2024 Hall of Honor Inductees
LEGACY MEMBERS
Dr. Cary Tanamachi
Mesquite ISD Board of Trustees Member
Dr. Cary Tanamachi is a recognizable name in Mesquite, TX. He began working in Mesquite as an orthopedic surgeon in the 1970s and spent 30 years on the Mesquite ISD School Board. Nearly every MISD building or structure built from 1983-2016 features Dr. Tanamachi’s name at the front. A former high school football player, he developed an interest in sports medicine and brought that to the medical community in Mesquite. Tanamachi joined former superintendent and 2022 Hall of Honor inductee Dr. James Terry in forming the Texas UIL Medical Advisory Committee in 2001. The committee would pioneer several impactful decisions regarding student-athletes, including a concussion protocol for high school athletes that paved the way for modern concussion treatment. The committee required that all schools have at least one AED on campus, a decision that has led to saving the lives of thousands of students across Texas. A champion for public education, Dr. Cary Tanamachi has played a pivotal role in the success of MISD and its students.
COACHES
Mike OvERTON
John Horn High School & West Mesquite High School Head Football Coach
Mike Overton's legacy as a football coach is unmatched in MISD. A career defined by success, “Coach O” holds the distinction of being the winningest coach in MISD football history. His time in Mesquite began in 1987 as an offensive line coach for the Skeeters before transitioning to offensive coordinator in the 90s. A key contributor to the 2001 State Championship team, Overton used that success to propel him to head coaching. After returning to MISD in 2005, Overton quickly established the West Mesquite program as one to beat, making the playoffs in 2006 for the first time in a decade. The team would spend the next six years winning at a high level, not missing the playoffs once under Coach O. After a successful tenure with West Mesquite, Overton made his final stop in MISD one to remember with the John Horn Jaguars. He was named the district coach of the year in 2014 and led the Jags to several district championships. Though he is amongst several trailblazing coaches in MISD football history, only Mike Overton has over 100 wins.
Kelly Thomas
Poteet High School Girls Soccer Coach
Kelly Thomas found coaching later in life but left a significant mark in Mesquite. The Poteet girls' soccer coach took over the program in 2005 after starting his career as a teacher three years earlier. While he had never coached girls before, Thomas quickly found his footing and established himself as someone who cared deeply about his players. Over a 14-year career at Poteet, 68 girls went on to play at the collegiate level with scholarships. Never missing the playoffs, he earned coach of the year multiple times during his tenure. Thomas would finish his career in 2018 with a record of 246-49-28. A key figure in Mesquite girls' athletics, Kelly Thomas will be remembered for putting in the time and effort to see his players succeed in all facets of life.
PLAYERS
Bradie baker Rogers
Poteet High School Softball (Class of 2009)
Bradie Baker Rogers holds many records at Poteet High School. A fearsome pitcher, she won 94 games in four years for the Pirates softball team, a feat that still stands 15 years later. A determined athlete, she was known for throwing every single pitch in games she started. As she improved every year, so did the team. She led the Pirates to three district championships and several playoff appearances. She was named twice to the All-Area and Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State teams. In 2009, Baker Rogers and the Pirates would make a deep playoff run, making it to the state semi-finals, before narrowly losing to the #1 team in the state, 1-0. After graduation, Baker Rogers would go on to play at the next level for the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Texas at Arlington. A Poteet and Mesquite legend, Bradie Baker Rogers still holds the Pirate softball single-season records for strikeouts and wins and is the career leader in career strikeouts, with 1,081.
Christian Rodriguez
North Mesquite High School Football (Class of 1997)
Determination defines the story of Christian Rodriguez. Rodriguez moved to Texas from the Dominican Republic at six years old and was determined to excel in athletics and academics. Experiencing a rocky childhood, he moved in with North Mesquite head coach Mark Elam at the end of his sophomore year. The newfound stability allowed Rodriguez to focus on becoming a better athlete and student. His senior year in 1996 saw him ranked 33 in the top 100 players in Texas. He played a role in the Stallions being the #1 ranked team in the country and ended the season named to the All-District, All-Area and All-State teams. Schutt named him to their All-American squad, and Rodriguez found himself playing in the Cal-Tex Shrine All-Star Game. He would graduate in the top 5% of his class at North before enrolling at Texas A&M University on scholarship. Rodriguez won the Big 12 Championship as an Aggie and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, all while playing football. He would finish his career at A&M with over 100 tackles, double digit sacks and an interception return for a touchdown. He was named First Team Academic All Big XII four years in a row and was a defensive captain in 2001. Rodriguez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts before injury ended his career.
Jordan Monty
Poteet High School Girls Soccer (Class of 2006)
Jordan Monty stood out on the soccer field. Described as elegant, the game came easy to her. Monty helped the Pirates compile a 73-24-6 overall record at Poteet and was named All-District all four years. Her sophomore year saw her named the City of Mesquite High School Player of the Year and district Co-MVP. The Poteet captain joined forces with fellow Hall of Honor inductee coach Kelly Thomas for her final two years and left the school as the career goal leader with 101 goals and 55 assists. She received a scholarship to play at the next level for East Tennessee State University (ETSU), where she quickly built on her previous success. Monty was named the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year, the first in Buccaneer soccer history. Her career came to a close in 2009, making a significant impact as she was named an Atlantic Sun Conference All-Decade player, another first in ETSU history.
Isai Velasquez
West Mesquite High School Boys Soccer (Class of 2013)
Isai Velasquez was born with a love for soccer. Born in El Salvador, Velasquez would only move to the United States on one condition: he had to play on a soccer team. Arriving in Mesquite when he was 12, he hit the ground running. As a freshman, he was named Newcomer of the Year and received First Team All-District honors. Velasquez would only build on that success, becoming District MVP each year over the next three years. He captured the West Mesquite school record for single-season goals, scoring 36 his senior year. Velasquez would also define what it meant to be a student-athlete, graduating 16th in his class and named as an Academic All-State student. However, perhaps his highest achievement is one that has still not been met over a decade later. Of the thousands of MISD boys soccer players in district history, only Isai Velasquez has scored more than 100 goals, his tally sitting at 103. After high school, he would play for Richland College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University, leading both to postseason success. Isai returned to MISD as an assistant coach for John Horn High School before moving to North Mesquite High School, where he serves as the head soccer coach.
TEAMS
North Mesquite High School Football Teams
State Quarterfinalists (1995)
#1 Team in the Nation (1996)
The 1995 and 1996 North Mesquite football teams were two of the greatest teams in MISD history. Led by head coach Mark Elam, the Stallions galloped onto the scene in 1995, five years removed from an 0-10 finish. The team established itself as co-district champions and finished the year as state quarterfinalists, the furthest a North Mesquite team had ever reached in the playoffs. The foundation had been laid for the 1996 team to impose its will - and they did exactly that. Ranked as the #1 team in the nation, the team would have 15 straight weeks of dominance. The Stallions tore through opponents, including MISD Athletics Director Kody Groves and the #2 ranked Odessa Permian Panthers in front of more than 20,000 fans at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. Through 11 games, North had revitalized football in Mesquite. However, the path to continue that dominance dimmed when star running-back Jason Coffey was seriously injured in a game against South Garland. The following week, North would lose to John Tyler in the second round of the playoffs. While the finish wasn’t what they wanted, the 1996 North Mesquite football team is etched in Mesquite ISD and Texas High School football history, with over 30 players going on to play at the collegiate level.