Rudder's Paris Mitchell
Alex Hinson (VYPE)
“I like getting myself out there,” she said. “I like to get involved in little programs and meet people. It gets me out of my shell. I like being uncomfortable.”
The 5-foot-10 hooper has big energy on the court and can score inside and out. She has a great shooting touch and likes to defend, aggressively.
“Basketball is more than just a game for me,” she said.“I love competing and it’s been a great motivator for me over the years, on and off the court. My older sister played, so that sparked my interest but it’s really about the small gains you can make every day. When I see improvement, I just want more. I have that kind of grit.”
Alex Hinson (VYPE)
That’s music to coach Karla Calhoun’s ears as the Rangers try and compete for a playoff spot this winter.
“We had some bumps in the road last year,” she said. “We had some really tough injuries, but I think those adversities will push us even more this season. We will be putting up a big fight in district play with the goal of making the postseason.”
When she’s not honing her game on the hardwood, Mitchell taps into her artsy side.
“I love to paint and do puzzles,” she said. “That’s how I wind down. I look for inspirational pictures or just jot down my feelings and paint from there.”
When she hangs up her high tops, the 4.3 GPA-student has a plan for her future.
“I love to help people and just get to know people I might not run into every day,” she said. “That’s why I want to pursue nursing. It will be a challenge, but I’m up for it.”
No surprise there.
Willis' Amy Garcia
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
For Willis super-student Amy Garcia, it was the Willis Wildkat band.
“I moved from Pasadena, Texas before my freshman year,” she said. “It was a tough move because I was not going to be able to experience high school with my childhood friends.
“I was kind of lost and didn’t want to join the band here, but the directors really influenced my decision. It’s a story that can shared with others. I found a family in the band and it really helped me find my place at Willis. They were so kind to me, and it was really easy to make friends.”
Since then, Garcia has flourished and now finds herself as a Drum Major entering her senior year.
The 2024 Willis Wildkat Band Drum MajorsBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I just love playing music with my friends,” she said. “I started in the fifth grade when my elementary music teacher put a flute in my hands and look at me now. I’ve learned to play the alto sax, bari sax and piccolo, but more importantly, I learned to work and lead people. It’s a great life skill.”
While she is locked in to perfecting the Wildkat band performances throughout the fall, Garcia winds down by hanging with her family and listening to music.
“I love to listen to hard rock,” she laughed. “I know that may seem weird, but I really want to learn to play the drums. I love to spend time with my friends and family... they are my happy place. They just soothe me.”
Garcia excels in the arts, but she also dominates in the classroom, where she is in the Top 10 percent of her class.
“I won’t be pursuing music as a career, but I believe it has helped me so much as a student,” she said. “I’m wanting to pursue aerospace engineering at Texas A&M or an Ivy League school.”
That’s a long way from being a scared freshman, entering the halls of Willis High School just three short years ago.
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