AGGIE GIVES BACK DURING THANKSGIVING BREAK

Submitted Photo

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (December 2, 2012)  Normally, Thanksgiving break for college students means coming home to mom’s cooking, Thanksgiving dinner with family and three days worth of leftovers before having to pack up and get back to school.

But for Oklahoma Panhandle State University freshman tight end, Aubrey Oswalt, making the trip home from Oklahoma to San Marcos, TX wouldn’t be the end of his journey.

The former San Marcos Academy quarterback/cornerback decided to give back during his Thanksgiving break and assist two former Academy alumni before making the trek back to Goodwell.

Oswalt decided to volunteer for Gridrion Heroes. He was one of over 25 students from Texas State University and the University of Texas-San Antonio and Gridiron Heroes volunteers that sold rally towels benefitting the spinal cord injury foundation as fans walked into the Alamodome for the I-35 Rivalry matchup of Texas State and UTSA.

Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation provides immediate and long term resources and support to individuals sustaining a catastrophic spinal cord injury through activities associated with high school football. Gridiron Heroes is a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit organization.

Oswalt got to know former SMA Bear Chris Canales through projects with his father’s company, Sports Marketing Experts.

On November 2, 2001, Chris Canales, a senior defensive back playing for San Marcos Academy, sustained a spinal cord injury during the fourth quarter of his final regular season game.  Chris lay motionless on the field for 19 minutes. The next three weeks, Chris fought for his life.  The following months he battled through rehabilitation trying to gain movement and learning how to function as a quadriplegic.

Chris’ injury and the lack of any organized support system for families prompted his father, Eddie Canales, the Canales family and former coach Mike Kipp to begin discussions about the desperate need for an organization for families who were forced to deal with the consequences of this devastating injury.

Last year, Eddie Canales was nominated as a CNN Hero of the year.

About 5,000 Gridiron Heroes rally towels were available at tailgate areas and all entrances prior to kickoff. 

The towels were produced at a reduced cost to Gridiron Heroes by Rivercity Sportswear.

“It’s fun to be a part of it,” said Oswalt, who helped load boxes of towels into carts and assisted directly in sales. “I’m excited to be in Texas for Thanksgiving break. It’s a special time of year. All the sharing, giving, appreciate, it comes with a great day and a good game between teams from my home area in the Alamodome.”

SMA BEARS MOVING UP IN THE POLLS

(San Marcos Academy Bears local basketball players Sabas Castillo, Currie Pipkins, Aubrey Oswalt, Dion'drick McCoy and John Nealon are all smiles after hearing of their latest rise in state polls. Photo by J. Ronald Oswalt-Special Assistant for Athletic Development-San Marcos Academy)

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (December 18, 2010) The San Marcos Academy Bears got an early holiday present as they moved up this week to number four in the latest poll of the Texas Basketball Coaches Association of private schools. The Bears are off to a fast start, and currently stand at 14-2 for the season. The team, 2-0 early in district play, is riding a 4-game winning streak.

The Bears have swept both the San Antonio Lutheran Tourney and the Sunnybrook Christian Lions Hoops Tourney with a 6-0 record in both tournaments, taking home two championship trophies and two MVP awards.

The latest ranking is the highest since the early 1980’s then the Bears joined the Texas Association for Private and Parochial Schools. The Bears are rolling under the leadership of SMA Head Coach Kelia Price, the perimeter play of junior guard John Nealon from Wimberley and the inside play of Currie Pipkins, Sabas Castillo and Dion’drick McCoy, all of San Marcos.

“From the first practice we had, Coach Price has pushed us to work hard to come together as a team,” Pipkins said. “We have to work together to get better on the court. This team has a chance of reaching some high goals, but there is still work to be done. We are where we are now by giving it all we got in practice and in the games.”

The holidays may be a welcome break for the Bears, but may be a challenge for continuing the steady improvement they have shown as they now go for more than four weeks with no games. When they return for the spring semester, they will immediately have to face the always-tough Austin Regents, a team fresh off a state championship season in football.

“We never know from night to night who will step up for us,” Coach Price said of his players. “However, the down low-presence of Castillo has expanded our game, while Pipkins has been our leading scorer and one of the best rebounders in the state.”

The SMA Bears will return to action after the holiday break with a district contest on January 11th on Chick-fil-A Court as the Knights from Austin Regents pay a visit.

SMA BEARS DROP HOME FINALE 43-0

(Estevan Gutierrez, the SMA Bears leading tackler puts pressure on San Antonio Christian QB Austin Contrestano. Photo by J. Ronald Oswalt-San Marcos Academy)


SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (October 29, 2010) The Lions of San Antonio Christian School entered the game versus San Marcos Academy having already claimed the district crown last week were as good as advertised as they dominated the Bears of SMA by a score of 43-0.

The Lions took only one play to prove their dominance as Seth Kelly ran 59 yards for a touchdown for an early 7-0 lead. The Bears defense would stand tall as the Lions led 7-0 after the first period of play.

In second quarter action, Kelly added a 9-yard run for a 13-0 lead. The Lions’ Chandler Schumann added a 30-yard pass reception for a 20-0 lead at the half.

In first half action, the Bears were led rushing with 45 yards on 13 carries by Ty Merriweather. Seth Kelly for the Lions would roll up 138 yards on 6 carries and 2 touchdowns. Total yardage was close with a 188 to 182 Lions advantage at the half.

With 9:16 left in the third quarter, Kelly added a 6-yard run as the lead grew to 27-0 after three quarters of play. The Lions added a safety on a blocked punt and two scores to take the 43-0 win.

The Bears ended the game behind Quarterback Aubrey Oswalt as his pass fell incomplete in the end zone as the clock expired at A+FCU/Ingram Stadium on Gridiron Heroes/Senior Night.

The Bears were led in passing by Jonathan Powell going 12 for 17 for 134 yards and 2 interceptions. Rushing the Bears was also led with Powell carrying the ball 19 times for 57 yards. The Bears rolled up 295 yards offense to 366 for SACS.

Bears Running Back Ty Merriweather said, ‘I was hurt earlier but still wanted to play in the game. Our offense played better tonight even though we lost.”

Bears Diondrick McCoy added, “The Lions are really fast as a team, we gave a good effort but they came out ahead.”

The loss drops the Bears to 3-6 on the season and they will close out the season next week on the road in the Quarries at Hyde Park Baptist in Austin for a 7:30 p.m. scheduled kickoff.

TMI INTERCEPTS SMA’S HOMECOMING

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (October 8, 2010) The Panthers of Texas Military Institute of San Antonio spoiled festivities for the Bears of San Marcos Academy on Homecoming at A+FCU/Ingram Stadium with a pair of interceptions in a 27-13 loss. The loss put a big dent into SMA’s playoff chances for 2010.

The Bears started the rivalry in 1927 with a 19-0 win but had not won in their last two matchups against the Panthers with the Bears falling 34-13 last season on the road.

In first quarter action, both teams battled back and forth with a pair of four and outs until the Bears would drive deep into Panthers territory, the drive would be stalled after a overthrown pass by Jonathan Powell to Cameron Whitehead to leave the score 0-0 after the first stanza. The interception stopped the Bears momentum and it went downhill from there for the home team.

The Panthers would score first Matthew Tawil would add a 3- yard run with Cody West on the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 8:05 left in the first half to end first half scoring.

Sailor Metz would dash in for a 1-yard run with 7:12 left in the third quarter, the PAT by West would give the Panthers a commanding 14-0 lead. The Panthers would stretch their lead to 21-0; Metz would strike again on a 4-yard run to push the lead to 21-0 with 10:14 left in the game.

The interception bug would strike the Bears again but they struck back with a score with 6:59 left in the final quarter as Ty Merriweather scores from the 1-yard line. The PAT by Memo Borrego was good to cut the deficit to 21-7.

TMI’s Metz would tack on a 10-yard run off the right side for good measure with 4:01 left in the game but Josh McIntyre would block the PAT to end scoring for the night.

McIntyre would finally connect on a pass as he caught a wide open Brett Mackall on a 30-yard pass and the Bears would fail on their 2-point conversion as the Bears closed the gap to 27-13.

The Panthers dominated statistics in the game, as they outgained SMA 407-218 in total yardage, but the largest margin was in first downs 23-11. Defensively, the Bears were led in tackles by Sophomore Estevan Gutierrez with 15, followed by Shane Boyer and Aubrey Oswalt with 9 each for the game.

Junior Offensive Lineman Dalton Wade said, “We must play more physical next week, TMI played well tonight, but out team played hard in the loss.” Junior SMA player Shane Boyer added, “Offensively we must be more physical and cut down on distractions during game week, they wanted the win more than we did.”

The Bears return to action next week for their longest road trip of the year as they take on a much improved Pope John Paul II Centurion squad. The Centurions stand at 3-3 after a bye week with all three wins this season coming against UIL teams.