KERRY BARBOZA
Sports Editor
The latest class selected for induction into the Boerne ISD Athletic Hall of Honor was recognized last Friday.
There was definitely a tennis theme at this year’s ceremony held at the Cordillera Ranch Country Club.
Two doubles teams, both state champs, one individual tennis player, along with the 2008-09-10 tennis teams from Boerne Champion were recognized, while Dr. Richard Holcomb received the Bill Canavan Memorial Benefactor Award.
This is the 16th class to be inducted into the Boerne ISD Athletic Hall of Honor. It was established in 2010 as a way to honor past athletic excellence in the district.
Emily Gorham Caltrider
Gorham Caltrider has the distinction of being the first Boerne ISD tennis player to qualify for the state tennis tournament in three different categories.
“I’m so grateful to be there,” she said. “Thank you, Boerne, for being part of my story and a place I’ll always call home.”
Gorham Caltrider, who played at BHS from 2002-2006, made it to state twice in girls doubles, one year with Stephanie Davidson and another year with Nicole Williams. She also went once in mixed doubles with Blake Sitka and again as a singles player.
She played briefly at the University of Kansas before graduating from Baylor University.
Grant Gandy and Cameron Davis
Gandy and Davis were the first tennis state champions from Boerne High School when they won the 2008 4A boys doubles title.
Gandy graduated from BHS in 2008 and Davis ended up at Champion where he graduated in 2009, the first year the school opened.
Gandy shared that at first he wasn’t excited about being paired with Davis, but in the end was glad they played together.
“We were more rivals than friends, but we respected each other,” Gandy said. “Coach (Joey) Cantu and (BISD AD) Stan Leech had a lot of wisdom putting us together because we played well together as a team.”
Davis said once they made it to state, he talked with Gandy and knew they could take gold.
“I said, ‘Hey dude, we’re here, let’s win it,” he said. “We seized the day.”
Mark Gorham and Jared Fellows
Fellows and Gorham became the first Chargers to win a state title in tennis. The duo won the 2010 4A boys doubles championship.
Unfortunately, Fellows wasn’t able to make it to the ceremony, but Gorham spoke for both of them.
Gorham said his philosophy to win a state title was simple.
“Go find the best player on the team and ask him to play doubles,” he joked about teaming up with Fellows.
Gorham reflected on the relationship he and many of the tennis players have maintained with Chargers tennis coach Joey Cantu, who coached at Boerne High and has been the only tennis coach at Champion since the school opened in the fall of 2008.
“As thankful as I am for winning state, I’m more thankful for having Joey as a friend in the years after,” he said.
Champion tennis 2008, 2009, 2010
Those 2008-10 years will go down as the golden era for the Charger tennis program.
Champion won three straight regionals titles starting in 2008, the first year the school opened. As a result, they advanced to state for three seasons in a row.
Head coach Joey Cantu called the 08 team a “trail blazing team.”
In two of those years, the Chargers won their state semifinals matches and played for the state championship the next day to earn silver medals.
About eight of the players from those three teams showed up at the ceremony, including former assistant coach Adam Shrager, who made the trip from New Jersey to be part of the ceremony.
Joey thanked his wife and assistant coach Kristin Cantu, along with the rest of his family and the players who were part of the program.
“I was blessed to have kids who believed in the program,” he said. “I think the world of everybody who has been a part of my life and I’m blessed, honored and humbled to be the coach through all those accomplishments.”
Bill Canavan Memorial Benefactor Award – Dr. Richard Holcomb
Holcomb is the seventh person to receive the Canavan Award named after Greyhound graduate Bill Canavan, who contributed greatly to BISD athletics throughout his life.
Holcomb has been at many games, especially during his more than 20 years as the team’s doctor and joked about it.
“The sideline is my second home,” he said.
Holcomb also poked fun at himself and said that he had never won anything in his life and thanked the community and his family for their support.
Members of the 2008 – 2010 Boerne Champion tennis teams were honored as part of this year’s Boerne ISD Hall of Honor ceremony. The Chargers won the regional title three years in a row and played at the state tourney during that span, winning two silver medals and a bronze.
Star photos by Delaney O’Brien
Mark Gorham poses with his sister Emily Gorham Caltrider at the Hall of Honor ceremony. Caltrider was honored for being the first BISD tennis player to make it to state all four years of her high school career, while Gorham partnered with Jared Fellows in boys doubles and they were the first at Champion to win a state title in tennis.
Boerne ISD AD Stan Leech poses with Grant Grandy and Cameron Davis after they were inducted into the Boerne ISD Athletic Hall of Honor. Davis and Gandy were the first state tennis champions at Boerne High.
Boerne ISD Assistant AD and head athletic trainer Terry Gault (left) poses with Dr. Richard Holcomb after Holcomb received the Bill Canavan Memorial Benefactor Award for his service to the Boerne community.
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