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Kemp athletes’ parents meet coaches
By Kerry Yancey
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Parents of Kemp athletes met new coaches, reviewed rules and heard
speakers plead for them to participate in the Athletic Booster Club.
What was billed as a mandatory parents meeting drew a standing-room-only
crowd to the Kemp High School Cafetorium Monday evening.
The crowd heard KHS Athletic Director Walt Mangan warn the Athletic
Booster Club could not survive without more participation from parents.
“This organization cannot survive with two or three people showing up,”
Mangan told the crowd. “Now is the time to step up.”
Mangan pointed out “every dime” the Athletic Booster Club raises goes
back to student athletes in the form of equipment, travel clothing or
scholarships.
“There are probably 25 or 30 kids who are still receiving money from
scholarships to this day,” Mangan pointed out. “Without your support,
this effort will fall flat.”
Mangan introduced most of the high school and junior high coaching
staff, minus only three coaches – one (Randal Forguson) due to shoulder
surgery and two new hires “who I haven’t even met.”
After introducing the coaches, Mangan urged the parents to gather around
the coaches, introduce themselves, and volunteer to be active in their
child’s particular program.
During that break, probably half the crowd exited, but those who
remained heard Mangan review a list of rules and upcoming events
relating to the opening of high school football and volleyball practice
Monday, Aug. 7.
Junior High athletes will have equipment issued from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 10 (for eighth graders) and Friday, Aug. 11 (for seventh
graders), and will open practices the first day of school (Tuesday, Aug.
15).
“Athletics is not a right – it’s a privilege,” Mangan said, adding
athletes would be held to a higher standard of behavior and dress than
average students.
Athletic Booster Club funds have furnished travel shirts for teams, he
pointed out.
“When we travel, we’re going to look like a class organization,” he
said.
New high school coaches include Bruce Grider (head girls basketball,
offensive line), Corie Riland (head softball, assistant volleyball),
Keith Gilbreth (head baseball, junior varsity football) and Jimmy Cox
(head powerlifting, offensive coordinator and assistant track).
Also new are Jeremy Thorton (freshman football, basketball, assistant
track), Don Tubbs (defensive line, JV basketball, JV baseball), Jason
Blackmon (junior high boys) and Jill Cox (junior high girls).
Other new coaches will be added to a new website, kempathletics.com.
The website will have forms, regulations and other information parents
and students will need, Mangan said. It also offers an e-mail link
directly to Mangan.
Upcoming Games
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