Sarah Salinas
THE OUTDOORS "WO"MAN: Salinas Enjoys Time Outdoors Starring with XC,Soccer
"I like to hunt and fish. I like to be outside a lot," Salinas said. "I'm hardly on my phone, I don't play [video] games, I'm always outside. Playing soccer, running or just going to the park riding my bike."
Last season, Salinas carried the banner for Lee XC finishing 12th at the District Meet, just missing a Regional slot by two runners.
Her goal in 2021 will be to break her personal-best 20:57 and make it to Regionals. But she will have to do that without big brother, Derek, who also ran cross country and graduated this past year.
"It's a little different, I'm used to always having someone with me," Salinas said. "Wherever I go, I always had someone to comfort me and talk to me before the race. He would tell me how to strategize it. This year, I'm just going at it alone. I'm trying to think for myself and how to run smart.
"Derek taught me how to breathe correctly. He taught me my form. How smart it is for me to have a strong posture and hold myself longer. How to breathe through the heat. Also, my mental drive to keep going."
When her cross country season ends, the switch flips to soccer, which running those long distances in the summer and August heat pays off on the pitch.
"Cross country helps me with my conditioning, helps me with my stamina, my drive, my sprints, my long distance," Salinas said. "It all comes into play for me to go up for 90-plus minutes. It helps me stay in the game longer."
Outside of running, playing soccer, hunting, fishing or biking around, Salinas helps with local food drives when she can to give back.
"It's a good feeling. You see people and that they need help," Salinas said. "So, it feels nice whenever you know your help is going to a good cause."
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENTIRE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Baytown Sterling Football
THE PLAYBOOK: Baytown Sterling Football, Rangers seeking first playoff berth since 2008
TOOMER: It was 'Stay Together'. If we're going to fight this fight, we must stay together. We must have some type of team camaraderie. That's what they did a lot of this summer, just getting to know each other and hanging out. Everybody practices, everybody wants to play. It takes a special group to win consistently. And I told them that this senior class coming up is something special. Not that the juniors and sophomores aren't, but this senior class has taught them how to go about handling their business. I think it's going to be a big year for them.
VYPE: As you enter the 2021 season, what excites you about this team?
TOOMER: This senior class is our freshman group that we started with. As a senior class, they are hard-working and dedicated. They want to win. All these guys have come up together, played together in Little League and then middle school. This class that we have, we have potential. But potential without hard work equals nothing. So, these kids have what it takes to get to that next level.
VYPE: What is the biggest difference between where you all are now and when you came in four years ago?
TOOMER: I think it's the fact that I've been here four years. My first senior class had three different head coaches. This is the first time in a long time that these freshmen have had one head coach through their career. So, I think it is stability. When I first got here, the kids didn't know how long I was going to be here, so they didn't want to give me all of their trust. I gave them my word. I'm going to be here as long as everybody wants me to be here. That's the way we are building our roux. I'm showing these kids that I'm all invested in this roux and they're bought in.
Players to Watch
Noah Lister (DE)
Gavin Hebert (WR)
Reece Sylvester (S/ATH) – (Rice)
Ashton Williams (ATH)
Caleb Smtih
