ALICIA HENRY, #50, POWER FORWARD
Alicia is the daughter of Gene and Linda Henry and is married to Robert Graham. She lists her occupation as a mom with son James Graham, 8. She was a sophomore on the state team, graduating in 1998.
Her fondest memory of Lady Eagle basketball: “Although there were so many tense and exciting moments, for me, none ever matched the joy and excitement of beating Waco-Midway at the buzzer with Rhonda Ooten’s hail-Mary shot in junior high.”
As for being a Lady Eagle, she said, “Being a part of something bigger than ourselves. This was always a program that demanded excellence, drove us to find excellence in ourselves, and that excellence had the support of the school and the town. It was an honor to be a part of it.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Alicia was an intelligent multi-sport athlete who played volleyball and basketball with passion and grace. She comes from a wonderful family.”
APRIL BRINKMEYER, #42, POST
The daughter of Allen Brinkman and Rochelle Ortega, April is marries to Tom Griffin and has children—Emma, 5, and Aurora, 2. Now a technical writer, April lettered in 1995 and 1996 and was an academic all-district choice both seasons.
Her fondest Lady Eagle memory: “What I remember most fondly was practice: the one time where every member of the team was on the court, working together to improve the whole.”
“Being a Lady Eagle gave me the opportunity to learn what it meant to work together; to have a goal and work through highs and lows to accomplish it,” Brinkmeyer Griffin said. “That understanding and the skills I developed are definitely things I’m able to consistently draw upon in my professional and personal life.”
Coach Farney looks back: “April was a delight to coach; she gave everything she had 100% of the time. I am certain she is the consummate professional.”
Photo ID: April and Tim Griffin, Emma, and Aurora
CAROLINE KOY, #12, GUARD
A junior on the state team, Caroline Koy Gorman is the daughter of Lynn and Ted Koy and is married to Scott Gorman. They currently have four children—Abigail, 12; Emily, 10; Russell, 6; and Theodore, 5—and are expecting a fifth child in January.
A stay-at-home homeschool mom, Caroline was an all-district honorable mention choice as a senior and a two-time academic all-district selection.
“Now I look back with such fondness on all those hard practices,” she said. “At the time, those sweaty afternoons might not have rated so highly, but time has changed my perspective.”
In response to defining what being a Lady Eagle meant to her, Caroline said.
“Being a Lady Eagle provided a consistent platform for me to understand the rewards of hard work and pushing through difficulties. I greatly value the experience of ‘team’ and working towards a common goal with others. That has been a skill I have used many times since graduating GHS.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Caroline was always so positive and eager to do whatever it took for us to be successful. She embodied Eagle Fight Never Dies!”
Photo ID Scott, Caroline, Theodore, Russell, Emily, and Abigail
BECCA FERGUSON, #30, WING
The daughter of Susan and Larry Ferguson, Becca now is a cow/calf rancher and Executive Assistant to Sr. Vice President at The Noble Foundation. She and her husband Zeno McMillan have one son—Rory McMillan, 7. Becca was a junior on the state team and went on to be a team captain during her senior year.
Her fondest memory: “It’s a toss-up between when coach Farney hit a vehicle in the school bus while we were trying to park at the Erwin Center, or when coach Richardson and coach Farney thought one of us had been drinking before our New Year’s Day practice that was at 5 a.m. when in all actuality it was Jennifer Szafrankski’s Pearl Glace Victoria’s Secret lotion she had on. The whole team came soooo close to running until we puked!”
On being a Lady Eagle, Becca said, “It has taught me the intricate role that hard work and determination has played in reaching my goals personally and in a working environment. The harder you work for something the more rewarding it is when you finally attain what you are after. It has also taught me the importance of being able to work in a team setting.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Becca was instant hustle and determination. She was fun to be around and a great teammate.”
Photo ID: Rory, Zeno, and Becca
JODI MORAVEC, #34, POST
Jodi Moravec is the daughter of David and Moravec and has a boyfriend named Russell Key. The dietitian/diabetes educator lettered in 1966 and was an all-district honorable mention selection along with making academic all-district in both 1965 and 1966.
Her main memory of Lady Eagle basketball was going to state. As for what she gained from being a Lady Eagle, she answered, “Pride – to be part of a great team and a program that is a legacy.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Jodi was such a special player and person. She had been diagnosed with cancer when she was younger and had overcome it. She provided maturity and levity to our team and was a great utility player who could play inside or outside.”
RHONDA OOTEN, #10, GUARD
Rhonda is the daughter of Philip and Sharon Ooten and is married to Jarrod Hamilton and they have three children –Felicity, 10; Charlize, 8, and Jarrod Jr., 3. She is now a software consultant. Rhonda was a four-year letter-winner from 1995-98 and a team captain in 1998. She was a second-team all-district selection in 1996 and a first-team choice in 1997 and 1998 and earned various all-state, all-region and all-area honors as a junior and senior. Rhonda was a four-time academic all-district choice and an all-state academic selection in 1998.
She was unable to limit her fondest memories as a Lady Eagle and pointed to four things—
Watching Shawna Ford play (“She was my hero!”); Being awarded most improved as a fourth grader at the Lady Eagle Basketball Camp; Coach Farney attending our basketball practices in junior high (“She really cared about us doing the fundamentals correctly!”); winning the Regional final in 1996 to advance to the State Tournament.
“Being a Lady Eagle has taught me the importance of doing things right every time, even the little things. If you don’t do it correctly, you get to do it again.”
Coach Farney looks back: “I, too, remember that Rhonda attended the inaugural Lady Eagle Basketball Camp when there were only ten girls in attendance. The school argued that it was not enough to constitute having a camp. I remember saying that we would never grow our program if we didn’t start. It was fun to watch Rhonda grow as a player. I still remember when she was a seventh grader and made a shot on the buzzer from mid-court to defeat our arch rival Temple in the back gym at Tippit (Georgetown Junior High back then). That was only the beginning as she was part of a championship team every year she played for the Eagles.”
Photo ID: Charlize, Rhonda, Jarrod Jr., Jarrod, and Felicity
RISSA THOMAS, ASSISTANT COACH
The daughter of Mike and Dorisan Thomas was on coach Farney’s staff from 1994 to 1998. Now a rancher, she is married to Mark Cook and has three
children—Crystal 34, Zane 14 and Reese 12.
She has two memories of her GHS years that stand out: “Whitney Reierson getting hurt in the regional semifinal game. Rhonda and I started scouting the next game, while Kellye (Richardson), Amy (Clayborn), and Jill (Warren) took the team to dinner and Whitney received treatment from Joel (Holcomb) all night long. The team we were to play had a great post player and we needed Whit to win. We were not sure we would have her. After staying up all night getting hot/cold treatments and a great wrapping job from Joel, she started and played great. We won going away; what a great day!”
“Then there was also the little issue of Jill getting hit by a bus outside ‘The Drum.’ Worst call ever that I had to make to Ryder telling him that his seventh-month pregnant wife was hit by a bus, but ‘Don’t worry, she’s OK!’ ”
Cook said of her GHS experience: ‘I learned how to run a successful program from all aspects. The staff was amazing. Eagle Fight Never Dies.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Rissa is a dear friend. She and I spent many hours coaching and scouting and pondering our futures. I am so happy that Rissa found “her Bill” in Mark. We both wanted a husband that would love us for who we are and let us do the things that make us happy—like coaching!”
Photo ID: Zane, Crystal, Reese, Mark, and Rissa
AMY JOHNSON, #24, GUARD
Amy is the daughter of Rick and Jan Johnson. The Senior Business Development Manager for Airrosti Rehab Centers and her husband Jason Davila are the parents of two children—Gates, almost 6, and Cohen, 4. Amy, a team captain in 1996, was a two-time first-team all-district selection and a three-time academic all-district choice.
Asked about her fondest memories, Amy said, “I have so many . . . It’s hard to pick one and it has been 20 years since I played for GHS. I loved the many tournaments we played in and traveled to. There was so much fun and bonding that happened on those road trips. “I am super saddened that Whitney Reierson isn’t here with us today and miss her terribly! She was a HUGE part of this 95-96 team.”
Being a Lady Eagle was special to Amy, “Being a Lady Eagle helped me build a great foundation of discipline and being a team player. Our team had such a great dynamic and I truly loved spending time with each of my teammates. It’s been fun to watch everyone grow in their careers and families.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Amy was one of the physically and mentally toughest players to ever wear the blue and white. She was a punishing defensive player. I remember one playoff game against a team whose coach liked to run a flex offense. Amy so completely denied the flex cut that the team couldn’t even run their offense.”
CARLI LYNN STRIDDE SIEGEL, #44, POST
A Pre-K Teacher in the Shiner ISD, Siegel is the daughter of Howard and Judy Stridde and she and her huband, Brandon Siegel, have one child—Adelynn Siegel, 9. As a junior on the state semifinalists she was a first-team all-district selection and in her second season as a three-time academic all-district choice. She went on as a senior to share team MVP honors, was selected the District 14-5A MVP and earned all-state, all-region and all-area honors. She remains the seventh all-time leading scorer in school history (1,262 points). She was a team captain in 1997.
Cari Lynn’s fondest memories are many: “It is so hard to pick just one memory, there are so many . . . I remember being led through town by a police car with sirens and lights on our way to our playoff games and riding a charter bus to the State Tournament . . .I remember winning the regional game in Waco and running into the stands and hugging my parents and yelling, ‘We did it!! We are going to State!!’ . . . I remember 7 a.m. New Year’s Day practices, after practice sessions on the Airdyne with Coach Thomas Cook so I would be in better shape. All in all, my greatest memory of being a Lady Eagle is the friendships made and amazing experiences that we had . . .”
As for being a Lady Eagle, she said, “Being a Lady Eagle meant so much to me . . . I remember sitting in the stands at the State Basketball Tournament in 1992 watching the Lady Eagles fight for the State Championship. I remember thinking to myself, I will be a Lady Eagle some day and I will play in the state basketball tournament someday . . . and I was able to accomplish those goals because I was a part of something that was much bigger than myself. I was a part of a tradition and a family that demanded excellence, teamwork, and pride in a program that was built by so many amazing women.
“Because I was a Lady Eagle my transition to play college basketball (at Wayland Baptist) was much easier. The coaches gave me the tools I needed to be successful and for that I will be forever thankful. So for me, being a Lady Eagle wasn’t just about playing a sport that I loved, it was about being a part of something that will last forever and helping build a tradition. Eagle Fight Never Dies!”
Coach Farney looks back: “We lived close to the Stridde’s and I recall the many times that Howard, when walking their dog Molly, would stop by to talk basketball. The entire Stridde family was all in when it came to basketball. And I specifically recall how Cari Lynn defeated our rival Temple TemCats every time we played them.”
Photo ID: Cari Lynn, Brandon, and Adelynn Siegel
CLAIRE SWINBANK, #32, GUARD
The daughter of Tom and Cindy Swinbank was a sophomore on the state team, graduating in 1998. She is a senior real estate manager. Her partner is Lisa Griego. During the state year she was an all-district honorable mention selection. Claire, a team captain in 1998, went on to be a team MVP as a junior and senior, a first-team all-district selection both years, and an all-region and all-state selection as a senior along with being a three-time academic all-district choice. She also was selected for both the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star Games.
Claire’s fondest memory of Lady Eagle Basketball was “winning a lot.”
She gives major credit to her success in life from being a Lady Eagle: “Outside of my parents, there has been no greater positive influence in shaping my early life than Lady Eagle basketball. Being a Lady Eagle led to attending an out-of-state college (San Diego State) to play basketball, which opened too many doors to describe. Coach Farney, coach Richardson, coach Thomas, coach Claborn and the many teammates over the years were instrumental in shaping my on- court and off-court values and character. At some point, being a Lady Eagle had less to do with our on-court success as it did the off-court character building.”
Coach Farney looks back: “In some ways Claire was a late bloomer when it came to basketball. Her senior year everything fell into place and her jump shot became almost impossible to stop. Claire bloomed into a serious player who was even better at the next level.”
Photo ID: Lisa Griego and Claire Swinbank
JENNIFER SZAFRANSKI, #52, POST
A senior on the state team, Szafranski has gone on to be a controller. The daughter of Terry and Judy Szafranski, Jennifer has two children—Tristan, 12, and Christian, 6.
Her fondest memory is going to the state tournament.
Jennifer said: “I was very proud to be a Lady Eagle and what that represents within the community. It represents pride, dignity and competitive spirit—a rich Georgetown tradition.”
Coach Farney looks back: “Jennifer also came from a basketball family. Her dad was a great basketball coach and her sister played on our 1991 and 1992 state teams. Jennifer was an outstanding player in her own right but she also had a fun and light side too. I remember Jennifer being a nurturer and am certain she is an outstanding mother.”
Photo ID: Jennifer Szafranski and Tristan and Christian Frey
NATALIE TUCKER, #14, POINT GUARD
A senior on the state team, the daughter of Earnest and Beverly Tucker was a consensus all-state selection, shared the Co-District 14-5A MVP with teammate Whitney Reierson, a two-time first-team all-district choice, an all-region and all-Centex selection and an all-state-tournament pick. She also was a finalist for the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 5A Player of the Year Award, was selected to play in both the TABC and Texas Girls Coaches Association all-star games along with being an honorable mention All-American choice by the Nike-Women’s Basketball Association. Not to mention, Natalie earned academic all-district honors three times.
She is single and self-employed.
Her fondest Lady Eagle memory was “playing in the state tournament—of course.”
On the subject of what being a Lady Eagle means, she answered, “Being a Lady Eagle under the tutelage of coach Farney has made a big impact on my life. Coach Farney consistently demonstrated what it meant to be a strong and independent woman—even in difficult situations. I count her as one of the top four most-influential people in my life, alongside my parents and college coach Charli Turner Thorne. Proud to be a Lady Eagle!”
Coach Farney looks back: “I remember Natalie as being a player who played her best when we played against great competition. In essence, Natalie was a great competitor. One of my favorite memories was reading a newspaper clipping after a playoff game vs Huntsville where Natalie had eight threes. The Huntsville coach was quoted as saying that if he had known #14 was a shooter, he would have guarded her differently. I found it curious and immediately knew that our rival from Temple had given out a district videotape on us. One game against Temple, they denied Natalie the ball for the whole game. She was content to set up her teammates. That was the only game someone could have watched and not known Natalie was a prolific scorer.”
Photo ID: Beverly and Ernest Tucker and Leslie Tucker, Natalie Tucker and Lana Voth
SUSAN GUNN, #21, GUARD
The daughter of Jim and Jackie Gunn graduated in 1999. Susan and husband Cody have three children—Grey, 5; Grant 2, Hank 2. She was a three-year letterman in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Her favorite Lady Eagle memory is playing in the Erwin Center. “Being a Lady Eagle taught me the importance of a strong work ethic and gave me the friendships I have today,” Susan said.
Instead of the drills on the practice floor, she now does a different kind of drilling as a dentist.
Coach Farney looks back: “I have a lot of memories of Susan, but I remember in 1992 when we went to state, she was a little girl, and she lobbied her dad Dr. Gunn, then GISD Superintendent, to get us a “bloodhound” bus rather than a greyhound bus so we could travel in style!”
Photo ID: Grant, Susan, Hank, Cody, and Grey Henson