CTE Programs Fire Fighting, EMT and Law Enforcement, competed in the State competition Feb. 22 at Lone Star College in Houston.
“I liked the facility,” CTE Law Enforcement teacher Michael Tatum said. “It was a little different this time. It could have been more organized. It was cold.”
As the students arrived at the competition, they started to feel a sense of nervousness wash over them but it quickly went away.
“Heading to State, we felt pretty confident,” senior Wren Garner said. “We were sure that we had improved since Regionals and almost everyone showed up and put work in at practices, so we knew we had a pretty good chance at placing.”
While in the waiting room, it started to sink into the students that this was the final competition of the year.
“It was stressful, but it was also kind of fun,” sophomore Paciencia Aguayo said. “I got to talk to everyone, getting closer and everything.”
After winning in most events at Regionals, both team and individual, the students prepared for State competition by focusing on maintaining their skills and listening to advice given by the judges.
“The comment section is very important,” Tatum said. “That way you can start coaching your team again and working on deficiencies to make them better.”
Not only did students revisit past advice, they also made sure to listen to the people who had competed before to maintain a clear mind.
“It sounds a little scummy, but with our Bunker Gear guy, I made sure he didn’t mess around and I tried to make sure he behaved himself,” Garner said. “With him, it’s always damage control. I didn’t say anything to our Search and Rescue guys because it’s not my area and I had high hopes for them. With my agility course team I didn’t really say anything either except the basic encouragement. I was just trying to keep the vibes high there.”
Once the competition ended, the teams waited for the awards ceremony to see how far they have progressed and what they can take away from the competition.
“I saw tons of progress made compared to last year,” Garner said. “As for what I can take away from everything: Leadership is super important. Last year, Tony and I were still fairly new. No one listened to us… The relationship you have with your guys is just as important as their ability in their events. Having people that have your back, even as a leader, makes all the difference. And you have to know how each person learns and responds to different critiques and mannerisms. I have one guy that freaks completely out if you raise your voice at him at all, even in encouragement, and I have another guy that does better when he’s yelled at. You just have to know your guys. It helps a lot to sit and talk and joke with them throughout the year.”
To some, this wasn’t the result they were expecting and for a period of time the mood was down, but it quickly went away with the younger students.
“I realized that I have two more years to perfect all these things,” Aguayo said. “It’s okay to lose. It’s a learning experience.”
As for the seniors, they made sure to look past the losses and focus on trying to cheer up the younger members who felt disappointed in themselves.
“After the awards ceremony I saw how my team felt,” senior Jonathan Harris said. “My reaction to this was to put my own emotions to the side and put them first because I know that many people on my team work through things better with the support of others. I also know that, personally, I work through my emotions better alone, so it’s just easier for me to put others first.”
Regardless if the students felt happy or disappointed, they made sure to still cherish the memories they made along the way and promise to always hold them dear.
“Even with me being disappointed by the outcome of the competition, I will always remember the fun times I had with my teammates the last four years,” Harris said. “Whether it’s standing on the bus the whole way to competition while screaming the lyrics and dancing music, playing sharks and minnows at my first ever competition, trying to stack three people on top of each others shoulders at the beach and so much more, I will cherish the friendships and memories I made for as long as I live.”
