REESE SIGNS WITH HOUSTON
The latest of dozens of Kilgore High School athletes to move on to the college ranks in recent years is Tai'Shea Reese (sitting, third from left), a KHS senior who signed a letter of intent on Friday morning to continue her education and track & field career at the University of Houston. Tai'Shea, who played basketball for four years at KHS, as well, qualified for the state track meet two straight years, earning second and third-place finishes in the long jump for the Bulldogs. She will be going to the storied UH track program, once the collegiate home of Olympic great Carl Lewis, a nine-time gold medalist for the USA who still volunteers and works with sprinters and jumpers, as does Tom Tellez, a former Olympic coach whose son is a UH track assistant. The Houston track program is headed by Leroy Burrell, himself a gold Medal winner and a two-time world record holder in the 100 meter dash. Tai'Shea was joined at the signing by her coach, Kerry Strong (standing behind her), former coach Nina Mata (not pictured), mother LaSandra Pee (to her left), boyfriend Cashas Pollard, the Tatum High School quarterback (to her right), grandparents Patricia and Lafayette Herndon, cousins Shardee' Tolliver and Kelsey Jackson, and a host of friends (Brandi Johnson, Samone Jones, Shae Morgan, Karessica Grant, Kathy Bowden and Eddie Jones Sr.). Congratulations, Tai'Shea, and good luck!

Photo by Lester Murray