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THE NEXT BIG THING: Jasper has budding star in Smith
Southeast Texas has seen some talented football players become high level recruits and succeed at the next level and the next SETX star is a linebacker from Jasper.
Ty’ Anthony Smith from Jasper High School is already a 3-star recruit with over 20 offers from schools like Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Boston College, LSU, Texas A&M, OU, Texas and others.
Smith had a phenomenal Junior season tallying 76 tackles, 36 assists, 6 TFL’s, 4 PBU, 1 FF.
The 3-star LB visited Texas A&M this past weekend, showing up to Texas A&M’s junior day on Saturday with many other high level recruits from across the nation. While many recruits have different things that make a visit special, Smith's highlight of the weekend was talking with coach Jimbo Fisher.
“Honestly, talking with coach Jimbo was what I liked most about the visit” said Smith. “Talking with the head coach, the guy who runs the whole thing and makes all the decisions, really made my visit. He brought me into his office and kept it real with me with any questions I had, which was an important thing to me.”
Smith also got to talk with defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who told him to just “keep being him”.
The experience was filled watching the playoff games with the other recruits, talking with the staff, and the food...
Smith will be playing on the 7v7 circuit this spring with the Texas Nightraydas, where he plans to work on his speed and coverage skills.
As far as more visits go, he will be visiting OU on the 28th and Baylor on the 29th. Watch out for this rising star from SETX, whose recruitment is heating.
Built For This: Moore Follows Passion To Become Strutter Director
FOR SOME, IT TAKES YEARS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR PASSION IS.
Macie Moore knew hers in the ninth grade.
“Back in high school, I was a line member, then a Lieutenant, then a First Lieutenant and then the Captain,” she said. “I held several leadership roles, and I have so many great memories. It made me step out of my shell and become a confident person in front of my peers.”
The new Bridge City Strutter Director fell in love with dance and always wanted to come home to lead the Red and White’s award-winning dance team. That was her dream since high school.
Which was three years ago!
The 21-year-old Moore would not be denied. Upon graduating from Bridge City, she made the world-renown Kilgore Junior College Rangerettes, where she danced for two years.
“Being a part of the Rangerettes opened up a whole new world for me,” she said. “I learned so many styles of dance. We performed everywhere from England to Virginia. It was a great opportunity for a girl from Bridge City, Texas and opened up so many doors for me career-wise.”
She knew she was on the clock, however, knowing legendary Strutter Director Cathy Riley was ready to retire.
“I called and begged her to give me a little more time,” she said. “She knew I really wanted this.”
Moore would finish her Bachelor ’s Degree from Lamar University with head-spinning speed and accuracy.
“I’ve always planned on this being my permanent position,” she said of the Strutters’Director job. “This is where God has placed me, and it’s been a very smooth transition. I love sharing my passion with the girls. It never feels like a job and I can do this forever.”
For Moore, leading strutters has so many layers to it. She is a to teach life lessons.
In ninth grade, the Bridge City Strutters were performing a routine during a pep rally and something wasn’t right for Moore.
“I’ll never forget, it was our ‘ Thriller ’ routine for our Halloween pep rally,” she said. “I blanked out during a performance. That never happened.I had to come off the floor. I cried to let me perform at the football game that night, but Ms. Riley knew something was wrong.”
She was sent to Texas Children’s in Beaumont and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. “It threw me for a loop because I don’t do well with change,” she said. “I didn’t want to stick out from everyone else, having Diabetes. I really struggled emotionally.
“But without Diabetes, I wouldn’t be who I am today. It really built me into a strong, independent woman. That’s what I preach to these girls. There are going to be trials and tribulations in their lives. But if you can get over them, nothing can stop you.”
Moore’s life-lessons hit different because of her age and experience.
“I’m really transparent with the girls and I feel like they can relate to me because I’m really not that much older than them,” she laughed. “Even though they think I act like an 80-year-old woman, I’ve been through what they are going through very recently. I can show them techniques and what they are supposed to look like.
“To think, I was a senior in high school as their pre drill instructor when they were in the eighth grade. Now they are seniors, and I am their Director.”
Life happens fast, doesn’t it?"