First it was advancing all the way to the basketball state tournament. Up next was earning a trip to the state track and field meet. Then the football team finished the season undefeated to win an outright district title and advance to the region semifinals.

2008 was certainly a banner year for New Waverly. Even more so for Tyren Watts, who played a significant role in all three events, which is why he was chosen The Huntsville Item’s Male Athlete of the Year.

As a sophomore, Watts helped the New Waverly hoops team exorcise some demons.

Despite winning multiple district championships the past few years, the Bulldogs just couldn’t get past the area round.

But that all changed and the Bulldogs won playoff game after playoff game before winning their first regional championship.

Watts’ ability to pick off passes and sprint down the court for easy layups was essential for the Bulldogs’ transition game. But that wasn’t all the first-team all-district guard brought to the team. Watts also showed great vision in finding the open man once he was able to get in the lane.

“He was mainly our intensity setter,” head coach Bill Goffney said. “He really wasn’t the leading scorer, but he was always the defensive stopper. If there was anybody I felt we were going to have problems with, I’d put Tyren on that guy.

“Offensively, he set the tempo of getting the ball up and down the court. He’s very unselfish with the ball. He didn’t look to score. He looked to get the ball into the right people’s hands. That’s what a good point guard does.”

During the season in which the Bulldogs finished 35-3, Watts scored 10.4 points per game. He tallied 113 assists, 26 blocked shots, 124 rebounds and 91 steals.

The Bulldogs’ season ended in the state semifinals with a loss to Tuscola Jim Ned. Watts was a part of New Waverly history, being on the first New Waverly team to make it to state.

Little did he know that it was only the beginning of his stellar year.

Just as soon as basketball was over, Watts traded in his high tops for track shoes.

Even though Watts joined the track team late due to the basketball team’s lengthy playoff run, he didn’t miss a beat.

In the Class 2A Region IV meet in San Marcos, Watts won the silver medal in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.65 seconds to earn his second straight appearance at the state meet.

“Seeing him qualify for state was more of a surprise than when he did it as a freshman,” New Waverly head coach Eldridge McAdams said. “If you look at it, we had a long run in basketball. Tyren ran only one meet before district. He ran the Caldwell meet. Then it was district, regional qualifier and regionals. He only ran four times.

“It was surprising because he was so far behind the other runners who had seven or eight meets under their belts. That’s what’s scary about it because he just goes out and runs on athletic ability.”

Watts began training even more for the state meet, frequently heading out to the track after school to lower his time, often without the direction of McAdams.

“This year, I’m actually practicing and working hard,” Watts said. “Last year, I just ran to see how far I could get. This year, I’m working hard so I can get better. Every week my time goes down, which means I’m getting better at it. I definitely have to take practice seriously. Last year, I didn’t take it real serious.

“Everything I did last year was just off natural ability. It got me to realize that if I could get to that stage on natural ability, imagine what it could be like if I worked harder.”

But it didn’t pan out for Watts, who again finished sixth at the state meet.

“Right now, I can’t explain it,” Watts said after finding a rare shady place at Mike A. Myers Stadium to sit and reflect a bit. “I think I slowed down at the 200 mark. I was in third until the 200 mark, but I think I kind of slowed down. I tried to catch back up, but I couldn’t.”

Watts then changed gears again and started getting ready for football during the summer months. He attended defensive coordinator Paul Donelson’s strength and speed camp during the summer.

The hard work in the summer heat paid off as Watts helped the Bulldogs roll through the regular season undefeated en route to an outright district title and win two playoff games before bowing out to eventual state champion Daingerfield in the region semifinals.

Watts tallied 1,861 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on 251 carries. Watts also returned a punt 76 yards for a score and caught a 47-yard pass for a touchdown.

Due to his success, Watts was named as an all-state second-team selection.

“It’s a real big honor for me,” Watts said. “Your junior year is supposed to be your best year. Last year was like a coming-out party for me. It was a test to see how far I could go. I knew I could go farther. Being named on an all-state second team means that next year is going to be even better.”

For Male Athlete of the Year, Watts beat a strong group that included Huntsville High football, basketball and track star Kirby Ennis, Sam Houston State pitcher Dallas Gallant, Huntsville High/Sam Houston State golfer Caleb LeNorman, Bearkat basketball standout Ryan Bright and Huntsville golf professional Robert Thompson.