Latest news with #Westmont
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Homeschooled Lindsey Cocks makes difference playing for Plano, her dad's alma mater. ‘She loves being a Reaper.'
Players want to play, and make no mistake, Plano's Lindsey Cocks is a player. It's one reason why the senior shortstop/third baseman and two-time all-state selection was disappointed Tuesday when her team's nonconference home date with Princeton was postponed. She's on a roll, hitting at .579 only six games into the season. And like any player on a hot streak, Cocks wants to keep it going rather than taking swings in the batting cage in the school's gym. But there's also the fact that her dad, D.J., would have had a rare opportunity to watch his daughter — who's in her fourth varsity season — actually play in person. 'It is disappointing,' Lindsey said. 'It's a bummer. He's home today and could have come out for this game.' D.J. teaches at Westmont, where he also coaches the baseball team. His Sentinels had an off day during their spring break, freeing him up. 'It's always good to see him in the crowd,' Plano coach Dwayne Love said. 'He's one of our biggest backers out there. Whether he's doing it from the stands or afar, we know he's out there.' Always. D.J. Cocks, a Plano native, played for retired coach Jim Schmidt and his former assistant, Love. D.J. coached four years at Newark and four years at his alma mater before going to Westmont in 2011. He started this season with a career record of 388-294 and needs nine wins to reach 400. He will review his Lindsey's games with her when he gets home and has been known to even check in with his wife, Nicole, by call or text from his game to ask, 'How's she doin'?' More often than not, Lindsey, a Judson recruit, is doing quite well. She hit .385 as a freshman and followed that up with seasons of .471 and .519. 'It's crazy,' Lindsey said of playing for the same coach her dad had. 'It's cool, though, seeing how my dad turned out. I know that (Love) is one of the best, and he's always been there for me.' Lindsey, her 16-year-old brother and two younger siblings are all homeschooled. Lindsey has taken two classes at the high school each year to be eligible to play for the Reapers. She has also played travel ball with the Yorkville Lady Reds since she was 8. 'I didn't know anybody coming in here my freshman year, and taking those classes with a few of my teammates really helped me,' Lindsey said. 'I've been blessed. The girls have all been nice, friendly and welcoming.' She remembers her first experience playing softball. 'My dad took me back into our backyard, set up the net and said 'I want you to start swinging,'' Linsdey said. She's been hitting rocket shots ever since, including Wiffle balls over the 107 sign her mom made for an outfield fence post on dad's makeshift field. 'Yeah, she came home (Tuesday) and was teeing the ball up for her little brother,' D.J. said. 'It's tough that I'm coaching, too, and can't see her high school games, but with GameChanger, I can watch them and I see all her travel games. 'I'm proud of the fact she loves being a Reaper and loves coach Love and would run through a wall for him.' Lindsey Cocks shares shortstop and third base with fellow senior Taylor Downs, who's hitting .381 and leads Plano (3-3) with seven RBIs from the leadoff spot. Cocks had three hits with a homer, double and three RBIs Monday in a 16-15 eight-inning win at Mendota. She stole four bases to give her a program career-record 63. Pitching struggles have helped limit Plano to four and six wins the last two seasons respectively, but Cocks and Love thinks this team will improve on those marks. 'When I get on base my philosophy is, 'Just go. You're faster than the catcher. You can get there,'' Cocks said. 'I feel like this year we have our best team chemistry. 'We don't have to be individuals. We need to come together and do it together.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Westmont school board approves infrastructure expenses
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Westmont Hilltop School Board approved motions for a series of infrastructure expenses at Thursday's meeting, which also included a contract with CJL Engineering for a comprehensive facility study of the high school. 'We're going to be taking a look at the secondary school (and) prioritize some of the projects and the things that need to be done,' Superintendent Thomas Mitchell said. 'Under the circumstance of limited resources, we want to make sure we're prioritizing the right way so that we're good stewards of the building.' He said that the district is roughly nine years removed from the most recent renovations to either building, and this study will help assess areas not previously addressed. According to the $11,500 contract, CJL will perform 'thorough inspections of structural, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and electrical systems to evaluate their condition, functionality and compliance with current standards.' Any deficiencies will be documented, and repairs will be classified by urgency. Mitchell said the board had already approved a roof renovation, an exterior restroom project and exterior door replacement for the high school that will take place throughout the summer and into the fall. The elementary is also scheduled to have a cafeteria floor and bathroom project completed. Funding for that work will be partially covered by a $1 million matching Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant awarded to Westmont in November. In addition to the contract, the board passed motions for the elementary to spend $12,000 on sewer compliance repairs; award a $52,670 contract to John Hall Inc. for domestic hot water replacement work; and purchase $9,000 in classroom furniture. For the high school, the school directors approved $30,000 in classroom furniture; a $3,000 parking lot repair for the dumpster pad; and $13,510 for a tennis court walkway and bleacher pads. The group also approved a new one-year lease starting in July for the upper and lower soccer fields to the Greater Johnstown American Youth Soccer Organization. This is the second year of the agreement, which Mitchell described as 'a great partnership.' Related to sports, the school directors hired Joshua Rearick as the new assistant athletic director. In the position, Rearick will support the Westmont athletic department by organizing elementary athletic programs. Robert Gleason, board president, inquired about how the offerings for younger learners feed into the district-operated sports. Mitchell said part of Rearick's responsibilities will be to formalize and strengthen that effort in collaboration with the Westmont Hilltop Recreation Commission.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Westmont Hilltop's aviation courses taking off
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Westmont Hilltop Junior-Senior High School freshman Kevaughn Lewis was nervous when he took the yoke on the school's new Federal Aviation Administration Redbird TD simulator, but quickly settled into the training exercise of flying from John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport to Somerset County. 'I've been in a lot of different schools in America and they do not have this,' he said. Lewis described the program as realistic, adding he had fun taking the simulator for a spin. PHOTO GALLERY | 'Awesome incentive program': Westmont Hilltop students get outdoors as reward for good grades, discipline Westmont Hilltop High School's soccer field was packed Monday with students throwing snowballs, sledding and building snowmen as part of this marking period's School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports reward day. The Redbird TD is part of the district's new aviation program, which also includes ninth- through 12th-grade courses on 'Introduction to Flight and Aircraft Systems and Performance,' as well as 'Launching into Aviation' and 'Exploring Aviation and Aerospace' – both pathways pilot and unmanned aircraft systems. Westmont joined the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's youth- centered program in October 2023 to acquire this curriculum. In November, the board accepted the donated simulator from local aviation nonprofit Aerium, along with related software, maintenance, training, licenses and other costs carrying a value of nearly $20,000. Westmont Hilltop School Board accepts Aerium flight simulator, approves EADS study Highlights of Thursday's Westmont Hilltop School Board meeting were approval of the Federal Aviation Administration Redbird TD flight simulator donation from Aerium and an EADS Group study to evaluate classroom capacities throughout the district. William Aurandt, high school principal, said the students have responded well to the aviation courses and simulator. Since adoption, there are about 24 students enrolled in the classes, with Westmont planning to implement several more courses soon. The Flying Environment for 10th through 12th grades is expected to be offered in the fall along with 11th- and 12th-grade classes of UAS Operations and a World of UAS. Another course titled 'The Capstone Experience' will likely be available during 2026-27 school year. Assisting with implementation of this curriculum is aviation program instructor Catherine Veranese. She's a 2021 Westmont graduate with a degree in aeronautics from Kent State University who is helping build the framework for the program and training students, such as Lewis, on the simulator. 'It's been really exciting,' she said. 'The kids really like it.' PHOTO GALLERY | Forest Hills boys sweep Westmont Hilltop in District 6 Class 3A semifinal Forest Hills junior forward Brandon Gregovich put it bluntly after his team's dominant 75-47 win over Westmont Hilltop in the District 6 Class 3A semifinals Tuesday night. Veranese works with 12 students per week on the Redbird system, instructing them on altitude and pitch, how to take off and land, and how to navigate using the built-in instruments. 'I love being able to bring this to other people,' she said. The instructor noted that the expected shortages across several fields of aviation, such as pilots and mechanics, require more attention and exposing students to these careers will likely help address that. Christian Resto, an eighth-grader, is looking forward to signing up for Westmont's new courses and eventually pursuing a career as a pilot. He's pursuing his private pilot's license and has a 'passion for aviation,' he said. 'I'm pretty appreciative that Westmont has given us this type of course,' Resto said. Lewis agreed. He said he will likely join the military to pursue a career in aviation, but is glad to have this start in high school.
