Nov. 5, 2021 - Almost 200 special education students participated in Comal ISD’s 14th annual Specialized Training in Athletics and Recreation (STAR) Bowling Tournament recently at Fiesta Lanes Bowling Center in New Braunfels.
The high school tournament took place Friday, Oct. 22, with 110 participants representing their campus including Canyon High School, Canyon Lake High School, Davenport High School, Pieper High School and Smithson Valley High School.
The middle school tournament took place Monday, Nov. 1, with 84 participants representing Canyon Middle School, Church Hill Middle School, Danville Middle School, Mountain Valley Middle School, Pieper Ranch Middle School and Spring Branch Middle School.
Athletes, teachers and parents look forward to this tournament every year, said Terry Werchan, who is certified in adapted physical education and the STAR head coach. Besides bowling, Werchan organizes a dance and track meet for these athletes in the spring.
Student volunteers from the district’s high schools look forward to this event annually as well. They encourage and cheer for each athlete as they take turns bowling.
This year, volunteers from various student leadership organizations at CHS, CLHS, DHS and SVHS were on hand including Black Student Union (BSU), Family and Community Service (FACS), Peer Assistance Leadership and Service (PALS), JROTC, Meet in the Middle and SV United.
The tournament includes an opening and closing ceremony along with lunch. The DHS JROTC presented the colors while ninth-grade student Kir’reia Edwards and 10th-grade student Francis Vega from DHS sang the national anthem during the high school tournament.
Comal ISD strives to provide opportunities for all students to be successful and involved with many activities from which to choose including sports, fine arts, student organizations, intramural offerings and more.
Students interested in getting more involved on their campus should reach out to a teacher, counselor or principal.
-Essential Academics Paraprofessional Denise Martin from Danville Middle School assists seventh grade DMS student Madelyn Burchett during the STAR middle school bowling tournament on Nov. 1.
-Danville Middle School eighth-grade student, Jack Suermann, and Canyon High School senior, Jillian Randazzo, had fun at the STAR middle school bowling tournament on Nov. 1.
-Pieper Ranch Middle School students enjoyed their day participating in the STAR middle school bowling tournament Nov. 1. Pictured in front from left is Parker Rice, Jacob Reid, Carson Kommor and Benjamin Ruggles; back row from left is PRMS teacher Ylenia Martinez and Alejandro Yanez.
-Canyon Lake High School ninth-grade student, Shae Flaharty, celebrated her strike with a high-five at the STAR high school bowling tournament on Oct. 22.
-Smithson Valley seniors, Thomas Cusick and Zoe Weems, cheered for Pieper High School 10th-grade student, Diego Orozco, at the STAR high school bowling tournament on Oct. 22.
-Smithson Valley High School ninth-grade student, Kendall Morgan, picture in the middle, was encouraged by SVHS seniors Brianna Cornelius and Macey Prater at the STAR high school bowling tournament on Oct. 22.