Volleyball Page~

TAPPS All-District and All State Awards: TAPPS announced the All-District and State picks for 2007.

● Congratulations to the following 2007 Varsity volleyball players:
2nd Team All-District: Natasha Sprague
1st Team All-District: Rebecca Mackey, Tara Barker, Kristin Elliot and Lauren Wardell
All-State Honorable Mention: Rebecca Mackey
All-State 2nd Team: Tara Barker
All-State 1st Team: Kristin Elliot and Lauren Wardell
All-State Academic: Kristin Elliot and Rebecca Mackey

By Matt Musil / 11 News Story: Cancer battle doesn't slow Faith West hitter. Click here for the rest of the story!

Senior Hitter Kristin Elliott is a standout volleyball player for Faith West Academy. “She made all-state the last two years and she made all-tournament at state the last two years we couldn't function without Kristin on the court,” said her coach Tara Montgomery. But what really sets Kristin apart was that she was diagnosed with cancer in February of 2006. And despite the fact that she had to have tumors removed from her leg and her lung, she never stopped playing volleyball. “The found a tumor the size of a grapefruit in this thigh,” said Elliott as she pointed to her right leg. That was last year. This year, three weeks before pre-season workouts at Faith West, she had tumors removed from a lung.

But that didn't stop Kristin either. “It was pretty hard. I'm not gonna lie,” said Elliott. “Breathing was difficult, but I just kinda sucked it up.” And now Kristin is trying to lead her team back to the state tournament, but in doing so, she has inspired everyone around her. “She takes life as it comes at her. She takes it on with great heart and fullness,” said teammate Tara Barker. “She has fun all the time."

Congratulations to the Faith West A-Team on their 3rd place finish at the Conference Tournament held at Rosehill this past weekend. We are proud of you. Great finish for the season.

Freshman take Second Place at the JV Living Stones Tournament while freshman Sarah Smith receives MVP honors for the Gold Bracket.

Congratulations to Kendyl McKenzie, MVP of the Silver bracket at the JV Living StonesTournament on Saturday. The JV team placed 3rd in the Silver Bracket.

ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM . . .

By Harrison Campbell (senior at Faith West Academy printed in the 2007 Talon Yearbook)

  Not many people know a professional racecar driver, and yet there is one in our school. Kendall Bumbera and her whole family have raced cars for years. Every other weekend from March to October, Kendall participated in 16 races with the Legends Series. Her car, five-eighths scale of a pre-World War II coupe, can obtain speeds of 80 mph.

   Although she originally was interested in horses, she has come to enjoy racing from her sister’s desire to race. Last June, Kendall received her first car and ever since then has gone to the track to compete. Her car is sponsored by Texas Motorsports Experience and Next Generation Racing Incorporated. Since she has started racing, she finds that she has not been a good spectator of other races, but still enjoys watching Casey Kahne race in the Nextel Cup Series. When not at the track, Kendall enjoys playing volleyball on the freshman team and riding four wheelers with her brother and sister.

 Although only in her rookie year, she intends to participate as long as she can.

Congratulations to the Lady Eagles B Volleyball Team for winning the consolation trophy for the Bronze bracket at the Livingstone Tournament this weekend. Our A team also had a successful weekend placing 4th in the Gold bracket. Macy Lee received All-Tournament honors for B team and Caitlyn Oligney for A team.