“Thank you for having me. I’m going to go over a lot of good stuff with you,” Livingston ISD Athletic Director Tucker Carter told the Livingston Lions Club Wednesday as he reported on the current state of the district’s athletics programs. He was accompanied by Assistant Athletic Director Heather Mosser and three student athletes – Maddy Allen, Brayden Akers and Maddie Akers.
An overview of LISD athletics over the past year reflects 17 post-season appearances, 60 district awards, 10 district champs, 33 academic awards, nine regional team qualifiers, 40 regional individual qualifiers, six state qualifiers and one state champion.
Carter introduced Maddy Allen, who he said has “now entered the category of Livingston legend status.” Allen, a senior is the powerlifting state champion in the 181-pound weight class and now holds all the school records at LHS. She squatted 470 pounds, bench pressed 270 pounds, and deadlifted 400 pounds. She was also academic all-district and a THSWPA second team academic all-state. “She represented our school district with class,” Carter said. Allen plans to attend Sam Houston State University and major in education.
Carter said three boys qualified for state – Sam Champagne, Roman Ontiveros and Ty Thomas – with Thomas placing fourth in the state powerlifting competition.
As for soccer, he said both boys’ and girls’ teams made the playoffs. He said they are excited about the future of both groups because they are moving from a five-team district to a nine-team district.
Carter said the tennis teams won district on three levels – varsity, junior varsity and the beginner levels. The district recently hosted its first ever junior high tennis matches and he said they are excited to get the kids out there competing.
Carter recognized the brother-sister golf duo of Brayden and Maddie Akers. Both district and regional champ, Brayden competed at the state tournament April 27-28 and placed fifth. He also holds the record at the Bearkat Course in Huntsville. Maddie was the district champ and will compete at the state tournament Monday and Tuesday. He said the golf teams had a really good year with the boys team winning district and the girls achieving district runner-up status.
Carter said the baseball team finished the regular season 22 and six and are headed to the first round of playoffs and the softball team finished 25 and six and were recognized with a Chevy Spotlight Award from Inside High School Sports Houston for their success on and off the field, highlighting the softball program and the work they do with youth and the best buddies program.
He said one of the recent highlights was when five students participated in Signing Day in the gym in front of their peers and families. The five student athletes who have committed to get an education and continue their playing career include Brayden Akers, golf, Jacksonville College; Brooke Anderson, softball, San Jacinto College; Jaykwon Farr, football, McPherson College; Isaiah Frank, football, Howard Payne University; and Rudy Marquez, football, Angelina College.
