8/6/12 – 12:01 a.m. – Italy Athletics hosts Midnight Madness to get early start

Image: Italy ISD Superintendent Barry Bassett welcomes everyone to Midnight Madness hosted by Italy Athletics.

Italy ISD Superintendent Barry Bassett welcomes everyone to Midnight Madness hosted by Italy Athletics. (Barry Byers)

Image: Amber Hooker and Lilly Perry are ready for the Watermelon Social to kickoff Midnight Madness.

Amber Hooker and Lilly Perry are ready for the Watermelon Social to kickoff Midnight Madness. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Colin Newman helps layout watermelons for the community to enjoy.

Gladiator Colin Newman helps layout watermelons for the community to enjoy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy ISD School Board Member Curtis Riddle and Angela Janek, a 5th grade ELAR teacher for Italy’s Stafford Elementary, solve the problems to the universe while slicing watermelon for event guests.

Italy ISD School Board Member Curtis Riddle and Angela Janek, a 5th grade ELAR teacher for Italy’s Stafford Elementary, solve the problems to the universe while slicing watermelon for event guests. (Barry Byers)

Image: The 2012-2013 Italy Athletics Coaching Staff — Back row: Brandon Duncan, Melissa Fulmer, Hank Hollywood, Larry Mayberry and Nate Skelton. Front row: Tina Richards, Jessika Robinson, Lindsey Coffman, Michael Chambers, Josh Ward, Wayne Rowe and Brian Coffman.

The 2012-2013 Italy Athletics Coaching Staff — Back row: Brandon Duncan, Melissa Fulmer, Hank Hollywood, Larry Mayberry and Nate Skelton. Front row: Tina Richards, Jessika Robinson, Lindsey Coffman, Michael Chambers, Josh Ward, Wayne Rowe and Brian Coffman.

Image: The field house weight room has been extended and a rollup doors have been added for better ventilation.

The field house weight room has been extended and a rollup doors have been added for better ventilation. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Zackery Boykin checks out his new locker space with his parents Sally and Kelly.

Senior Gladiator Zackery Boykin checks out his new locker space with his parents Sally and Kelly. (Barry Byers)

Image: T.P.W. — Gladiators Jalarnce Lewis, Marvin Cox and Eric Carson spell it out. The Athletic Department’s motto is, “Tough People Win.” At least they didn’t have to spell it in cursive!

T.P.W. — Gladiators Jalarnce Lewis, Marvin Cox and Eric Carson spell it out. The Athletic Department’s motto is, “Tough People Win.” At least they didn’t have to spell it in cursive! (Barry Byers)

Image: Ready to view a movie under the moon on Willis Field.

Ready to view a movie under the moon on Willis Field. (Barry Byers)

Image: Everyone’s excited as midnight draws closer. Thanks Morgan for making this an action shot!

Everyone’s excited as midnight draws closer. Thanks Morgan for making this an action shot! (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Films presents Unnecessary Roughness while everyone relaxes before the midnight workouts and 2:00 a.m. pancake breakfast to follow.

Gladiator Films presents Unnecessary Roughness while everyone relaxes before the midnight workouts and 2:00 a.m. pancake breakfast to follow. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Hollywood releases his Gladiators into battle practice.

Coach Hollywood releases his Gladiators into battle practice. (Barry Byers)

Image: King of the Squat: 525 pound squatter Hank Seabolt, a junior, prepares to anchor Italy’s defensive front at nose guard as Coach Brandon Duncan takes the defense thru its paces.

King of the Squat: 525 pound squatter Hank Seabolt, a junior, prepares to anchor Italy’s defensive front at nose guard as Coach Brandon Duncan takes the defense thru its paces. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior, Chase Hamilton will be one of Texas 1A Football’s top hitters this season bar none. In his third season as part of the varsity squad, Hamilton will have an impact in all three phases of the game. Hamilton demonstrated his ability to return a kickoff the distance in a 2A district title match against Centerville in 2011.

Senior, Chase Hamilton will be one of Texas 1A Football’s top hitters this season bar none. In his third season as part of the varsity squad, Hamilton will have an impact in all three phases of the game. Hamilton demonstrated his ability to return a kickoff the distance in a 2A district title match against Centerville in 2011. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cody Medrano, a junior, works on defensive pass coverage during Midnight Madness.

Cody Medrano, a junior, works on defensive pass coverage during Midnight Madness. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiators Jalarnce Lewis and Marvin Cox are all focus.

Senior Gladiators Jalarnce Lewis and Marvin Cox are all focus. (Barry Byers)

Image: Together they really can! Italy Family!!

Together they really can! Italy Family!! (Barry Byers)

Image: Marvin Cox and Eric Carson will handle Italy’s quarterbacking duties this season.

Marvin Cox and Eric Carson will handle Italy’s quarterbacking duties this season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Josh Ward works with the running backs.

Coach Josh Ward works with the running backs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Volleyball player Amber Hooker gets a “good job” hug from Dustyn Duke.

Lady Gladiator Volleyball player Amber Hooker gets a “good job” hug from Dustyn Duke. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiator Volleyball players Bailey Eubank and Kelsey Nelson are still smiling despite a brutal Midnight Madness workout inside the domed Coliseum.

Lady Gladiator Volleyball players Bailey Eubank and Kelsey Nelson are still smiling despite a brutal Midnight Madness workout inside the domed Coliseum. (Barry Byers)

Image: Yum! A 2:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast was served inside the Italy High School cafeteria after the Midnight Madness workout.

Yum! A 2:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast was served inside the Italy High School cafeteria after the Midnight Madness workout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Team Unity: Lady Gladiator Volleyball players practiced together and then ate together during the pancake breakfast.

Team Unity: Lady Gladiator Volleyball players practiced together and then ate together during the pancake breakfast. (Barry Byers)

Image: Midnight Madness will hopefully prove to be the “Breakfast of Champions” as Gladiators John Hughes, Cody Boyd and Jaray Anderson have a few pancakes for luck.

Midnight Madness will hopefully prove to be the “Breakfast of Champions” as Gladiators John Hughes, Cody Boyd and Jaray Anderson have a few pancakes for luck. (Barry Byers)

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