152 / 212
150
/
ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
/
HOUSTON, TX
FOOTBALL
17 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
39 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
WRESTLING
3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
4 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SWIMMING
2015-2016 PREVIEW
CROSS COUNTRY /
TRACK & FIELD
10 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
21 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASKETBALL
9 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
16 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SOCCER
1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
18 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
BASEBALL
23 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
49 AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Looking Back
Two-time captains Campbell
Clarkson ‘15 and Jared Enochs
‘15 anchored the program
throughout four years and closed
out leading the Eagles to a third-
place team finish at the TAPPS
state championships, the seventh
consecutive year the program
delivered a top-three result.
Clarkson was the only Eagle
champion after defending his title
at 285 pounds. Enochs (126),
Eric DeHart ‘16 (132) and Will
Strickland ‘17 (106) all delivered
valuable second-place results.
The four also competed at
the prestigious National Prep
Championships at Lehigh
University in Pennsylvania.
Strickland advanced through
the first round while Clarkson
produced consecutive wins to reach
the quarterfinals in the heavyweight
division.
The Eagles were the only
Houston program to advance to
the semifinals at the State Duals
competition with Clarkson and
Enochs both undefeated (all
falls) and Harrison Rose ‘16 (220)
winning three of four matches.
Jake Brown ‘15 was a third-place
medalist at TAPPS State and
continues his career at Knox
College in Galesburg, Illinois.
Looking Ahead
Coach Tim Clarkson must first fill
the void left by his son, Campbell,
and Enochs, two of the most
impactful wrestlers in the program’s
history.
Strickland and DeHart have twice
placed at TAPPS State and now
both own Prep National experience.
Patrick Rocha ‘16 is looking to
regain the form which made him
a 2014 TAPPS champion. Rose
figures to build on a significant
junior season before illness short
circuited his state tournament
participation.
“Perseverance is always a critical
factor. Guys have to have the ethic.
Stay injury free. And there’s usually
an x-factor, those who far exceed
expectations,” Clarkson said.
The first step in building the
foundation for 2015 was a team-
bonding trip with 10 wrestlers for
eight days in Colorado.
The on-the-mat dividends from the
Rocky Mountain Wrestling Camps
on the campus of Western State
Colorado are derived from four
days of technique sessions followed
by live matches involving more
than 50 schools and 750 wrestlers,
then four days of dual match
competition.
“The guys likely got in the
equivalent for a full season. And
that’s competing against advanced
talent from all over the Midwest
region. Strickland and DeHart
really excelled. And I saw a lot of
improvement and growth from the
rest of the group. No one backed
down. Longer matches, take downs
and point scoring. All of which
will directly translate into our next
season, especially during TAPPS,”
Clarkson said.
The added bonus is a team
chemistry which Clarkson believes
is already percolating and producing
favorable results. Campbell
Clarkson and Enochs were part of
the travel group, volunteering to
serve as mentors as one final salute
to the program they represented
with pride and conviction for four
years.
“It says a lot about their experience
at St. Thomas that they would want
to continue to invest even with their
college priorities fast approaching.
During the team camp they actually
did the coaching,” Clarkson said.
“It’s great to see your guys compete.
But it just as rewarding to see these
guys move outside their usual
comfort zone, interact in ways that
just won’t happen when you’re back
home and moving strictly within
your routine,” Clarkson said.
Clarkson’s crew found time during
their excursion to twice negotiate
the Upper Taylor River Run, not
the least bit discouraged by record
whitewater levels and rushing 38
degree water temperatures.
“There was so much rain and
runoff they eventually had to close
off the tours. But not before I got
dumped twice,” Clarkson said. “Will
Strickland and all his 113 pounds
was pulling me back into the boat
while going downstream at 30 miles
per hour. He told me I bounced
off a rock the size of a chair. I was
already aware. But a broken left big
toe is a small price to pay to build
team unity.”
Clarkson has stepped away from his
assistant football coaching duties.
His full time focus outside the dean
of students office is lasered on
returning the wrestling program to
the recent stream of success that
produced three consecutive TAPPS
state titles and consecutive Texas
State Prep and Prep State Dual
championships.
“We’re starting the first week
of September to work on
technique and conditioning. Our
competition season starts with three
tournaments before the end of
football season. Those additional
reps should play huge role is gearing
this group for the most important
matches in February,” Clarkson
said.