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THE FAMILY BUSINESS: TWCA's Catron carrying on legacy
THE CATRON NAME HAS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH THE TWCA TRACK AND FIELD TEAM FOR YEARS.
Ellie Catron passed the baton to Harry Catron, who is passing it to the last of the Catrons... Philip.
“We have this discussion all the time,” Philip laughed. “My Dad ran a little bit, and my Mom didn’t. It just happened for us kids. It’s been great to be able to look up to my brother and sister on the track. To see how far they went and following in their footsteps has been really special.”
The mid-distance star has high expectations for his senior season.
“I want to medal at State in either the 400 or 800,” he said. “I’m really focused on my times and seeing how far I can push myself this season, wherever that takes me.”
He started his mid-distance journey in the eighth grade.
“Those races are the most challenging in all of track,” he said. “Especially the 800 meters... it’s brutal and very mentally challenging.
That makes it fun and really challenges your toughness. It’s my thing.”
When he’s not training, Catron loves to hoop with his friends and race go-carts. However, that fits in between his school work, which he takes very seriously.
“I’m have a path for my future,” he said. “I want to study aerospace engineering and work for Boeing. I’m between going to Oklahoma State and Texas A&M for college. I’ve always wanted to work in that field.”
“Running track has really helped me work on my time-management as crazy as that seems. You have to plan for training, school and studying. It’s worked for me.”
As he hits his final curve and heads down the stretch of his high school career, he’s grateful for his time representing the green and gold.
“TWCA has been an amazing experience,” he said. “The track program is really special with Coach (Tom) Earle and all my teammates. This is a family where everyone uplifts every other.”
That’s the way it should be.
ONE BLOCK AT A TIME: Klein Collins' Bell-Morris A Big Piece To Tigers' Championship Puzzle
KLEIN COLLINS SOFTBALL DOMINATED DISTRICT PLAY IN 2023 AND ADVANCED TO THE THIRD ROUND OF THEPOSTSEASON. BUT THAT ISN’T THAT FAR-FETCHED, SEEING THAT THE TIGERS HAVE REACHED THE STATE FINALS AS EARLY AS 2012 AND 2019.
They have that look again heading into 2024 with the likes of Texas State signee Savannah Carter and Northwestern State signee Ary Garcia leading a talented senior class.
However, junior Za’Riya Bell-Morris will continue to build her high school resume after a breakout season last year. She could be the key to the Tigers’ run for Red and Charline McCombs Field and the State Tournament.
“I like positivity,” Bell Morris said. “We have that in this team… a good vibe. We have great pitching, defense and we are an explosive team on offense. We lost to Langham Creek in the third-round last year, but I think we have the pieces in place to make it all the way to State.”
Speaking of pieces, when Bell-Morris isn’t running down softballs in the outfield or punishing pitchers in the batter’s box, she is settling into her favorite hobby.
“It sounds crazy, but I love building Legos,” she laughed. “If I got one Christmas gift, I would want a Lego set. I just built a Bonsai Tree of Legos. It is beautiful! I don’t know, with all it takes to be a student-athlete, it helps me breathe, focus and lock in to connecting blocks. It’s how I take time for myself.”
Bell-Morris had a big sophomore season at the plate and patrolled the outfield for Klein Collins and in summer ball. Her abilities have drawn the attention of college scouts and her phone is starting to ring.
“In recruiting, colleges take pitchers and catchers first, then middle infielders she explained. “Then outfielders who can hit, and that is me. I have taken a few visits and I’ve found that I want to go Division I, but not too big of a DI. I’m looking for a smaller school and when I step on the campus, I’m like ‘wow’. A fun program with a nice environment.”
In the meantime, however, the superstar athlete enjoys being a kid. “I love anime, listening to ‘Lil Boosie and dancing,” she laughed. “I’m in the outfield just dancing away between outs and especially during my walk out song.”
And, of course, building Legos.