Male Athlete of the Year
Coach Henry Winston has long been a revered and honored Mustang at FHS and in the community. Serving as Head Football Coach for 26 years, the Mustangs grew from 6-man football into 11-man football. Coach Winston introduced all of Friendswood to the brand of exciting and tough football we love to watch each Friday night in the stadium that bears his name.
Along this journey, Coach Winston and his Mustangs fought and secured the 1973 AA State Football Championship. He challenged his athletes to lead well, be great teammates, and to fight through any adversity that might come their way. This was and has continued to be the standard of characteristics that every Mustang athlete has been called to meet and exceed.
Each year, Friendswood High School is proud to present the Henry Winston “Fightingest Mustang” to the male athlete who embodies those qualities. This year’s recipient is Adam Buffington. Adam played football, basketball, and track in his career at Friendswood, excelling in all areas. As a senior receiver in football, he had 58 receptions for 1127 yards with 13 touchdowns, earning him 1st-team all-district honors.
In Track and Field, Adam was an Area qualifying high jumper and a leg on both the 4×400 and 4×100 relays and narrowly missed a school record in the 4×200 relay. Furthermore, he also was a starter and an elite defender in his junior year in basketball, earning 2nd team All-District honors. Adam will be extending his Football career by joining the Army at West Point. Congratulations to Adam Buffington for being Henry Winston’s “Fightingest Mustang.”
Female Athlete of the Year
Dr. Myrlene Kennedy was a fixture in education for more than 50 years in Friendswood ISD. She was a teacher, an administrator, a musical director, and a coach. Dr. Kennedy was known as a fierce competitor, tough and disciplined, but also had a great heart for the students of Friendswood High School, but even more so for female athletes. No one wanted to see kids succeed more than she did. This year’s Dr. Myrlene Kennedy Award recipient embodies these characteristics.
This year’s recipient is Reagan “RK” Rudolph who stands as a paragon of achievement across multiple disciplines, embodying the essence of leadership and excellence. As a soccer standout, Reagan earned four consecutive varsity letters and started every game of her high school career.
Her soccer journey includes accolades such as being named to the 2nd Team All-District her freshman year and reaching the State Semifinals, followed by earning 1st Team All-District honors as a sophomore and advancing to the Regional Finals. In her junior and senior years, Reagan continued to shine, earning 1st Team All-District honors each season and advancing to the Regional Quarter Finals while compiling an impressive career record of 64 goals and 52 assists.
Not content with just soccer, Reagan made Friendswood Athletic history as the first female varsity football player, contributing as a kicker for three years and helping her team to a District Championship during her sophomore year. Her football career boasts an impressive record of 70 successful extra points out of 73 attempts and a near-perfect 6 out of 7 on-field goals, totaling 88 points scored.
Beyond the field, Reagan excelled in cross-country and track, earning two varsity letters in each sport. She showcased her endurance and determination by qualifying for the cross-country State Championships and achieving regional qualifications in track events at both the 3200m and 800m during her junior and senior years.
Reagan’s remarkable achievements in soccer, football, cross-country, and track underscore her unwavering commitment to excellence and leadership both on and off the field. Her dedication to sportsmanship and success will endure as Reagan continues her soccer career at Saint Leo University in Florida.
Her heart and enthusiasm will be present in her leadership wherever she goes. Dr. Kennedy would be proud. Congratulations to the 2024 Dr. Myrlene Kennedy Award, Reagan Rudolph.
