This year, Brazosport Independent School District has selected two outstanding recipients for the 74th Gulf Coast Relays Honorary Meet Director title. Representing Brazosport High School as their Honorary Meet Director is Jeanette Sciba, an outstanding athlete from the Exporter class of 1968. Brazoswood High School’s Honorary Meet Director Marc Herns was a state champion pole vaulter from the class of 1975. Both honorees have made the Brazosport area their home and they have dedicated their lives to improving the athletic opportunities of BISD students.
Jeanette Sciba - Brazosport High School, Class of 1968
Jeanette Sciba's life is a testament to her passion for sports, education, and service. As a little sister to two older brothers, Jeanette learned how to play all kinds of sports. She grew up in Iago-Boling, Texas where she attended Newgulf Elementary School and Iago Junior High. It was at Iago that Jeanette began honing her basketball skills. Later, with her family moving to the Brazosport area, Jeanette attended Lake Jackson Junior High for her ninth-grade year.
Sciba’s athletic journey continued at Brazosport High School from 1965 to 1968. During her time there, Jeanette distinguished herself as a standout athlete as a three-year letterman in basketball and track and field. Her impressive performance on the court earned her All-District honors for basketball three years in a row, and she was the top scorer for her team during her junior and senior years. Additionally, she excelled as a member of the Exporterette Mile Relay team and was recognized as the Most Athletic Girl in her graduating class of 1968.
Following high school, Jeanette pursued her passion for basketball at the collegiate level, receiving a scholarship to play for the Ouachita Baptist University Tigerettes in Arkansas. Despite the challenges faced by female athletes at the time, Jeanette and her team achieved remarkable success, making it to the National Tournament three consecutive years and ultimately winning the Women’s National Championship title. Their achievements helped pave the way for future generations of female athletes.
After graduating in 1972, Jeanette returned to the Brazosport area to give back to her community. She joined the faculty at Brazoswood High School, where she coached girls' basketball and track under her former coach and mentor, renowned coach Virginia Tolbert. Notably, Jeanette had the opportunity to break barriers by coaching boys' basketball for then-head boys’ basketball coach Bob Cook, a rarity in high school athletics to this day.
Transitioning from coaching and teaching high schoolers, Jeanette continued to impact the lives of students at Grady Rasco Middle School until her retirement. Despite retiring from formal education, Jeanette remains dedicated to inspiring and tutoring students in math at a local elementary school. For Jeanette, family is paramount, and she believes in the power of faith, hard work, and unity to overcome challenges and foster success.
Jeanette Sciba's legacy will extend far beyond the basketball court and classroom; her commitment to empowering others and fostering a sense of community will continue to inspire all who have had the privilege of being one of her students or players.
Marc Herns - Brazoswood High School, Class of 1975
Marc Herns, born on February 10, 1957, at Dow Hospital in Freeport, Texas, has led a multifaceted life marked by remarkable achievements in athletics, education, civic engagement, and healthcare.
Marc's educational journey began at Elizabet Ney, then Lake Jackson Intermediate School, and he attended Brazoswood High School. While in high school, Herns excelled in track and field as a four-year letterman, achieving the title of State High School Champion and National High School Champion in 1975 in Pole Vaulting.
After graduating from Brazoswood High School in 1975, Marc continued his education at the University of Texas and the University of Houston. He further distinguished himself with All-Southwest Conference honors (1976, 1977) and All-American NCAA (1980) honors, even qualifying for the Olympics in 1980. Unfortunately, that was the year that the United States boycotted the Olympics being held in the Soviet Union. Herns went on to earn a BBA-MIS, and in 2008, he pursued a Master of Oriental Medicine from the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
In 2008, Marc Herns founded the Acupuncture and Alternative Health Clinic in Lake Jackson, channeling his passion for holistic wellness. Marc continues to practice acupuncture and alternative medicine through his clinic, serving thousands of patients and donating his time and knowledge to other professions.
Herns has dedicated 27 years of “Service Above Self,” to the Brazosport Rotary Club. Marc served as the president of the Brazosport Rotary Club from 2012 to 2013. He has also served as President of the Brazosport Planetarium and Nature Center working to connect our community with the scope and beauty of the physical universe while seeking to develop a more scientifically minded community with diverse populations.
Marc’s commitment to nurturing the talent of young track and field athletes most notably extends to coaching young pole vault athletes at Brazosport ISD’s intermediate schools and high schools since 1981. Many of his athletes have gone on to have exceptional track and field careers in college and beyond.
Although Marc has dedicated a great deal of time, money, and energy to see his young prodigy succeed, he has never stopped setting his own ambitious goals in pole vaulting. Marc still strives to vault, with the future goals of setting world records for himself in every age group from 67 to 100, years 2024 through 2057. His continued dedication to the sport that he loves so much is a testament to his enduring passion for athletics and his unwavering determination to excel.
Marc Herns's life journey is characterized by a remarkable blend of athletic excellence, educational achievements, civic contributions, and a commitment to holistic healthcare, embodying the values of perseverance, service, and lifelong learning.
The 74th Annual Gulf Coast Relays will be held at BISD’s Hopper Field in Freeport, Texas on Friday, March 1, 2024. Field events will begin promptly at 9:30am, the 3200m run will begin at 12:00pm, and running events will follow in a rolling format at 3:00pm.