Italy’s Zain Byers signs commitment letter to play football for Austin College

Image: Italy Gladiator Football’s Zain Byers, signs his commitment letter to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos in the fall of 2014. A signing party was held in Zain’s honor at the Italy High School campus on Wednesday. Back row (L-R): Katie Byers (cousin), Brentley Byers (uncle), Barry Byers (father), AD/HFC Charles Tindol and Nancy Byers (aunt). Front row (L-R): John Byers (cousin), Zain Byers and Ann Byers (grandmother).

Italy Gladiator Football’s Zain Byers, signs his commitment letter to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos in the fall of 2014. A signing party was held in Zain’s honor at the Italy High School campus on Wednesday. Back row (L-R): Katie Byers (cousin), Brentley Byers (uncle), Barry Byers (father), AD/HFC Charles Tindol and Nancy Byers (aunt). Front row (L-R): John Byers (cousin), Zain Byers and Ann Byers (grandmother). (Monserrat Figueroa)

Image: Italy ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Charles Tindol addresses students about the importance of being a good student if they might want to play sports at the collegiate level. “Being a good athlete or being musically talented can get you attention but scholarship money is often based on grades, overall GPA, how active you were in your organizations, in volunteering for the community and how high you scored on your ACT and SAT scores.”

Italy ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Charles Tindol addresses students about the importance of being a good student if they might want to play sports at the collegiate level. “Being a good athlete or being musically talented can get you attention but scholarship money is often based on grades, overall GPA, how active you were in your organizations, in volunteering for the community and how high you scored on your ACT and SAT scores.” (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers is joined by many of his fellow seniors while he signs his letter of commitment to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos. Back row (L-R): Bailey Walton, Andrew McCasland, TaMarcus Sheppard, Trevon Robertson, Darol Mayberry and Eric Carson. Front row (L-R): Justin Wood, Cody Medrano, Zain Byers, Kevin Roldan and Tyler Anderson.

Zain Byers is joined by many of his fellow seniors while he signs his letter of commitment to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos. Back row (L-R): Bailey Walton, Andrew McCasland, TaMarcus Sheppard, Trevon Robertson, Darol Mayberry and Eric Carson. Front row (L-R): Justin Wood, Cody Medrano, Zain Byers, Kevin Roldan and Tyler Anderson. (Barry Byers)

Image: Congratulations, Zain! Go Kangaroos in 2014! Now let’s eat some cake!!!

Congratulations, Zain! Go Kangaroos in 2014! Now let’s eat some cake!!! (Barry Byers)

Image: AD/HFC, Charles Tindol, and Italy ISD Superintendent Jaime Velasco support Zain Byers as Zain signs his commitment letter to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos.

AD/HFC, Charles Tindol, and Italy ISD Superintendent Jaime Velasco support Zain Byers as Zain signs his commitment letter to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator backer Richard Cook wishes Zain Byers the best of luck as Zain prepares to transition from Gladiator to Kangaroo.

Gladiator backer Richard Cook wishes Zain Byers the best of luck as Zain prepares to transition from Gladiator to Kangaroo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Members of the Italy Gladiator Football coaching staff are on hand as Zain Byers signs his commitment letter to play football for Austin College. Back row (L-R): Wayne Rowe, AD/HFC Charles Tindol and Bobby Campbell. Front row (L-R): honorary team coach Richard Cook and the man of the hour, Zain Byers.

Members of the Italy Gladiator Football coaching staff are on hand as Zain Byers signs his commitment letter to play football for Austin College. Back row (L-R): Wayne Rowe, AD/HFC Charles Tindol and Bobby Campbell. Front row (L-R): honorary team coach Richard Cook and the man of the hour, Zain Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers is feeling the love after signing his letter of commitment inside George E. Scott Coliseum on the Italy High School campus. Providing the hug is senior teammate TaMarcus Sheppard.

Zain Byers is feeling the love after signing his letter of commitment inside George E. Scott Coliseum on the Italy High School campus. Providing the hug is senior teammate TaMarcus Sheppard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Fellow Gladiator Cody Medrano shares in the moment with his tackling compadre Zain Byers after Byers signed his commit to play football for Austin College. Both played IYAA pee-wee football together, select football, then junior high, JV and varsity football together.

Fellow Gladiator Cody Medrano shares in the moment with his tackling compadre Zain Byers after Byers signed his commit to play football for Austin College. Both played IYAA pee-wee football together, select football, then junior high, JV and varsity football together. (Barry Byers)

Image: Who let the ’Roos out? Ty Windham and Ryan Connor strike a pose with Gladiator teammate Zain Byers after Byers signed his commitment letter to play football for the Kangaroos. I guess the real question here is, “Can Austin College survive?”

Who let the ’Roos out? Ty Windham and Ryan Connor strike a pose with Gladiator teammate Zain Byers after Byers signed his commitment letter to play football for the Kangaroos. I guess the real question here is, “Can Austin College survive?” (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiators Jozie Perkins and Ashlyn Jacinto are gonna miss old Zain next year with Zain now committed to play football for Austin College in Sherman, Texas.

Lady Gladiators Jozie Perkins and Ashlyn Jacinto are gonna miss old Zain next year with Zain now committed to play football for Austin College in Sherman, Texas. (Barry Byers)

Image: Emily Stiles and JoeMack Pitts pose with their senior classmate, Zain Byers, after Byers made it official to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos!

Emily Stiles and JoeMack Pitts pose with their senior classmate, Zain Byers, after Byers made it official to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos! (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiators Madison Washington, Kelsey Nelson, Bailey Eubank and Jaclynn Lewis umbrella Gladiator Zain Byers with support as he signs his commitment letter to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos.

Lady Gladiators Madison Washington, Kelsey Nelson, Bailey Eubank and Jaclynn Lewis umbrella Gladiator Zain Byers with support as he signs his commitment letter to play football for the Austin College Kangaroos. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiators Paige Westbrook and Monserrat Figueroa pose with fellow senior Zain Byers after he signed his commitment letter to Austin College.

Lady Gladiators Paige Westbrook and Monserrat Figueroa pose with fellow senior Zain Byers after he signed his commitment letter to Austin College. (Barry Byers)

Image: Serving the students during the signing party are Nicole Tindol, Lisa Jacinto and Nancy Byers.

Serving the students during the signing party are Nicole Tindol, Lisa Jacinto and Nancy Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers and Italy ISD teacher Vivian Moreland have a laugh during Zain’s signing party.

Zain Byers and Italy ISD teacher Vivian Moreland have a laugh during Zain’s signing party. (Barry Byers)

Image: Teacher mentors Casey Holden and Vivian Moreland were on hand to celebrate the accomplishment with Zain Byers. Is it any wonder that Zain plans to major in education and be a math teacher and coach to high school students?

Teacher mentors Casey Holden and Vivian Moreland were on hand to celebrate the accomplishment with Zain Byers. Is it any wonder that Zain plans to major in education and be a math teacher and coach to high school students? (Barry Byers)

Image: Now it’s a party! Taylor Turner shares the moment with her senior classmate Zain Byers, but she ain’t sharing no cake!

Now it’s a party! Taylor Turner shares the moment with her senior classmate Zain Byers, but she ain’t sharing no cake! (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy ISD AD/HFC Charles Tindol congratulates Zain Byers on his becoming a Kangaroo.

Italy ISD AD/HFC Charles Tindol congratulates Zain Byers on his becoming a Kangaroo. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Morgan Mathews is excited about Zain Byers signing his college commitment letter to play football while the ‘Roo of the hour tries to downplay the fact he’s eating cake in this picture.

Coach Morgan Mathews is excited about Zain Byers signing his college commitment letter to play football while the ‘Roo of the hour tries to downplay the fact he’s eating cake in this picture. (Barry Byers)

Image: Behind every great Gladiator is a faculty and staff that go the extra mile. Lisa Jacinto and Nicole Tindol where just two of many who assisted Zain along his journey to play football at the next level.

Behind every great Gladiator is a faculty and staff that go the extra mile. Lisa Jacinto and Nicole Tindol where just two of many who assisted Zain along his journey to play football at the next level. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy ISDs Joe Tovar congratulates Zain Byers on signing his commitment letter to join the ‘Roos with Zain saying "We’ve been thru a lot together, Joe." Also pictured is Zain’s proud grandmother, Ann Byers.

Italy ISDs Joe Tovar congratulates Zain Byers on signing his commitment letter to join the ‘Roos with Zain saying "We’ve been thru a lot together, Joe." Also pictured is Zain’s proud grandmother, Ann Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Gladiator Zain Byers surrounds himself with several Italy Junior High student-athletes as he signs his letter of commitment to play football for Austin College. Zain’s message to the younger players was for each of them to commit to becoming a better student and someday they could be signing their own commitment letter to compete at the college level.

Senior Gladiator Zain Byers surrounds himself with several Italy Junior High student-athletes as he signs his letter of commitment to play football for Austin College. Zain’s message to the younger players was for each of them to commit to becoming a better student and someday they could be signing their own commitment letter to compete at the college level. (Barry Byers)

Image: Zain Byers is congratulated by junior high Gladiator Clay Riddle and several of Riddle’s teammates. Zain wishes the guys good luck next season as they follow in his cleat steps as incoming freshman.

Zain Byers is congratulated by junior high Gladiator Clay Riddle and several of Riddle’s teammates. Zain wishes the guys good luck next season as they follow in his cleat steps as incoming freshman. (Barry Byers)

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