New district first look: Mesquite Poteete

Kevin Davis, Sports Editor • May 17, 2016

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series of profiles on the school’s opponent in next year’s new UIL district, 15-5A.

Enrollment: 1,734

Mascot: Pirates

School colors: Forest Green and White

Distance from LHS: 28.2 miles (39 minutes) 3300 Poteet Drive, Mesquite, TX 75150

Year opened: 1986

Pirates’ 2015-2016 results (according to SportsDayHS):

Football: 9-4

Volleyball: 15-24

Basketball: 15-14

Girls Basketball: 16-13

Soccer: 14-8

Girls Soccer: 17-4

Baseball: 23-8

Softball: 26-7

Notable alumni: Skye Dawson – NFL wide receiver (2013-2015)

Todd Graham – Arizona State head football coach (began his coaching career at Mesquite Poteet)

Malik Jefferson – High school Butkus Award winner; current linebacker at the University of Texas

Jason Jennings – MLB pitcher (2001-2009)

Athletes to watch: Junior soccer player Joel Barrientos is a key factor in the very successful Pirates boys soccer team. Barrientos was named first team all-region. Look for Barrientos to have a huge senior year.

Analysis: So far, the Pirates look to have the strongest athletic department out of all the schools that have been previewed. This year the Pirates only had one team with a losing record, and a handful teams that made successful runs in the playoffs. Expect the Pirates to continue their success in the athletic department and possibly even become more successful.

About the Contributors

Kevin Davis, Sports Editor

Kevin Davis is returning for his fifth year is the newspaper program in middle school, and is a senior this year. He is also the sports editor of The Red Ledger for the second consecutive year. His favorite sport to cover is volleyball, because of the recent success the volleyball program has had. He plays outside linebacker for the leopard football team and wears number 22 because of ex-Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, however his favorite football player is Adrian Peterson. On the weekends, Kevin enjoys watching the Oklahoma Sooners, Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out with friends. His favorite restaurant is Buffalo Wild Wings (medium boneless buffalo dry rub). Also, cold stone is vital for a complete meal after eating at BWW. Also, music is very important to Kevin. If he could, he would have background music playing throughout his whole day. His favorite genre is rap, his favorite rapper is Kanye West, but he listens to just about everything. Although he can’t play any instruments, he can play Through the Fire and Flames on expert on guitar hero three. Other than guitar hero, he is not very interested or good at video games. Another skill that Kevin possesses is photoshop and graphic design.

Avery Degenhardt, TRL Graphic Designer

Avery joined “Intro To Photography” in eighth grade with some curiosity, and she quickly learned the basics of photography and quickly improved. She learned to love the craft, and along with her “secret” part-time photoshop in the class, she obtained skills she never imagined she would have with a computer. Applying for newspaper and deciding if she wanted that challenge or not was probably the most difficult choice of her life, but she went through with it. Avery has established her place among the staff and continues to pursue her interest in graphic art design. As a junior this year, she hopes to improve her skills in digital art and change her haircolor again.