MWHS 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame class announced

Apr. 27—The Mineral Wells High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has announced thee 2015 Ram football team, Jason Breisch and Rachel (Holamon) Donahue as the 2023 Class of the Mineral Wells High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

These inductees left an enduring mark on their respective programs and the local sports community, and will be celebrated at the induction ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at at Mineral Wells High School. Sportscasting legend and former WFAA Channel 8 Sports Director Dale Hansen is the keynote speaker.

2015 Ram football team

In 2015, the Mineral Wells Ram football team reached never-before-seen heights in its program's history. After starting the season with a double overtime loss to Bridgeport, the Rams rattled off a five-game winning streak that ended at the hands of the District 4-4A Champion Decatur Eagles. Following that loss, the Rams regrouped to close out the regular season on a three-game winning streak, including wins over rivals Graham and Burkburnett. Entering the bi-district round at 8-2, Mineral Wells defeated Snyder 27-22, and a week later in the area round, the team continued its magic by dominating the Pampa Harvesters, the District 1-4A district champion, 41-20. With this victory, the Rams captured the first area round championship in school history. The following week in the regional final, the team fought valiantly yet lost to perennial powerhouse Brownwood 23-13, bringing its season to an end. Among the school records set by this squad include yards of total offense in a season (5,459), passing yards in a season (2,966), receptions in a season (57 — Jordan Duckett), tackles in a game (26 — Stefon Sandoval), and TD passes in a game (6 — Tristan Perry).

As a result of this historic season, multiple Rams were showered with various accolades for their performance on the field. A record six Rams were selected to the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 4A All-State Football Team, including Stefan Sandoval (LB), Jordan Duckett (WR), Johnny Morales (RB), Patrick Carraway (DB), Cameron Weiss (DB), and Tristan Perry (P), and the team was named 2015 Class 4A Team of the Year by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Furthermore, 17 Rams were selected to the District 4-4A All-District Team, highlighted by Andy Garcia's recognition as Defensive Lineman of the Year, and the Mineral Wells Coaching Staff as Coaching Staff of the Year, including Head Coach Gerald Perry, Offensive Coordinator Chris Olson and Defensive Coordinator Seth Hobbs.

Rachel (Holamon) Donahue

Rachel (Holamon) Donahue graduated from Mineral Wells High School in 1994. During her time in high school, she was a member of the Student Council, president of the National Honor Society and was selected to attend the American Legion Auxiliary Texas Bluebonnet Girls State in the summer of 1993.

Rachel earned varsity letters in basketball, volleyball, and track and field; however, she made her name in this area for her skills on the basketball court. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Gary Young, Rachel helped lead the Ramette basketball team on a historic run. In 1991-1992, the district champion team reached the regional semifinal, losing to the eventual state champion Canyon Randall Lady Raiders. During the 1993-1994 season, Rachel, as team captain, led the district champion team to a regional final appearance against the Lady Bulldogs of Borger, losing in heartbreaking fashion, 61-58. During her time on the team, Rachel earned All-District and Academic All-District status all four years of high school, culminating with District MVP honors in 1994. She also secured Second Team All-Region honors her junior and senior years. Rachel was selected to play on the prestigious Whataburger Team from 1991-1993, winning the championship and being named MVP in 1992. Rachel graduated Mineral Wells as the record-holder for career blocked shots (64), most rebounds (357) and second for most points in a single season.

After receiving more than 30 offers to play basketball collegiately, Rachel decided to play in the celebrated Southwest Conference, accepting an offer to compete for the Texas Christian University Lady Frogs. Rachel was a four-year starter at TCU where she was a finalist for Freshman of the Year in 1995. Her teams appeared in the conference tournament in 1995 and 1996.

Rachel graduated from TCU in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations. She is the former executive director of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and she currently serves as the national director of Leadership Giving and Signature Events for the Hydrocephalus Association. Rachel lives in Weatherford and has a son, Hunter, who is a sophomore at in the M.J. Neely School of Business and John V. Roach Honors College at Texas Christian University.

Jason Breisch

Jason Glenn Breisch is a 1993 graduate of Mineral Wells High School. He was the Key Club President, a member of the Student Council and the National Honor Society, and graduated No. 3 in his graduating class.

Jason lettered in football and track during his time in Mineral Wells. Breisch began his varsity track career in 1991, earning all-district honors in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles. In 1992, he was the district champion in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles and earned All-Region in the 300 hurdles, placing third at the regional meet. In 1993, Breisch, the captain and co-MVP of the team, was the district champion in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, and triple jump, and was named High Point Scorer at the 6-4A District Meet. This team (a 2002 inductee to the MWHS Hall of Fame) won Head Coach Jackie Harvey the first of his many district championships in track and field. Breisch went on to win the regional championship in both hurdle races and concluded his high school career with a second-place finish in the 300 hurdles and a sixth-place finish in the 110 hurdles at the 1993 UIL Texas State Track & Field Meet. During his time at Mineral Wells, Jason garnered All-State and Academic All-State honors, was named a WFAA/McDonald's Scholar-Athlete of the Week, broke three school records, and received numerous offers to compete collegiately.

Jason followed fellow Ram sprinter Casey Schultz (a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee) to Fort Worth and Texas Christian University and competed for the Flyin' Frogs Track and Field Team coached by former Olympic Head Coach Bubba Thornton. In 1994, Breisch earned All-Southwest Conference status as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team during both the indoor and outdoor seasons while also competing in the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles. The following year Jason transferred to Angelo State University to learn from Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame Head Coach David Noble and burst onto the national stage at the West Texas school. From 1995 through 1997, Breisch competed in the 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, triple jump, and 4x400 meter relay and was a six-time All-Lone Star Conference performer. Breisch finished his collegiate career as a five-time NCAA Division II All-American, a member of the second-place team at the 1997 NCAA Division II men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, a three-time Academic All-American, and a provisional qualifier for the 1996 Olympic Trials in Atlanta with his performance in the 400 hurdles.

Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University, Jason earned a master's degree from Texas Tech University and a juris doctorate from St. Mary's University School of Law. Jason has practiced law for nearly 20 years and currently serves the citizens of Mineral Wells as the City's Finance Director. He and his wife, Stefani, have two children, Micah Alley (16) and Jacob Jinks (13).

About the Mineral Wells High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The purpose of the Mineral Wells High School Athletic Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor MWHS alumni athletes, teams, coaches and special contributors for outstanding athletic achievement.

The selection committee is comprised of Mineral Wells High School graduates and inductees of this Hall of Fame. To be eligible for nomination to the Mineral Wells High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the candidate must meet the following criteria:

—Minimum of seven years after graduation from MWHS.

—Demonstrate good moral character.

—Achieve All-District or higher in one or more sports.

—Achieve outstanding performance at the regional, state, collegiate or professional level.

—Demonstrate exceptional spirit, integrity, and dedication.

—Achieve district-, regional- and/or state-level performance (team)

—Provide exceptional support to MWHS athletics, including coaching, service, and/or monetary support.

The induction ceremony is open to the public and will be followed with a luncheon after the program. Tickets for the luncheon are $25 per person. Call 940-325-5600 or email mwhsathletichof@gmail.com to purchase tickets.