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    Athletics department holds reception for Hall of Honor inductees

    Athletics department holds reception for Hall of Honor inductees
    Former DHS principal Mike Chrietzberg will be inducted into the Athletic Hallof Honor Oct. 11 among others who have contributed to the Athletic programs. (Ariana Canchola photo)

     

    Duncanville, Texas (September 25, 2012)

    Duncanville ISD is proud to announce the seventh class of inductees into the Athletic Hall of Honor. Inductees for 2012 are Christie Capps Siar, Mike Chrietzberg, Jeanne Doolan, Billy Ray Ground, and Chris Owens. These five outstanding individuals were nominated by community members and chosen through a selection committee.

    The 2012 Hall of Honor ceremony will be on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at the Duncanville High School Performance Hall at 7:00pm. Refreshments will be served at 6:30pm. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

    The Duncanville ISD Athletic Hall of Honor was established to celebrate excellence and salute the contributions of individuals whose advancement of athletics in Duncanville ISD and beyond has made a profound difference in the lives of our young people. Nominees can be coaches, teachers, administrators, athletes, fans, or booster club members who have contributed significantly to Duncanville ISD athletics programs. Each year five inductees will be selected. Once nominated, individuals remain indefinitely on the nomination list for future consideration.

    Meet the 2012 Duncanville ISD Athletic Hall of Honor Inductees…

    Christie Capps Siar

    Christie Capps was a 4 year All District, All Region, and All State player for the Duncanville girls’ basketball team from 1974 to 1978. She was also a 3-time High School All-American. One such honor was being a 3rd Team Parade All-American. In 1976, she led the Pantherettes to their first state championship and made the All-State tournament team. Other honors in high school included being named FCA National Female Christian Athlete of the Year in 1978, first girl on the cover of Texas Coach Magazine (January 1978), and playing in the Texas North-South All Star game. Christie received a scholarship to Baylor University from 1978 to 1980 and was the leading scorer in the 1978-79 season. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University in 1983 and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1989. After several years in vocational ministry, she began coaching. In 1994 to 1998, she was the assistant coach in Duncanville. During that time the Pantherettes were state 5A finalists in 1994 and state champs in 1998 with a 40 – 0 record. She then became an assistant coach at Mansfield High School from 1999 to 2002 and was a part of 3 of the 4 consecutive state 5A championship teams in 2000, 2001, and 2002. She received the Distinguished Educator Award from Mansfield ISD in 2005.

    Mike Chrietzberg

    Mike Chrietzberg is in his 37th year as a public school educator. He has served all 37 of those years as an employee of the Duncanville ISD. Mike began his teaching career in 1976 at Byrd Middle School as a science teacher and football, basketball, and track coach. In 1987, he began his public school administration career serving as an assistant principal at Reed Middle School for 2 years. In 1989 he assisted in the opening of the new Duncanville Ninth Grade School serving as assistant principal for 8 months and then being named principal of the Ninth Grade School in April of 1990. He continued to serve as principal until the spring of 1995. In the fall of 1995 he was appointed principal of Duncanville High School. While principal of DHS he has lead the school through many changes, most notably the recent construction project that has resulted in DHS being the 2nd largest high school under one roof in the United States. In 2012 he transitioned into the role as Duncanville ISD Chief of Staff

    Mike has received several honors over the years while serving the students of Duncanville Schools. He was the 1979 Byrd Middle School Yearbook Dedicatee and the 1998 Duncanville High School Yearbook Dedicatee. He has received Honorary Memberships in the Future Farmers of America, National Technical Honor Society, and in the National Thespian Society. He was named a “Champion for Children” award recipient for Duncanville ISD, Superintendent Award from the Duncanville Education Foundation, and received a PTA Texas Honorary Life Membership and PTA National Honorary Life Membership awards. He was named the Texas Association of Journalism Educators 2006 Principal of the Year. He received the Duncanville Masonic Lodge “Community Builder” award. Mike lists his greatest achievement as an educator is the fact that he has positively impacted the future of over 27,000 youth of the Duncanville School District over the past 36 years.

    Jeanne Doolan

    Duncanville swimmer Jeanne Doolan was a 4 time state champion, a state record holder, a 2 time outstanding female competitor at the state meet, and 7 time high school all-American. At the District and Regional level she was undefeated and was a 4 time district swimmer of the year from 1983-1986 and was 2 time regional swimmer of the year in 1985 and l986. As a senior, Jeanne was ranked fastest high school swimmer in the US in the 50 free and 3rd fastest in the 100 free. She set a national record in the 50 free and was ranked 1st in the United States in the 50 freestyle and 2nd in the world. She was a member of the United States National Swim Team winning multiple titles nationally and internationally including the US Open Champion and a bronze medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. After graduating from Duncanville she went to The University of Texas Austin on scholarship and was a part of three NCAA team championships as well as multiple individual championships. She was a 9 time NCAA All America. And she is a four time American Record holder, including a relay record that stood for 13 years. Jeanne was a captain of the Longhorn team her senior year. She was a finalist at the 1988 Olympic trials in the 50 free.

    Jeanne Co-Chairs Swim Across America Dallas, an open water event that raises money for cancer research at The Innovative Clinical Trials Center at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center. The event has raised over $600,000 to fund phase 1 trials in just two years.

    Billy Ray Ground

    Billy Ray Ground grew up on a farm just east of Duncanville. He graduated from Duncanville High School in 1941, after having been one of the great athletes of the school’s earlier years. He played football, basketball, and baseball while attending Duncanville High. In addition to his athletic success, he was honored by being chosen as “High School Favorite” for the 1941 year. After graduation he spent a couple of years with the U.S. Navy during World War II. After completion of military service he attended Abilene Christian College where he became a star basketball player for the college, lettering some four years. After completion of college in 1948, he once again returned to Duncanville High School, this time as coach for all sports, as he coached football, baseball, and both girls and boys basketball. He coached those teams to several district championships in both baseball and basketball. His greatest success probably came in girls basketball when he coached the Duncanville girls’ team to the state semifinals at Austin in 1951, and the state finals in 1952. This was the start of the great tradition for girls basketball in Duncanville. Mr. Ground later worked for the Dallas ISD as both a coach and teacher. After a long career he retired and is currently living in Desoto, Texas.

    Chris Owens

    In 1995-96, Chris Owens played on the Duncanville Panther basketball team that went 33-2 and was ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation under the direction of Coach Phil McNeely. He was named a Parade All-American. During his senior year he was rated No. 20 player in nation in The Sporting News Prime Prospects. He was third-team All-America selection by Street & Smith’s. He was also ranked in top 25 nationally by recruiting analysts Clark Francis, Van Coleman and Bob Gibbons. Chris was listed as top senior in the south by Ron Briscoe’s Regional Basketball Report. And he was rated as No. 1 senior in Texas by Texas Blue Chip Basketball Report. He was ranked sixth among small forward seniors by Athlon and seventh among power forwards by Ultimate Hoop. And he was also listed among top 15 prospects nationally by The Super Programs Hotline and Sportsline. Chris was named area player of the year by Dallas Morning News as a senior, when he led metro Class 5A schools with 26.9 scoring average. He was ranked third among Dallas-area 5A players in rebounds with 11.8 average. Chris shattered the backboard midway through his senior season in game against Grand Prairie. He chose Tulane over Arizona, Arkansas, Texas and Texas Tech. After playing college basketball at both Tulane University and the University of Texas, Owens was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2nd round of the 2002 NBA Draft. He currently plays oversees.

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