Kingsville Independent School District coaches run Brahma athletes through this summer’s boys and girls speed camp going on right now at the high school practice fields and weight room. Parents can still sign up their children for speed camp. H.M. King High School will also be the site of a baseball (June 15) and tennis camp (June 14) which are set to begin this week. Call 592-6401 (ext. 58) for more information. Approximately 125 high school and middle school student athletes are working out at the 2010 Brahma Summer Speed Camp currently being held at H.M. King High School’s athletic fields and weight room. A very good number says newly hired Athletic Director Robert Wilcox, but he would still like to see more kids come out.

“Our summer speed camp is going very good, we have a good number of kids who are really working hard,” Wilcox said. “But we obviously would like to have more kids out here.”

Master Herrera, right, receives his fourth degree Black Belt presented to him by 9th degree Grand Master An Dae Sup on April 17. Speed camps have become the norm at numerous high schools in Texas after the University Interscholastic League approved their use about six years ago. The purpose of the off-season workouts is to keep kids off of the dreaded living room couch, a summer habit which sometimes leads to physical shock when an athlete reports back to school in the fall.

“What U.I.L. is giving us an opportunity to do is to keep kids in shape and acclimated to the weather that they are going to have to go through in August when they show up,” Wilcox said. “This is also a skills camp where we are working on each student athlete’s strength, speed as well as their conditioning.”

H.M. King’s speed camp is not specific to any sport, Wilcox said, and male and female athletes in any sport are still invited to join.

Texas Four Seasons Karate Championsh ip — Pictured are front row, from left, Richard Nava, Maria Benavente, Suzi Massa, Joaquin Massa, Jessica Herrera, and Lydia Herrera. Back row, left to right, Master Johnny Herrera, Michael Doster, Ruben Herrera, Michael Herrera, and Assistant Instructor Matthew Herrera. “This is not just a football or volleyball camp, for example, but something for everyone,” Wilcox said. “We have some cheerleaders coming out as well as students who play all types of sports and I highly recommend this for any male or female athlete. If you plan on being a successful athlete, why would you not want to be at a camp that is improving your speed, agility, strength and quickness which are all things that you need.”

Wilcox is also very appreciative of the efforts of the entire Kingsville Independent School District coaching staff.

13TH ANNUA L WAR CATS TAE KWON DO CHAMPIO NSHIP — Adult students from South Texas Martial Arts pictured are front row, from left, Christian Gomez, Suzi Massa, Takako Sigler, and Michael Doster; back row Master Johnny Herrera, Richard Nava, Jessica Herrera, Assistant Instructor Matthew Herrera, and Assistant Instructor Jason Sigler. “It has been really good,” Wilcox said. “The coaches working the speed camp are doing exactly what we need to do at this time to get our kids exactly where we need them to be and doing a great job with them. This is what we get six weeks to work on.”

(Parents can still register their children for the Brahma Summer Speed Camp. For more information call 592- 6401 ext. 58.)

Numerous students of the South Texas Martial Arts participated at the Texas Four Seasons Karate Championship held in Victoria in early May and also in the 13th Annual War Cats Tae Kwon Do Championship held in Robstown in April.

Youth students from South Texas Martial Arts pictured are front row, from left, Nicholas Trevino, Kristian Alexander, and Cristian Garcia; second row, Jorge Trevino, Antonio Moreno, Brandon Martinez, Damian Reyes, and Tony Taylor; third row, Master Johnny Herrera, Jeri Taylor, John Moreno, Joaquin Massa, and Cameron Guerrero; back row, Assistant Instructor Matthew Herrera and Assistant Instructor Jason Sigler. Among those competing were Richard Nava, Maria Benavente, Suzi Massa, Joaquin Massa, Jessica Herrera, Lydia Herrera, Michael Doster, Ruben Herrera and Michael Herrera. Master Johnny Herrera and Assistants Matthew Herrera and Jason Sigler are the group’s instructors.

Also attending the school are Christian Gomez, Takako Sigler, Nicholas Trevino, Kristian Alexander, Cristian Garcia, Jorge Trevino, Antonio Moreno, Brandon Martinez, Damian Reyes, Tony Taylor, Jeri Taylor, John Moreno and Cameron Guerrero.

Kingsville Record contributing sports writer Rey Sifuentes Jr. holds his registration form for the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament in Las Vegas. Master Herrera received his fourth degree Black Belt which was presented to him by ninth degree Grand Master An Dae Sup on April 17.

I am headed back to the annual World Series of Poker for the fifth consecutive year. The WSOP, which began back on May 28, is a series of poker tournaments encompassing a little over two months of play. Numerous bracelet events will be held along with qualifying tournaments. The size of the money prizes for each tournament depends on the amount for the entry fee and the number of entrants who register.

This year I am competing in the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em event which is scheduled to begin with half of the field on July 1 and the second half on July 2.

Now you’re probably wondering, is Rey a card shark? Not even close. As a player, I regularly compete at a bar league, some home games and even at a points league at a mall in Corpus Christi. Throughout my ‘career’ I have won 28 combined titles in seven years of play.

Now you’re probably wondering, how has Rey fared at the four WSOPs he’s played in? Well, let’s just say I’m always happy to be there.

Back in 2006, I busted out of the Celebrity/Media charity event (no buy-in) on the very first hand. I went All-In with Pocket Queens and ran into an opponent who held Pocket Kings and another holding Ace-Jack. The other three Aces came out on the board and my first WSOP experience was a brief one.

I had called my dad right before the tournament started and told him I would call back after it was all over. Three minutes later, I called him back and told him it was all over.

In 2007, I lasted four and a half hours in the $1,500 Limit Shootout. In 2008, I only lasted three and a half hours in the same event. Last year, I outlasted over half a field of more than 2,800 players in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event, but only lasted five-plus hours in the tournament.

Now you’re probably wondering, why does he keep going to the world series if he has yet to win or even finish in the money? That’s simple. The bible teaches us that David defeated Goliath but that is not always how things turn out. But I still love being a David in the game of poker. I enjoy that ‘Me versus the world’ feeling I get from competing on poker’s biggest stage.

(You can view my 2006- 2009 WSOP pictures at Facebook. E-mail him at rataman2@yahoo.com)