’13.
With their 4-0 record in the 24-team, single-elimination tournament, the Lady Cardinals are now 53-16 in national tournament games.
The Lady Cardinals have won 72 of their last 73 games (72 straight on the court). They have also won 106 of their last 110.
In leading the Lady Cardinals to national title No. 7, Elena Lovato ran her career coaching record to 77-7. She is 45-3 at TVCC.
The 4-0 record at the national tournament also moved the college’s overall record to 989-225. Since the 1993-94 season (the first national title season), the Lady Cardinals are 612-55.
Lovato is now the fourth Lady Cardinal head coach to win a national title, joining Kurt Budke, Michael Landers and Kenya Landers.
Plans for a college/community celebration of the Lady Cardinals’ national title will be finalized later this week. Watch for an announcement and then make plans to attend #CELEBRATING7.
The Lady Cardinals would like to thank all the fans making the trip to Salina for the tournament. They are also thankful of all the fans watching online back and and proudly wearing red. Your support and positive vibes were definitely appreciated and helped bring #CHASING7 to a successful conclusion.
I leave you with this final thought: 7-time NJCAA champion Lady Cardinals.
