Tale Lights Podcast

Jennifer Fox grew up in the Houston area and went to Cypress Creek High School.  Go Cougars!  Coach Fox then went on to play softball at UTSA, where a small burgeoning university program, was able to crack the Top 25 (at the time the first time in history).  Coach Fox went into public education and worked in Marble Falls and Spring Branch ISD, before taking her first head softball coaching job, leading the Boerne Greyhounds to a class 4A (now 5A equivalent) state title.  We talk about the Boerne Hall of Honor, and the inductions we were privileged to be a part of.  Coach Fox left Boerne after the 2008 season, and moved on to Northeast ISD to lead the Johnson Jaguars softball team in their inaugural season.  During her time at Johnson, she's coached the team to several district titles and playoff runs.   https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Join me for an ad free version of the Tale Lights Podcast that transforms into the Tale Lights Podclass! My kids are yearning for the learning and I've got the fire to keep on burning baby, woooooo! Quarantine? Coronavirus? Any of that stopping you? It might have stopped the STAAR Test, but as my students know, the value and importance of learning history goes far beyond a silly test, it's the key to freedom. The only way we remain the greatest society on earth, as free thinking and speaking citizens in the paradise of the globe, is to take the time to understand the importance and sacrifice made by those that came before us.  From the bloodshed on the battlefields, to the knock-down-drag-outs in politics, we pick up right where we left off, to ensure students receive a full-fledged, top-notch, 21st century education, that will make others around the globe, yearn for what you are about to learn! Nothing stops this train. Be ready because we're picking up right where we left off. Civil Rights in chapter 16. Do

Mr. Dick has led the Friendswood Mighty Mustang Marching Band to ten consecutive UIL State Marching Band Contests, with seven appearances in the finals, and three runner-up finishes!  The list of awards and successes for bands led by Mr. Dick are far too numerous to place in this small box, but this is certainly going to be an incredible interview with a lot of great information for those listeners that have a distinct interest in music, and for the casual listener, as well.  Mr. Dick will discuss growing up on the Gulf Coast, attending college at SHSU, and teaching at Dickinson, Clear Creek ISD (where he was district teacher of the year in 2000), and Friendswood. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

If you've listened to the first two episodes of the Tale Lights Podcast, you know exactly what Coach Tommy Bludau and Coach Mike Williamson had to say about the importance of junior high football in terms of their successes.  I have maintained a great relationship with "Coach O" over the years.  He brought a level of passion and excitement to school (and athletics) that can only be found in a young coach.  While he no longer coaches, he is still teaching science.  From growing up in Brackettville, TX., to his time in San Angelo attending college, we take a fun (and in-depth) look at his time working with some of the kids that would go on to be one of Boerne's best groups ever on the football field, to stints in Fredericksburg, Lake Travis, Mc Collum (Harlandale ISD), Floresville, and Smithson Valley.  Boerne Middle School was full of great teachers and coaches growing up, and many of them have become lifelong friends of mine.  Coach O is certainly one that I've been very fortunat

Richard Herbst was born and raised in Boerne, Texas.  In his basketball coaching career, he amassed a record of 699-336  After a brief stint in Texas Public Education, Coach Herbst went on to coach men's and women's basketball at the collegiate level.  Coach Herbst was an assistant at Colorado State University, the head men's coach at Schreiner College (now Schreiner University) the head men's coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and returned to Schreiner as the athletic director and head women's basketball coach.  After several years at the collegiate level, Coach Herbst decided it was time to go home.  He accepted the girls basketball job in Boerne, where he would lead the Lady Hounds to a state-semifinals appearance.  We discuss all that, his time as head coach in Copperas Cove and Clark High School (San Antonio), and much much more!  https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm

Join me as we hop in the truck of current George West ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Brent Kornegay.  We will be talking Devine, Llano, Orange Grove, Yoakum, and George West.  What it's like coaching in your hometown.  We talk about college at Texas Lutheran University, the importance of coaching junior high first, and some of the most fun we had was talking about the Yoakum-Cuero rivalry, and so much more.  Coach Kornegay is an outstanding athletic director and with over 115 wins as a head football coach in 17 seasons. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Floyd Ciruti grew up in Baytown, Texas.  He went to college at Sam Houston State University, where he was an All-American Center Fielder. After his playing days were behind him, he continued his passion for the game of baseball by becoming the head baseball coach of the Wharton Tigers. Leading the Tigers to the State Tournament, more than 500 wins, and the playoffs more than 25 times in 33 years, Coach Ciruti was able to build a Hall of Fame coaching resume, while being a great husband and father at the same time. These days you can find Coach Ciruti on a fishing boat in Matagorda Bay.  If you mention the podcast when you contact Captain Ciruti, you'll be in line for a discount.  For more info, visit: https://www.gofishmatagorda.com/ https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Walt Wendtland grew up in Rosenberg, Texas, and went on to play baseball for Wharton County Junior College and Mississippi State, prior to taking a position as a teacher and coach in Bay City, Texas. Coach Wendtland went on to an administrative career that involved stops at Lamar Consolidated and Yoakum, prior to returning to Bay City and finishing his career as the principal of Bay City High School. These days you can find Coach Wendtland on a fishing boat in Matagorday Bay, or teeing off at the Rio Colorado Golf Course. If you mention that you listened to the episode, you'll be in line for a discount the next time you come down to Matagorda and use him as your fishing guide. For more info, visit:  https://www.gofishmatagorda.com/ https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

In this episode I sit down with Boerne - Samuel V. Champion Head Baseball Coach, Chuck Foster. We start off in Pampa and head out to Odessa during his childhood, before moving on to the Houston suburb of Deer Park, San Jacinto College, Clemson University, and then a return home to coach all kinds of sports back at Deer Park. In 2002, Chuck Foster would make a big move into the head coaching world and take over the helm of the Boerne Greyhounds, where in 2004 they would capture the UIL Class 4A Championship. Join us for a great career retrospective that includes a lot of discussion of growing up in Houston during the 80s, a magical baseball journey, and continued success today as the Head Coach of The Champion Chargers. We dig deep into the weeds, discuss lots of former Boerne players, and forever memorialize a tremendous career in education. Want to know what it takes to be a great assistant? Woooo! Wait until we tell you about some of the great qualities of longtime assistant coach, John Uecker. So, put on y

We reach back to humble beginnings in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to a career as the Head Football Coach at Odessa High, San Antonio Marshall, and Dickinson, all the way to becoming an athletic administrator with Round Rock and NISD, we cover it all! The name of Coach Dub Farris is easily recognizable because of the thousands of people that fill Farris Stadium on a regular basis, not to mention the many that drive by the beautiful facility (located along 1604 in San Antonio) on a daily basis. It was a real pleasure and honor to take an hour to listen in to stories from the career of a Texas High School Football Coaching Legend, as we traveled all throughout the State of Texas. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Alan Rich was elected to the Boerne ISD Board of Trustees in 2006. Prior to that, he grew up in San Antonio, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Alan then went on to Abilene Christian, before returning to the area and become an elected member of the Boerne ISD School Board. Alan is the last remaining board member that I served with, and following the completion of his current term, will have 15 years experience on the BISD Board. We'll be talking about all kind of things school board related, as well as, Alan's background, family, and much, much more! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Coach Devlyn Lovell has coached teams at the Antonian College Preparatory High School to 15 state championships. We will be talking all about the TAPPS world and in the middle of two runs at Antonian, we'll talk about Coach Lovell's transition to the college world, before coming back to the high school level. Track and Field fans will want to listen closely, as well as those coaches out there that often think about the college ranks. We'll go deep into the process of making what is practically a career change, as we follow Coach Lovell's career from San Antonio all the way out to New Mexico and back. We'll talk all about his time running in college and going to Thomas C. Clark High School in San Antonio... What was that area even like before they built the rim and La Cantera? We can't wait to hear it all! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Coach Zayas coached me twenty years ago in the eighth grade, when I was a snot-nosed little punk in the jr. high at Boerne Middle School! Believe me, I was not easy to deal with! Fast-forward two decades later and this man is in charge of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (or what we call the "UIL" here in Texas). Coach spent a couple of years in Texas Public Education as a teacher and coach in Boerne and at Pflugerville Connally, prior to heading to New Mexico to work on his PhD. He ended up landing a job that lasted ten year with the New Mexico Activities Association (Similar to UIL), prior to taking a chance at the Executive Director role with the NYSPHSAA, and landing the job! We'll be talking all about Athletic Administration and what it takes to be in that line of work for our listeners that are interested in that particular area. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Coach Steve Van Meter spent the majority of his career as the Head Football Coach of the Friendswood Mustangs, a program that has only known four different head football coaches in it's entire 60+ year existence. "Coach Van" not only coached the mustangs for twenty years, but he also played on the 1973 Friendswood team that won the state championship, under Coach Henry Winston. In his twenty years at Friendswood, Coach Van Meter won more than 185 games in twenty-five total years as a head coach. He led teams to the State Semifinals on two occasions, and the quarterfinals three times while in Friendswood. Coach Van went on to Hutto and led the Hippos to the State Quarterfinals, as well. You won't want to miss this episode! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

One of the few reporters I've ever liked!  Russell Hawkins has photographed some of the best athletes and biggest events in Texas sports.  We'll be talking about his time in the USMC, officiating football games out in El Paso, covering the Sun Bowl, and so much more!  Mr. Hawkins is a quiet and very humble man, and I can't wait for this sit-down interview to start chipping away at the great stories of a man that has been an unsung hero in making high school athletes feel like a big deal for a long time... whether they were a big deal or not.  Coming this weekend!   https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Stan Leech is very unique in the State of Texas. Most ADs are head football coaches, but when Stan Leech got the chance to assume the Athletic Director position in Boerne, he orchestrated an era of unmatched athletic success in the small community by hiring quality coaches, supporting all programs, and loving kids, which ultimately led to levels of achievement beyond any era in Boerne history. You won't want to miss out on a podcast that is sure to include some great Sam Champion stories, and many stories about some of the best times in Boerne history, including his start in Yorktown working under episode #1 guest, Tommy Bludau. Coach Leech amassed over 800 wins as a head basketball coach and took teams in Boerne to the state tournament on two separate occasions, with a state runner-up team in 1990. Coming this weekend! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

Lt. Col. Bill Sultenfuss is a retired United States Marine and retired public educator.  When I moved to Boerne in 1996, living on Park Place created great opportunities to make friends such as, Chris Lowry, Brad Henson, and Matt Beaman, which led to a highly rational fear of the scary old guy who usually screamed at us, "Get out of my yard!", while dropping passes by the tree he had planted in our South Endzone (AKA the start of his yard).  Coach Sultenfuss coached track, football, and taught numerous classes at Boerne High.  He was our world geography teacher in 9th grade and while his style may have seemed crass to some, he typically offered a harsh dose of reality to each of our individual deficiencies.  The style he used, one might say, has become obsolete in our over-sensitized country, which is a shame, because it was often a great motivator to be laughed at for failing math.  With three older brothers, I definitely understood what his angle was and was so fortunate to have bee

Dave Fulkerson was the cross country coach at Boerne High School and Boerne - Samuel V. Champion High School, where he led teams to six state championships and the 2009 Nike Cross National Championship. Tune in to hear about his upbringing in Oregon, a state title in Hawaii, and much much more! https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

His Texas Sports Hall of Fame Biography says it all! http://www.tshof.org/about/thsfhof/details/index.html?staff_id=846 Three state titles, three perfect seasons, the 1991 tie in the semifinals, and everything else one might imagine. This will be a podcast you can't possibly afford to miss. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support

His Texas Sports Hall of Fame Biography says it all! http://www.tshof.org/about/thsfhof/details/index.html?staff_id=846 Three state titles, three perfect seasons, the 1991 tie in the semifinals, and everything else one might imagine. This will be a podcast you can't possibly afford to miss. https://talelightspodcast.com/podcast-interviews talelightspodcast@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erik-thormaehlen/support