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COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED: Alief Taylor’s Calderon Poised to Shape Program’s Turning Point
MOMENTUM AND BELIEF ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE AT ALIEF TAYLOR AS THE LIONS MOVE TOWARD A NEW SEASON — AND EVER CALDERON FIGURES TO BE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
Contributing on both the mound and in the infield, Calderon heads into his senior season at a pivotal moment for the ball club. The Lions are still working to reestablish themselves in the district conversation, but the team has an opportunity to start piecing wins together under first-year head coach Arthur Jenkins.
The game has not always been part of Calderon’s life, but once it entered the picture, it quickly became a driving force.
“Baseball first became a passion of mine when I watched the 2017 Astros win the World Series, which made me want to start playing,” Calderon said. “I’m usually a competitive person, so my drive to be the best has kept me in that pursuit.”
That fandom still shows today, with Calderon citing Astros stars Jeremy Peña, Yordan Álvarez, and Jose Altuve among the players he has admired.
Like many young athletes, Calderon’s early years came with growing pains.
“It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been able to trust in my ability more as the years have gone by,” Calderon said. “Going from middle school ball to high school varsity as a freshman, I was very nervous. But the more I played, I just got used to the rhythm.”
That confidence culminated in one of the defining moments of his high school career a year ago – a campaign that saw the RHP receive an all-district honorable mention.
“There have been multiple highlights in my time at Alief Taylor,” Calderon said. “But I’d have to say that my favorite one was throwing a perfect-game shutout last season against Willowridge. Moments like those don’t come often, so you have to savor it when they do.”
From a team standpoint, Calderon has a clear picture in mind as the Lions look to get a competitive streak started.
“It starts with discipline and commitment,” he said. “We have the dependable players we need to win, so this is our chance to start putting it together with a new coach.”
As for what comes next, Calderon remains focused on both his athletic and professional future.
“Hopefully, I can begin to get scouted for baseball and start to make a career out of it,” he said. “If not, the plan is to go to a trade school, get a certification in HVAC, and go right into the job field.”
But in the short term, Calderon’s attention remains on the season ahead — defined by opportunity.
HITTING HER STRIDE: Taylor’s Lee Pursuing a Higher Level of Success
ALIEF TAYLOR JUNIOR MCKALE LEE IS COMING OFF AN IMPRESSIVE TRACK SEASON, CLAIMING A SILVER MEDAL IN THE 800M AT THE DISTRICT MEET, PLACING FOURTH AT AREA, AND ADVANCING TO REGIONALS.
Yet, she isn’t resting on her accomplishments — Lee has big plans for the upcoming season.
“The only mindset is to win, and the expectation is to finally make it to State,” Lee said. “This was my first year competing in Indoor track during the winter, so I’ve been preparing to hopefully surpass my limits in the near future.”
Lee’s commitment to improvement is evident. Her ambition is not only to excel on the track but also to continue developing her skills and pushing beyond her previous performances.
Her journey into track and field began in her younger years when sports were a family affair.
“When I was younger, I was always the one that tried several different sports,” Lee shared. “My brothers were in football and basketball, but I played soccer, softball, basketball, and a few others. I got into track because I was always the fastest. I would race in the street against kids and really thrived off the competition, so that’s what brings me here.”
Outside of track, Lee has proven herself a versatile athlete, excelling in both ice skating and roller skating. Her athleticism extends beyond the track, adding another layer to her abilities and reflecting her well-rounded approach to sports.
But track is where she truly shines, particularly in the 800m, often considered one of the most challenging events in high school track and field in Texas.
Lee’s aspirations stretch beyond her high school career as well.
“Hopefully, I can earn myself a free ride to college,” she said. “That’s been the primary goal I’ve set for some time, and it would be incredible to achieve that. I’m not sure where I’d want to go just yet if I had the opportunity, but I’ll get back to you on that.”
Her dreams of competing at the collegiate level are rooted in her
upbringing.
“The thing I like most about my experience is the fact that I’ve been in Alief schools all my life, from Kindergarten up until now,” Lee explained. “Every time I’m here, every time I compete, and every time I do my best, it’s almost like I’m hugging the younger version of myself.”
With her competitive spirit and unwavering focus, Lee is certainly a force to watch this spring. Her journey in the 800m is just beginning, and with her determination, it’s clear that she has the potential to go far. Stay tuned to see just how far McKale Lee can go.