The Tomball Christian Warriors take the next step for both Varsity Football and Cheer. TCW is proud to announce the retirements of Head Varsity Football Coach Chris Criswell and Defensive Coordinator Daryl Price. In addition, TCW Varsity Cheer Head Coach, Christina Barnes will be stepping down as Head Coach to focus on the next chapter of her life but will still support the Varsity Teams in another capacity.

Coach Criswell has led our organization by honoring God, building community and expecting excellence both on and off the field. Coach Criswell became the Warriors 2nd ever Varsity Football Head Coach when he took over for Coach Jack Frey in 2017. Defensive Coordinator Daryl Price brought his NFL experience to create one of the toughest defenses in NHFA. His ability to change a game plan week to week and extend his knowledge to his players was incredible. Under their leadership, the Warriors have enjoyed most recently 3 consecutive Top 4 finishes in the NHFA, including 2 National Runner ups and their highest state and national rankings ever. The program has continued to grow and the team finds itself competing with some of the best. Last season they beat the TSCAAL State Champions and TAPPS State Runner up as well as a tough loss to the eventual SPC State Champion. Both coaches will be missed and we thank them for their time and contributions serving our organization and our young men. Athletic director, Stephanie Hill states, “I want to thank Coach Chris Criswell and Coach Daryl Price for their dedication and commitment to TCW’s football program for the last decade. The impact each coach has had on our athletes transcends the football field leaving us with  memories, mentorship, celebrations in victory and comradery in defeat. Thank you  for always giving your all and helping to raise up our young men. I  wish both coaches nothing but the best. Thank you for being an integral part of growing and developing TCW.” A retirement party will be held on Jan 12th from 6-9 pm at 2920 Roadhouse. We invite all current and former Warriors to come celebrate these men.

Christina Barnes has led our Varsity Cheer Program for the last 3 years. During this time she helped lead our girls and grow our program to 4 full Teams; Junior High, JV, Varsity and Competition Team. The number of girls that she’s helped guide has continued to grow over the years. The last two years she’s helped lead the Competition team to 2 – Top 3 finishes at FCC nationals and 2 Regional Championships, including a national runner up. She continues to lead our girls in a Godly path and encouraging them in their relationships with Jesus. Cheer Director, Kim McDonald states, “Coach Barnes has been an incredible asset to the cheer program for the last 3 years. Her knowledge and love of the sport combined with her love of the Lord has made a huge impact on many young ladies. ” We thank Christina for her dedication and sacrifices to the team and the girls are grateful she has agreed to stay on in another capacity.

Tomball Christian is also excited to announce the appointments of Skeet Alderson as Varsity Head Football Coach and Amy Hippel as Varsity Head Cheer Coach. TCW President Paul Resurreccion says, “Both of these coaches are uniquely qualified to lead their programs. More than being a talented duo of coaches, Coach Alderson and Coach Hippel first and foremost are shepherds of the flocks they are given. They will lead our athletes well.”

Hill added, “I am excited to welcome our new head coach, Skeet Alderson. He has been involved with TCW for the last 5 years as a parent of football players and cheerleaders, assistant coach for our Junior High team and Junior Varsity Coach.  We are confident in Coach Alderson’s ability to transition to our Head Varsity Coach. I am excited to see what Coach Alderson will bring to our team with his enthusiasm, love for the Lord, football and our athletes. ”

Coach Alderson became a Warrior 5 years ago. The last four he has served as JH Special Teams Coordinator, JH Defensive Coordinator and JV Head Coach. Coach Alderson has been a leader for twenty years in local ministry, business, and on the football field. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, The College of Biblical Studies and studied at the Business School at The University of St. Mary. Skeet married his wife, Lisha, in 2002. Together they have 5 kids, 4 of which have been a part of the Warrior program. When he is not on the football field, Skeet is a Vice President of Sales at a growing software company. The Alderson’s have homeschooled for 10 years.

Coach Alderson states, “It is tough to step in after a coach like Chris Criswell. He has shaped the program in so many ways and brought us to a competitive level that is almost unheard of for a homeschool program. I believe that our boys and our coaches will be up to the challenge. We have a young and talented team that I believe can compete at an even higher level next season. With the blessing of God and the support of our amazing Warrior Family, we will continue our pursuit of excellence on and off the field. I believe the future is VERY bright! It is a great time to be a Warrior!”

Taking the helm from Coach Criswell, Coach Alderson will serve as TCW’s third Varsity Head Coach. Coach Alderson states, “For the past decade both Daryl Price and Chris Criswell have blessed our families with countless hours of faithful service and passionate coaching. They leave behind a culture of winning as our boys walk with Christ and play the game of football. They will leave a big void and it will be a challenge for us to fill them, but they also leave a team of coaches steeped in the same approach to coaching and developing young men. Chris and Daryl have left us prepared for what lies ahead.”

McDonald had this to say about Coach Hippel, “Coach Hippel has been with TCW cheer for the past 2 years as an assistant coach. I am very excited to see what all she brings to the program in this new role as head coach. She too, has a love for the Lord and a huge heart for the TCW cheer program. ”

Coach Hippel joined the Warriors 3 years ago. The Hippel family has been with TCW for the past three years.  Amy has helped coach both the JV and Varsity cheer squads while her husband, Heath, coaches on the football field.

Coach Hippel is a native Houstonian and grew up in the Spring/Klein area. She started competitive gymnastics at an early age and then discovered her love for cheer in junior high. She was a member of the highly competitive Klein High School Cheer team and enjoyed both sideline cheer and being on an NCA nationally ranked squad.  She continued to cheer at the collegiate level and was a member of the Texas Christian University Co-ed Cheerleading squad. She was also selected for the TCU All-Girls squad as they competed at college nationals at Daytona Beach.  After graduating with a RN, BSN at TCU, she then went on to work as an Operating Room nurse in a Level 1 Trauma Hospital in Houston. Amy applied the life skills she had learned as a cheerleader by working with the surgical team for the betterment of the patients they served. She continues to apply this mindset as she encourages her husband, raises up her four children, and homeschools them.

Coach Hippel states, “I recognize and admire the impact Christina Barnes has left on TCW cheer in how she helped to grow the program and lead it into the competitive cheer realm. My hopes  are to continue the legacy Coach Barnes has begun.”

For both, being a Head Coach will always mean being a Warrior. We asked Coach Alderson what it’s meant for him being a part of our organization and he stated, “TCW has become an extended family for us. Our oldest boys have played in the JH and HS program and our two daughters have participated in JH cheer. The Warriors have become the anchor that has kept our family in Houston. When career opportunities would have required moving, we chose to stay because we know that what we have here is irreplaceable. TCW has given our kids a community and has given Lisha and I an avenue to impact the next generation for the glory of Christ.”

Coach Hippel also shared this with us, “Our family has enjoyed the camaraderie and friendship of the TCW families and the structure and discipline that the organization has poured into our children…I strongly believe that cheerleading has the ability to raise up Godly women who strive to put others above themselves through encouragement and teamwork.”

Posted in Cheer, Coaching, Football, TCW General News

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