Records are made to be broken, including sports records. The vast majority of the time new records are set by individual athletes or by teams. Sometimes it is accomplished by coaches. But even when coaches break records it is still the athletes that do the heavy lifting. Friona High School is no exception. The past few years have seen quite a few record-breaking performances from FHS athletes. Football, volleyball, track, and cross country is where most of the action has been.
However, this past week two Friona High School coaches have raised the bar with their accomplishments and that of their players.
Last Tuesday evening Coach Bryan Masse recorded his 300th win as the head volleyball coach when the Friona Squaw's won their match against Tahoka. He took the head coaching position at Friona in 2010 and is currently in his 14th year at the helm. Just a couple of weeks ago, he passed the 600 win mark for his coaching career. Coach Masse is also the winningest coach in Friona school history. The next three coaches on the list are girls basketball coaches. Baker Duggins recored 240 wins, Richard North had 231 wins, and F.G. Crofford had 163 wins. This past March, Coach Masse was honored as the "Teacher of the Year" at the Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.
On Friday night, the Friona Chieftains dramatic homecoming victory over Farwell provided the background for Coach Jimmy Arias as he became the winningest head football coach in school history. It was win number 48 and moved him past Tommy Moss who amassed 47 wins in his coaching career. The record had stood since 1989. Coach Arias became head coach in 2015 and is currently in his 9th season. Other coaches in the "40 Win Club" are Bob Ferguson (43), James Morton (42), and Bob Owen (41).
Yeslie Faudoa, a senior at Friona High School, was chosen as the 2023 Homecoming Queen in a ceremony prior to the football game. Yeslie is also a cheerleader and a member of the marching band. Go to www.frionaonline.com to see more homecoming photos.
Homecoming Queen Candidates - (l-r) Reese Stowers, Duvy Ortiz, Amy Montana, Yvonne Legarreta, Leah Hernandez, Yeslie Faudoa, Reagan Daniels, and Gabriella Castillo.
2023-24 FHS Cheerleaders - (l-r) Shelby Lewellen, Aubree Salas, Kitzy Welch, Yvonne Legarreta, Yaselene Faudoa, Anaesha Carranza, Mercedes Espinoza, Amy Montana, Jaquelyn Salinas, and Yeslie Faudoa. Not in photo: Nadia Snyder.
National Hispanic Heritage Month - Celebrated each year from September 15th to October 15th to honor the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. In Texas, the Hispanic population hit 12 million in 2022, becoming the state's largest demographic group and a key driver of population growth in the last 50 years. Ethnically rich, the fastest growth has come among those with origins in Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, and Honduras. Source: Texas Demographic Center and U.S. Census Bureau
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Grants for Vets - Last Wednesday Governor Abbott announced 14 Fund for Veterans' Assistance (FVA) grants totaling over $3.6 million were awarded to 11 organizations as part of the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Big Check Tour. The funding will provide services to more than 3,100 Texas veterans and their families across 60 counties in the FVA Panhandle region. Panhandle Community Services received a $500,000 grant for home modification and a $200,000 grant for financial assistance. Funding for these grants is primarily generated by the Texas Lottery Commission's games designated for veteran support.
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Taco Talk - The history of tacos predates the arrival of Europeans in Mexico. Anthropological evidence shows the native people living in the lake region of the Valley of Mexico traditionally ate tacos filled with small fish. At the time of the Spanish conquistadors, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, documented the first taco feast enjoyed by Europeans. Hernan Cortes arranged this meal for his captains in Coyoacan. It is unclear why the Spanish used the word taco to describe this native food. One suggested origin is the word ataco, meaning stuff or to stuff.
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Pun Fun - I'm thinking about starting a herb garden, but I'm not sure if I have the thyme. Source: www.pun.me
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Robledo receives scholarship - Tractor Supply Company has announced the 146 recipients of its inaugural FFA Future Leaders Scholarship, which includes 2023 FHS graduate Elijah Robledo. In partnership with the National FFA Organization, Tractor Supply Company Foundation established the scholarship in 2022 with a $5 million commitment over the next five years, making it the largest agriculture scholarship fund of its kind. The 146 FFA Future Leaders scholars represent 38 states and a wide range of backgrounds and academic interests. Elijah was awarded a $5,000 scholarship and will be attending Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology on a diesel and heavy equipment technician track.
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National Days
September 28: Good Neighbor Day
September 29: Coffee Day
September 30: Chewing Gum Day
September 1: Homemade Cookies Day
September 2: Custodial Worker's Day
September 3: Fruit At Work Day
September 4: Taco Day
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