SAN ANGELO— San Angelo TLCA has sent another student athlete to continue their playing career at the collegiate level.
The Eagles Kelby Thomas signed to play football at Cornell College today at the San Angelo TLCA high school gymnasium. Thomas played several sports at TLCA including football and basketball.
"I think that the words that best describe him (Thomas) is that he has a very strong work ethic," San Angelo TLCA Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Kent Sherrill said, "I can speak to the basketball side of it. He didn't get a lot of minutes but in practice, he worked."
Sherrill coached Thomas on the basketball court while Matt Jones coached him on the football field.
"It's something that will take him far in life beyond the football field." Sherrill said.
"The toughness and determination that you've had over the past few years has been really really impressive," Head Football Coach Matt Jones said about Thomas, " Nobody deserves it more."
The work ethic that Sherrill spoke to will certainly help Thomas in the classroom as he plans to major in pre-medicine and biology and end up in the orthopedic surgery field. Fun fact about Thomas, his grandfather is a doctor and was also in attendance with his wife and family to watch his grandson take this huge step towards his future.
Thomas is TLCA's second athlete to sign to play at the next level as last week, Kamille Massey signed to play volleyball at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota.
"Something that needs to be said is where we've come as an athletic program and a school," Coach Jones said, "Too many people tend to overlook this school in a lot of ways. But Kelby's not the only one here that's got an opportunity to play at the next level."
Jones went on to talk about how TLCA has started to put themselves on the map as the third school in San Angelo.
"When I got here, the perception of athletics here, you'd have thought that there was never a chance to win a game, much less get guys to play at the next level," Jones continued, "We've changed that, things have changed to the point where we've had somebody every year. Every year, there's guys going and playing. There are other schools in this area that get a lot of hype for how they've played through the season, and their long traditions and they're not getting anybody. I really want everyone in this school to understand how big of a deal it is. Not only is he going to go play, but, once again, we're having another athlete that going to play at a high academic school. Schools that you can only get into if your grades are there."
Not only is TLCA getting it done on the field, court, or track, but they're also getting it done in the classroom and are getting the respect they deserve after working through a tough start.
Congratulations Kelby.
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