"Their faces really lit up."
That's how Coach Jeremy Dye (girls) described the kids as they heard the news.
As Coach Tate Symons (boys) and Coach Dye informed the student-athletes of Kingwood High School that they were presented the opportunity to compete at the Great American Cross Country Fall Festival in Cary, North Carolina, they were in awe themselves. "To say the invitation came as a big surprise to the program would be an understatement", Coach Symons said. Per Coach Symons, when he received the voicemail, "I said, 'I think I've got to play that again, because I think they want to bring us to Great American."
That call came from the NSAF, as a non-profit foundation, the NSAF can provide travel grants to teams in special circumstances. These resources will enable 14 athletes from Kingwood's boys and girls teams - along with coaches Symons and Dye to travel to Cary, N.C. and compete.
The special circumstance for Kingwood is the unfortunate situation brought on by Hurricane Harvey and the flooding situation in the Greater Houston area, last month.
The entire Kingwood community was heavily impacted by the Hurricane and the flood. Coach Symons said, "A number of the kids were displaced." Kingwood High School was under approximately 6-7 feet of water and the building was unable to open for the school year. Classes for Kingwood students are currently being held at another Humble ISD and local school Summer Creek High School.
The light in the form of the invitation and assistance from NSAF gives an opportunity otherwise that wouldn't have been presented. "All of us are very grateful," said Coach Symons. "This is an opportunity we wouldn't have had if it wasn't for the NSAF. The kids are very excited about it."
Both Kingwood programs qualified for state last year and return a good amount of those teams. The history and tradition at Kingwood comes with expectations and the expectations coming into the season were to return to state this year and compete for a trophy.
The Great American Cross Country Festival will be October 7, 2017 at WakeMed Soccer Park, which is official course for the NXN Southeast Pre-Regional Meet.
Underwood, Steve. "Hurricane-displaced Kingwood HS (TX) accepts invitation to GAXC" NSAF
October 27, 2017 <http://www.nationalscholastic.org/gacc/article/2178>
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