ALPINE- Representative Pete P. Gallego would like to recognize Travis Roberts of Sanderson, Texas as he will sign a scholarship torun cross-country for Rice University on February 18, 2010. "Even though Travis is going to get to participate in athletics while in college, he has so much more to offer" Gallego said about Travis. "There has been nothing but outstanding things about this young man and his family."

 

Travis is a senior at Sanderson High School and ran his four years under Coach Leighton Conway who said, "It has been a real treat to coach Travis, he's a hard worker who is not only setting new and higher goals, but he knows what it takes to get it done." Gallego and others can agree that Travis has truly been a role model and someone to look up to. This is evident in the past season as Travis helped lead Sanderson to a second place overall finish at the state meet.

 

Besides finishing his high school career at Texas' 1A Cross-Country Champion, Travis is on the honor roll and has also spent time participating in tennis, basketball, and football. Travis has put in a lot of hard time and effort, his mother Katie Roberts says, "He's so busy, I usually don't see him home till around nine every day."

 

Travis will be leaving his parents Jim and Katie, to be joining Coach Jon Warren at Rice. Rice participates in Conference USA which contains East Carolina, UH, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Missouri, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF, and UTEP. Conference USA schools are NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of collegiate competition. Upon hearing the news that Travis was going to sign with Rice, his mother said, "it has all been surreal." Travis was heavily recruited by smaller schools in the region and other Division I programs.

 

Travis is prepared to compete at the next level on all fronts. Rice is one of the top academic institutions in the south and Travis ha the intuition to compete among his new peers in the classroom as well. Sanderson Athletic Director Mark Dominguez said, " Travis is a hard worker in everything he does. He is dedicated and committed to getting things done, whether homework, practice, volunteering, or whatever, it will get done."

 

Travis, besides leaving his parents will also leave his brother, who is currently a sophomore and was Sanderson's second top runner this year, finishing 7th at the state meet. We all wish Sanderson Cross-Crounty another great season as they return three runners from last year's state team. Go Eagles!

 

Travis will sign his letter at Representative Pete Gallego's Alpine Office, 117 n. 6th Street at 2pm on February 19. Everyone is welcome to come and give Travis their best as he begins this new chapter in his life.