West Brook handoff

West Brook's Christine Michael (No. 33, center) takes a handoff from Christian Louis (No. 12, right) during a high school football game at Memorial High School in Port Arthur on Friday, Oct. 26, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Walking the halls

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Gerald Mouton (center) prepares for his drive to Austin with friends Gabbie VanHook (left) and Christian Diaz (right) at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. Gerald Mouton, a West Brook High School senior, is one of very few area wrestlers and is the only one going to the state championship this week. Despite the challenges he faced throughout his life, he remains undefeated at 34-0.

5A hoops throwdown

West Brook's Donte Lopez (No. 11, left) drives the ball into play past Port Arthur Memorial's Shaquille White (No. 2, right) during a basketball game at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise


West Brook's Marcus Malbrough (34, right) gets a piece of the ball before Memorial's Justin Reno (44, left) can take it to the hoop during a basketball game at West Brook High School.



West Brook's William Chu (No. 1, left) and Memorial's JeKore Tyler (No. 10, right) tumble to the floor after an off-balance run at West Brook High School in Beaumont. West Brook won the game 42-38 and advances into the playoffs.

West Brook remains in a three-way tie for first place with Humble and Kingwood. Memorial remains tied for fourth.

Bruins battle Kingwood

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook's Lanard Whittington (No. 23, left) and Jerald Ardoin (No. 20, right) try to get the ball from Kingwood's Stanley Churchwell (No. 15, center) during a high school basketball game at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.


West Brook's Lanard Whittington (No. 23, right) steals the ball as Kingwood's Adam Brown (No. 21, left) gives chase during a high school basketball game at West Brook.



West Brook's Sam Griffith (No. 24, left) looks to steal the ball from Kingwood's Tevin Svihovec (No. 11, right) during a high school basketball game at West Brook.



West Brook's Ryan Grant (No. 3, left) powers past Kingwood's Derek McLea (No. 5, right) during a high school basketball game at West Brook High School in Beaumont. Kingwood won the game 52-46 in overtime.

Williams' rehab

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook High School football player Albert Williams, Jr. (right) works to rehabilitate his knee with athletic trainer Matthew Lewis (left) at the Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute in Beaumont on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.


West Brook High School football player Albert Williams, Jr. has several scars on his knee as he waits on an ice pack at the Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute. Williams, a senior, had knee surgery on Nov. 2. He suffered a ligament tear Oct. 6 during a game against Kingwood.


West Brook High School football player Albert Williams, Jr. (left) works on his knee strength and balance with athletic trainer Matthew Lewis (right) at the Beaumont Bone & Joint Institute. Before the injury, he was considered one of the best running backs in Texas.

Please read "Williams believes scholarship offers will be there after rehab" by Chris Dabe.

Bruins go into hibernation

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook sophomore Stephen Young plays a Sousaphone under the stands before the Class 5A Division II area-around playoff game against Fort Bend Clements in Houston on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.


West Brook's Christine Michael (No. 33, center) drags Fort Bend Clements' Kyle Hoke (No. 7, bottom) as Dylan Thorwaldson (No. 25, left) moves in to assist during the playoff game. Michael rushed 20 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns during the game.


West Brook's Joshua Powdrill (No. 2, center) powers for yards during the playoff game against Fort Bend Clements.


West Brook fans Karen and Chuck Sayles of Beaumont cheer for the Bruins during the playoff game against Fort Bend Clements. The Bruins held a 12-point advantage during part of the 4th quarter.


West Brook's Jordan Garrett (No. 4, left) bobbles the ball as he's hit by Fort Bend Clements' Dylan Thorwaldson (No. 25, right) during the Class 5A Division II area-around playoff game in Houston. West Brook lost the game 36-33 and is finished for the season.

Albert Williams is out for the season

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook High School's Albert Williams (No. 25) runs during a Beaumont Bowl football game against Central at Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. West Brook won the game 34-17.


West Brook High School seniors Ricky LaBeaux (No. 7, left) and Joshua Powdrill (No. 2, right) pay homage to Albert Williams during a football game against Memorial High School in Port Arthur on Friday, Oct. 26, 2007. Williams, also a senior, had knee surgery on Nov. 2 and is out for the season. He suffered a ligament tear Oct. 6 during a game against Kingwood.

See other images of Williams in action.

Smokin' screen

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook High School junior Christine Michael poses for a portrait at the school in Beaumont on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. West Brook has worked on screen pass execution to get defenders out of position.

Incomplete pass

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook's Chris Pinson (No. 17, left) leaps for the ball as Baytown Lee's Michael Mahan (No. 4, right) lets it slip through his fingers on the goal line during a high school football game at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007.

West Brook homecoming

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Willie Fowler (left) greets former coach Richard Tyner (center) as former NFL football player Jerry Ball (right) looks for 1982 teammates before the West Brook High School homecoming football game at the school in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. The game marked the 25th anniversary of the school as well as a reunion of the 1982 state champion Bruins.


Former West Brook High School coaches Webb Broughton (left) and Richard Tyner (right) meet with other members of the 1982 team before the homecoming football game at the school in Beaumont.



West Brook High School assistant principal Nancy Flores (left) pins a boutonniere on Erick Gauthia (right) before a homecoming football game at the school.


West Brook High School principal Bill Daniels (center) and 1982 homecoming queen Kim Lee (left) await the announcement of this year's homecoming queen before a football game at the school.


Sarah Beach (center) is crowned as the West Brook High School homecoming queen by 1982 queen Kim Lee as principal Bill Daniels (left) and her father Chris Beach (right) watch at the school.

West Brook defense

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Atascocita's Brandon Stewart (No. 9, right) gets mauled by a sleuth of Bruins players during West Brook's homecoming football game at the school in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. The game marked the 25th anniversary of the school as well as a reunion of the 1982 state champion Bruins.

West Brook comes home

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook High School's Albert Williams (No. 25, center) gets surrounded by a flock of Atascocita Eagles during West Brook's homecoming football game at the school in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. The game marked the 25th anniversary of the school as well as a reunion of the 1982 state champion Bruins. West Brook won the game 44-6.

Central fumble

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School's Charles Thomas (No. 9) fumbles the ball as he's hit by West Brook's Blake Chavis (No. 10, right) during game two of the Beaumont Bowl in Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 7, 2007. Central eventually recovered the ball to keep possession.

Leader of the band

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook High School drum major Cameron Jean (left) and band director Fred Turner (right) conduct during marching practice at the school in Beaumont on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007.

Beaumont Bowl kickoff

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Football fans for both teams (clockwise from top, left) Kayla Bridges, Paige Nealy, Kiera Bridges, Teria Lavergne and Chelsea Carrier huddle under an umbrella before a high school football game in Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Aug. 31, 2007.


Ozen's Cory Lewis (No. 11) gets facemasked by West Brook's Adorian Underwood (No. 44, left) during a high school football game in Cardinal Stadium. Beaumont has two 4A and one 5A team.


West Brook's Jordan Garrett (No. 4, top) leaps for extra yards while Ozen's Jimmy Johnson (No. 99, left) and Justin Isadore (No. 42, center) hold on during a Beaumont Bowl football game in Cardinal Stadium. Each team plays against the others before regular season to improve skills and garner bragging rights for the year by winning the annual Beaumont Bowl.


West Brook's David Falgout (No. 9, left) leaps for a touchdown while Ozen's Desmond Wilcox (No. 4, right) tries to prevent the score during a high school football game in Cardinal Stadium. West Brook won 26-6 and faces Central today.

Football finishing touches

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook High School linemen work on drills during football practice in Beaumont on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007.


West Brook High School senior kicker Anthony Pileggi gets a drink of water during football practice at the school in Beaumont. Football season begins this week for Texas high schools.

Spinning stars

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Members of the Stars drill team practice at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. Many team members and their parents will travel to New York City during spring break for dance lessons, Broadway shows and sightseeing.

West Brook's playoff bid ends

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook's Tim Ferguson (No. 4, left) races a ball to the plate as Pearland's Reid Wendell (No. 23, right) waits to make the tag during a playoff baseball game at West Brook High School in Beaumont on Friday, May 11, 2007.


West Brook's Todd Wallace (No. 6) pulls away from a head-high ball during a playoff baseball game against Pearland.


West Brook's Will Partain (No. 11, right) steps away from an after-game players' meeting to collect his thoughts. With two players on base, his 7th-inning hit could have given the Bruins the win. Instead, he grounded out and the team's playoff bid ended with the 6-4 loss to Pearland.


West Brook's Jordan Soper (No. 22, left) comforts Josiah Svoboda (No. 8, right) after the team's playoff baseball loss to Pearland at West Brook High School. Svoboda was listed on the starting lineup before Game 1 but never pitched due to a flu-like illness.

Please read "West Brook exits playoffs" by Chris Dabe.

BISD vocational welding program

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School junior Annias Bean works on a weld at the BISD Taylor Career Center in Beaumont on Thursday, March 29, 2007. With many new, high-paying jobs available soon, the school district is training students in metal trades to meet workforce needs.


Central High School senior Zach Mayo (right) works on a computer assisted design as instructor Bid Schroeder (left) grinds the edges off a piece of metal at the BISD Taylor Career Center.


(Left and below) Central High School senior Zach Mayo adjusts the Plasmacam macine at the BISD Taylor Career Center.





(Right) Sparks fly below the Plasmacam machine at the BISD Taylor Career Center.

(Below) Completed pieces rest on a workbench at the BISD Taylor Career Center.





(Right and below) Central High School senior Donald Price operates a track torch at the BISD Taylor Career Center.





Welding and metal trades instructor Bid Schroeder observes as West Brook High School senior Matthew Bender marks measurements on a smoker at the BISD Taylor Career Center.



(Left) Award-winning metal works greet visitors at the BISD Taylor Career Center.

(Below) Central High School junior Annias Bean works on a weld at the BISD Taylor Career Center in Beaumont.




For more information about the program, please read, "Schools train students for lucrative jobs" by Beth Gallaspy.