March 8, 2023
Pres Holcomb remembers sitting down at the end of last soccer season and added the most recent year’s record to his running career log.
Kingwood had gone 18-6-2 and reached the Regional Quarterfinals in 2022. The 18 wins put him just nine shy of career win 250 as he headed into his 19th season as a head soccer coach in 2023. It would be his eighth at Kingwood.
Being so close to this milestone, Holcomb knew he would probably reach it in 2023. Something to look forward to as he continued his battle against cancer.
“Soccer is a big-time escape,” Holcomb said. “I love teaching too but soccer is my passion. Being able to let that be in my headspace and not cancer all the time has been beneficial. I’ve been lucky I’ve been able to do it the whole time. I haven’t had to stop. That’s been nice.”
In December of 2019, Holcomb was diagnosed with colon cancer. Since then, it left his colon, went to his liver, was cleared out of there and now resides in his lungs. Holcomb currently receives chemotherapy treatment every two weeks, which he gets on a Saturday morning usually and ends it on Monday.
Despite all of this, Holcomb has continued to coach. His teams have continued to win. And on February 11, with a 6-0 victory over Humble, Holcomb’s career win mark officially pushed to No. 250.
“The wins are nice because you are at a school that’s successful but it’s about the kids,” Holcomb said. “I love coaching the kids. We have a great group here. They are very supportive of me. That’s what I draw from.”
Holcomb was honored after the win with a commemorative soccer ball that was signed by the team and more.
“They just blew us away,” Jenny Holcomb said. “Things that I didn’t know were going to happen happened. A very sweet speech from one of our parents, the cake and the girls were just so happy. It was the most precious thing.”
Pres added: “I love coaching here.”
As Pres has continued to teach at Kingwood High School, lead practice and coach games, his wife Jenny has been there by his side serving in two roles. First his wife and secondly, a coach’s wife.
“As a coach’s wife it has been hard to let him use a lot of energy in this way but I know that this is what he loves, so it is easy also in the same breath to support that,” Jenny said. “As a wife, I try to guard our family time. He’s good at balancing both things, family life and coaching life. We’re just a good team like that. It’s good.”
Pres added: “She’s pretty much at every game home and away. It’s a lot for her. Obviously for two days a week I’ve been out, which has been normal for 20 years. Now that I’m down and out, she’s there to keep me on track. There’d be no way I could do it without her and the fact that she writes and posts everything keeps peoples questions answered a lot.”
Just like the soccer season, the Holcombs continue to push on with their sixth grade son Carter and freshman son Kyle helping fill their schedules with activities along the way.
Since February 11, Kingwood has won its next four matches, pushing him to 254 wins as Kingwood prepares for the 2023 playoffs, which is where Pres is excited to be. Excited to be on the sideline for another playoff run with 15 seniors on this year’s roster as they eye a return to the Region III-6A Championship for the first time since 2019.
Through it all. The parents and community have been there for the Holcombs, lifting them up as Pres continues to pour his passion for soccer into his players on a daily basis. And celebrating milestones on and off the field along the way.
“The parents are phenomenal,” Jenny said. “In the stands they are always asking me, giving me a hug, saying they are praying for us. It’s really sweet and it never has dwindled. It has always been a constant steady pace of support and encouragement. We’re very blessed to be here in Kingwood.”
“One of the comments we get frequently is ‘he doesn’t even look like he has cancer’ because he is living life as normal as he can. I think that’s his goal. It helps him mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Soccer, school and his kids at home and their schedules gives him the life he wants to live, so he really tries to focus on that. He’s really good at mind over matter.”
Ashley Boyd reaches Win No. 200 for Atascocita Softball
Ashley Boyd has racked up the wins since taking over the head-coaching seat for Atascocita softball in 2015.
Boyd was elevated from an assistant coach role following the sudden passing of head coach James Grotenhuis, 45, in July of summer of 2014.
In just her third season at the helm, the Eagles made a run all the way to Austin and claimed the 2018 Class 6A State Championship, defeating New Braunfels Canyon 5-3. It was the program’s first-ever state title.
Stacking up successful seasons on top of each other, Boyd entered this season nearing a milestone victory.
On February 24, following a 13-2 victory over Magnolia, it marked the fifth win of the season for the Eagles and win No. 200 of her career for Boyd.
“I’m appreciative of the players that have allowed me the opportunity to be on the winning side 200 times in my career,” Boyd said. “Every year has challenges and demands different things from a coaching staff. This is a testament to the assistant coaches that I have had, particularly Alyssa Carroll, who has been with me for all 200. Coaches don’t set out for individual accolades, rather to have a successful program year after year and I feel we have accomplished that so far.”
Kelly Mead reaches win No. 400 at Kingwood Baseball
Just days into his 16th season of leading Kingwood Mustang baseball, Kelly Mead watched as his team pulled out a 4-3 victory over Cypress Creek in the opening tournament of the year.
It was just the third game of the year but for the veteran head coach, it was a career milestone.
Win No. 400.
“I felt in the beginning it was just another win,” Mead said. “My varsity assistants (Jared Burt & Micheal Oros) had planned something. When I noticed all these alumni showing up I started to realize that something was going on. I have been very fortunate, as a coach, to have and have had some very special players.
“I could have never gotten to 400 without mentors, assistant coaches, and great players that bought into what we were trying to do. It is very special, with many coaches and players to be thankful for.”