Growing in all of the following: Christian, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Educator, Writer, and Photographer, and throughout the journey so wonderfully blessed.
So, I'm on the back porch practicing photographing the moon and out of the blue a
#UnitedAirlines
plane appears. How fun! And, no, that won't happen again in my lifetime.
Jakobee Crownover
#56
a junior Grandview football player was severely injured, including an injury to the brain, in a car wreck (Aug 2019). Crownover summoned the courage to walk to the pregame coin flip v Maypearl, Nov 8, 2019. That walk was the biggest win of the evening.
Thank you to the Maypearl District Admin, Faculty, and Staff for allowing me to take photos at MHS sporting events. Your generosity, kindness, and hospitality are appreciated. To all the MHS seniors: best of wishes in life, may God richly bless you and your dreams.
Maypearl wins!! It was the Panthers's 3rd victory in the state playoffs and it took 4 sets to defeat Academy in the Regional Quarterfinals W25-19, W25-21, L19-25, W25-20.
And when all is said and done family trumps the game. Maypearl's Head Baseball Coach Mike Martin and his son before the home contest this evening (Mar 19, 2021).
To the Maypearl ISD community: Coach Bilbrey is one of the good guys in Texas HS coaching. I visited him this morning in his hospital room. Coach is in good spirits, under great care, and on a relatively long, recovery road. My prayers are with him as I know yours are too.
The wining shot! Maypearl Boys Basketball at home down by 2 (53-55) v Whitney with a handful of seconds left to play in the 4th and Heath Graf
#14
hit the winning 3 pointer. MHS 56, Whitney 55. MHS won the game by that score.
Maypearl's starting pitcher, Luis Dermas
#11
, is congratulated by his teammates after he ended the game with a three run homer in the bottom of the 5th v Blooming Grove. MHS won 11 - 1. Oh, it was senior night. Dermas is a senior. What a way to end your last home game! Amazing!
Had a wonderful pre-match conversation with Steelie Ledbetter's great-grandparents. So, I tried to get a photo with her and them ... and I did. Steelie is serving and her great-grandparents are in the background just above her arms. Blessings. [Oct 2, 2018]
The Maypearl JV Baseball Scrimmage (Feb 15) started earlier than planned, the official scorekeeper had not arrived, so an off-duty Dallas Police Officer volunteered to do the job. The men and women in blue are always prepared to serve. How cool!
Congrats to Maypearl's Lonnie Brooks (seated l) and Luis Dermas (seated r) signing letters of intent today (May 4) to further their academic interests & baseball careers at Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ. Coaches Bilbrey (r), Walker (l) and the baseball team celebrated with them.
Maypearl's Jake Wiggins
#34
takes the alley-oop and slam dunks the ball for the first two points of the game and it was all MHS after that. The Panthers beat Venus tonight (Nov 14) 78-42 in Maypearl.
The Texas high school coaching profession lost one its finest with the passing of Maypearl's Head Varsity Baseball Coach Brian Bilbrey, Oct 25, 2019. Here is a celebration of the life of Coach Bilbrey:
He patiently and respectfully sat on the bench until late in the fourth quarter when Coach Pinson, with the Maypearl fans loudly chanting his name, put Landon Routh
#44
in the game. Landon's teammates fed him the ball, and
#44
scored two points with this shot.
Oh, my! An improbable Maypearl home win v Whitney. MHS was behind double digits for a good share of the game, but came back and led by one and now the video: WHS with a chance to win on a last shot. Maypearl prevailed 56 to 55.
They're all smiles ... as well they should be. The Maypearl Lady Panthers, with their impressive win tonight, move on to the volleyball regional semifinals (TX).
You're a senior. It's your last home game. Ever. You're the starting pitcher. You are up to bat. Your team is up 8-1 in the bottom of the 5th with two men on and what do you do? Luis Dermas blasts a three-run home run to end the game! Amazing! Maypearl wins 11-1 v Blooming Grove.
Grandview's
#1
is a special student/athlete who got in the game v Maypearl very late when the outcome was not in question. His favorite shot - his only shot - was a 3-pointer launched from the far left. He made his last two, uncontested, 3-pointers. Congrats to both teams and
#1
!
The Region Quarterfinal series ended Thursday, May 20: Gunter (blue tops) won and Maypearl's season ended. Two different exits: Gunter team meeting and MHS Head Coach Mike Martin with a deep, loving hug from his son and a slow walk off the field. Different exits, both special.
Starting today, going to Aug 4, every day I will post a 2017-18 Maypearl sports-related photo - no particular order, just fun photos. I particularly like it when athletics and faith intersect. Here Luis Dermas (v Mildred, Apr 2018) crosses home plate after hitting a home run.
When I take photos at Maypearl athletic events, I sometimes get a highlight picture or two of the other team and it just seems right to share them. Groesbeck's
#21
with a nice catch (Sept 28, 2018).
Maypearl's Baseball Coach, Mike Martin, and the entire MHS athletic dept are doing something to help children with cancer at Cook Children's Hospital through Bellanne Butterfly Blessing - a "charitable organization spreading kindness by sharing blessings." Help is needed.
Oh, my! Maypearl's starting pitcher Cord Rager with a complete game, 18 strike out, home victory v Grandview and add a home run to his stellar performance on the mound. Surely, that's a player of the week performance.
@MarteJr
Congratulations to the Maypearl Boys Basketball team for earning a bi-district championship this evening (Feb 19, 2019) defeating Blooming Grove 64-60 in a contest that took many twists and turns including a thrilling, close ending.
I’m not a knowledgable observer of Texas HS Basketball, but tonight (Dec 18) I saw a 2A Girls Basketball player who is the real deal (Tenaha at Maypearl): Kayanna Cox. Yes, MHS and THS have plenty of good players, but
#12
stood out this evening.
@TenahaGBB
It was Bilbrey Night at the Ballfields this evening in Maypearl - a time to remember a beloved MHS teacher/coach (head baseball coach) who passed on Oct 25, 2019, at the age of 41. Many family members were present (photo) as MHS celebrated the life and memory of Coach Bilbrey.
Tonight capped an awesome 2020-21 regular season for Maypearl Girls Basketball. On their home court, MHS defeated rival Grandview 71 - 58 and finished undefeated in District 9 competition to be - well, the sign says it all - "District Champs!" Congratulations Maypearl.
This is special. Of course, the play of Macy Terry
#4
was special, but special upon special was the team's tribute to the memory of a loved and respected Maypearl Teacher/Coach, Brian Bilbrey, who passed on Oct 25, 2019, at the age of 41.
Maypearl's Haleigh Arterberry pitched 8 innings and none more important than the 7th and 8th when she and her teammates held visiting Alvarado scoreless which led to an exciting walk-off 8-inning victory (MHS 8, AHS 7).
Maypearl and Grandview wound up co-champs of District 17 (3A, Region III). A game was needed to determine 1st and 2nd seeds for the state playoffs. Grandview held a one-run lead through two, but MHS came back and beat GHS 4 - 1 for the top seed.
Maypearl's Terry
#4
is back on the court as a starter for the Panther Volleyball Team after missing all of last season with an injury. Congratulations on the inspirational comeback.
You are a coach's kid, so how do you spend your pre-game time? With Dad. Maypearl's AD and Head Football Coach Sam Riepe with his son prior to MHS v Grandview, Sept 25, 2020.
The story behind why I volunteer to take sports photos for Maypearl ISD and the Waxahachie Daily Light [Photo: Tariq Massey
#2
takes the opening kickoff in a bi-strict championship to the house (2017).]
Something very special. After the game (Maypearl v Hampton Prep, Jan 28 at MHS) - a Pink Out event for Bailey Short's (MHS
#11
) mother Danette - two Hampton Prep players went into the stands to give Danette a hug. Something very, very special. Kudos upon kudos.
@CoachRiepe
While photographing for Maypearl Football, I sometimes get a photo of the opposing team that I think is worth sharing. Here is a CHS Football Highlight (Sept 13, 2019): What a great tradition! The fourth grade Flag Corps with the American Flag and flags from all 50 states.
Congratulations to Maypearl's Lillie Beason on her selection to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State 3A Basketball Team! The entire Maypearl ISD community can be proud of you and your accomplishments!
Maypearl's Lex Lewis
#1
scored MHS's first TD on a caught pass and run of 55 yards and he and Patrick Nulisch
#4
celebrated in the end zone. Maypearl kept it close in the first half only trailing Ft. Worth Christian 13-15, but the game ended MHS 29 - Ft. Worth Christian 39.
The Maypearl Girls Basketball Team defeated Scurry-Rosser 41-33 this evening (Feb 18) to claim the Bi-District Championship. Congratulations to the Lady Panthers!
Maypearl's AD and Head Football Coach Sam Riepe with his son during the playing of the National Anthem (MHS vs Grandview, Sept 25, 2020) - family trumps football ... every time.
Maypearl's Jake Wiggins, who dunked the ball earlier in the game, watches from the bench as Tariq Massey
#2
finishes with a dunk of his own just as the buzzer ended the game v Italy in the Venus tournament (Dec 1, 2017).
My ailing, 89-year-old father wanted a print of one of my Milky Way photos, so I made a 15" by 30" metal print of this pic. It was wrapped and ready to take on the trip to his home several states away - a trip planned to begin Dec 15. He passed away Dec 14. I loved my father.
Sometimes a "thank you" seems inadequate to express one's gratitude and this is one of those times. So, here goes: Thank you to the Maypearl Girls Basketball Team and its coaches for this very special gift presented this evening.
@CoachRiepe
Promised I'd post this photo this evening. It was taken in Grandview (Maypearl Basketball v Grandview): Proud Father and his daughter (Mom is in the background). Family.
After the game this evening, the Maypearl Lady Panthers had plenty to smile about. They had just won an important district contest v the home team Grandview Zebras, and it was close: MHS 39 - GHS 34.
Dr. Lesley Austin, Maypearl HS Principal
@MHStraditions
, tweeted that she hoped someone got a photo of Summer Moon (l) and Katie Gann (r) supporting the Panthers during the basketball games last night. Yes.
It was a very special night (Fri, Jan 28 at MHS) for Maypearl Girls Basketball as the team showed their love and support for a teammate, Bailey Short (front row to her mother's right), and her mother, Danette (front row center). A Pink Out event for Danette.
@CoachRiepe
I'd like to start the Maypearl FB photo highlights with the captains, but with a different note - literally. The music is titled "Angels Fly." If you'll notice the jersey carried by Heath Graf
#1
and Aidan Votaw
#6
and know the story behind it, then you'll understand.
@MarteJr
Katie Gann (l) and Summer Moon (r) leading an energetic Maypearl student section during the MHS Boys Basketball game in Grandview this evening. It was a special, down-to-the-wire win for the Panthers and the crowd was an important part of the fun, excitement, and victory.