In its third year of existence, the MAK Agility Camp continues to grow, thanks in large part to the Rockdale community members who support it. People like Herbert Jones and Le’Raven Clark and many other coaches and volunteers throughout Milam County that are too numerous to count, according to Jones. This year’s day-long sports agility camp will be July 13 at Rock-dale High School. When Jones, a former athlete and schoolteacher, first conceived of the idea in 2017, he said he did it to give kids in Rockdale something to hope for and aspire to. “I had a vision of doing something positive for the kids in the community,” said Jones, founding member of the MAK Agility Camp. “I thought of an agility sports camp, because sports has helped me in my life,”he added. Jones was a high school state track champion in Arkansas and won national track titles, while attending NCAA Division I-AA Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. It was Clark, the NFL player, former Texas Tech University All-Big-12 offensive lineman and RHS graduate, all-state selection, who suggested naming the camp after the three Rockdale children, who died in a train-car accident in 2010. They are Monterious Latrell Hancox, 9, Ahkeem Kyshawn Williams, 8 and Ki’adie Latrell Hancox, 4. “I went to him and asked him if I could use his name to help promote the camp,” Jones said. “It was Le’Raven’s idea to name it after the boys.” Monterious and Ahkeem were second graders at RES and played youth sports and were on the Texans football team together. The three children died after the car they were riding in collided with a train off a private railroad crossing and ejected the boys from the vehicle. Jones is no stranger to adversity. He recently received a kidney transplant and has had no complications related to the surgery. Although Clark will not be attending camp this year, because it’s a signing year and has a lot to prepare for, according to Jones, there are plenty of athletes and coaches poised to fi ll in. The camp’s eight training stations will be run by Jones, RHS coaches and volunteers on Saturday, July 13, starting with registration 7 a.m. Jones expects an even larger number campers than previous years. Last year the camp drew 145 students and in 2017 there were over 100 campers. In addition to getting inspiration from local coaches like Lewis Edmonson, RHS track coach. Jones wanted to invite the area clergy to camp to give athletes a word of inspiration from the Bible, which is why Jones chose the words of Jeremiah 29:11 as the theme of this year’s camp.
“For I know the plans I have, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not evil, to give you a future and hope,” Jeremiah 29:11.
“I wanted ministers, pastors or deacons from different churches to come to the camp to speak for five minutes and describe what the scripture is saying,” Jones said. Athletes ages 7 to 18 can register for the free camp by visiting facebook.com/makagility.camp and filling out the registration form. For more information about the skills camp contact Jones at 210-548-5280.
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