In honor of its Centennial, the University Interscholastic League is inviting fans all over Texas to help them select All-Century Teams in the major high school sports. You can vote for LHHS 1996 grad Erin Aldrich on the UIL website today.
Former Wildcat Erin Aldrich was already voted onto the All-Century Volleyball Team (she also played for the U.S. National Volleyball Team), and she’s been nominated for track and field as well. She was left off the original voting list, but her Lake Highlands Junior High track coach, Deanna Carillo, persevered advocating on her behalf and now Erin’s on the High Jump ballot. The honor will be determined by online voting by fans, so Erin (and LH) need your help.
Erin’s best high school high jump was 6’ 2.75”. That’s higher than anyone on the nominated list. Her personal best is 6’ 5.5”.You can read more about Erin’s accomplishments, including her participation in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, in this recent Advocate story.
“The first time Erin high jumped was at Highlander School’s annual field day,” Erin’s dad, John, told me. “She always did well just doing what came naturally. She usually beat everyone handily, even the boys.” Erin has returned to Highlander, Forest Meadow, and LHHS to speak to kids about her Olympic experiences. Her parents, John and Susan, still live in their Caribou Trail LH home.
“Erin loved competing so much that when she was very young and playing soccer, she would come into our bedroom very early Saturday morning and stand by our bed in her uniform, shin guards and cleats and ask, ‘when are we going to the game and what time does it start?’ It was usually still dark outside,” said John.
When Erin was in 9th grade – still at Forest Meadow Junior High back then – her coaches had to petition to permit her to compete at the Texas Relays. She won the high jump against an all-high-school field. Subsequently, she was invited to train at the US Olympic Training Center.
Voting for the All-Century Track Team ends April 17. While you’re on the UIL website, you can also see results of voting for the various sports as they are determined.
