BC Hosts, Wins Rez Rally 2005

By Iretta Tiger

BIG CYPRESS — It’s 6:30 a.m. and even the sun hadn’t woken up yet but were are already hundreds of Tribal citizens registered and prepared to compete in Rez Rally 2005.

Many braved the freezing weather and drove through heavy fog to get to there. The fog was so thick that the rally committee allowed a twenty minute grace period for those still on the road. Though it was early, reservation pride was in full swing.

“Hollywood is going to take [the reservation trophy],” said Hollywood’s team co-captain Bonnie Motlow.

The reservation trophy, or the grand prize, goes to the reservation which has the most participants.

This year, Big Cypress won with 301 Tribal citizens in attendance, followed by Hollywood with 134 Tribal citizens, Brighton with 132 Tribal citizens and Immokalee with 80 Tribal citizens.

The 3.5 mile race took place on West Boundary Road; starting in front of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and ending at the entrance to Billie Swamp Safari.

The first to compete were the runners, followed by the walkers, followed by the strollers. Each category was broken down into age groups and gender.

The first person to cross the finish line in 24.42 minutes was Mario Silva. Silva is the manager of technical services in the Information Systems department at the Hollywood Tribal offices. Very close on Silva’s heels was Tyrone Cypress of the Big Cypress reservation with a time of 24.43 minutes.

Once everyone crossed the finish line, they made their way to an area where a huge tent was erected for the brunch that followed the race. A stage was set up for the awards at one end of the tent and Nike set up at the other end of the main tent, where the participants could claim their new sneakers.

Nike representative Samuel Cracker brought over 1,000 sneakers of all sizes and widths to hand out to participants.

“On behalf of Nike, we are very proud of you and use you as an example for Indian country,” said Cracker.

The awards ceremony opened with greetings from the Tribal officials.

“We [Big Cypress residents] conjured up a fog to try and stop the other reservations from coming,” joked Big Cypress Councilman David Cypress.

The Tribal Board and Council members, as well as the team captains and co-captains from each reservation, were given special gifts from Nike. The golden seniors division, ages 70 and older, were given special recognition for their participation.

Chairman Mitchell Cypress split his winnings–he placed third in his age division–with the wheelchair division.

The winners of Rez Rally 2005 are as follows:

Children: 12 and younger

Runners

Boys: 1.Hunter Osceola, 2. Catlen Tommie, 3. Andre Jumper, 4. Imillakiyo Osceola, 5. Haden Little Bear; Girls: 1. Ariah Osceola, 2. Natasha Billie, 3. Cassandra Jimmie, 4. Jennifer Tommie, 5. Ashley Faz.

Walkers

Boys: 1. Jordan Rodriguez, 2. Daylon Hall, 3. Trevor Thomas, 4. Thomas Bearden, 5. Quenton Osceola; Girls: 1. Courtney Osceola, 2. Robin Landon, 3. Terry Baker, 4. Danny Billie, 5. Danny Tommie.

Juniors: 13–17

Runners

Boys: 1. Clayton Hall, 2. Jerry Balentine, 3. Gary Frank, 4. Joseph Osceola, 5. Angelo Colon; Girls: 1. Demetria Tigertail, 2. Ke-Ya-Le Osceola, 3. Jeanne Osceola, 4. Brittany Rice, 5. Maricruz Yzaguirre.

Walkers

Boys: 1. Lucus Osceola, 2. Tony Micco, 3. Garrett Anderson, 4. Robert Frank III, 5. Billie Cypress; Girls: 1. April Billie, 2. Lazara Marrero, 3. Karen Rose Cypress, 4. Missy Huff, 5. Donna Cypress.

Adults: 18–35

Runners

Men: 1. Tyrone Cypress, 2. Wilson Bowers, 3. Elliot Alvarado, 4. Jadren Antua, 5. John Osife; Women: 1. Mercedes Osceola, 2. Lenora Roberts, 3. Candy Cypress, 4. Marissa Baker, 5. Marcia Cypress.

Walkers

Men: 1. Michael Turrentine, 2. Todd Johns, 3. Mario Posada, 4. Tracy Smith, 5. Nicholas Andrews; Women: 1. Francine Osceola, 2. Rita Gopher, 3. Cathy Jumper, 4. Rhonda Nunez, 5. Emma Brown.

Adults: 36–49

Runners

Men: 1. Jeremiah Hall, 2. Daniel Tommie, 3. Samuel Tommie, 4. Rayburn King; Women: 1. Almira Billie, 2. Mindy Fish, 3. Sheila Madrigal, 4. Kim Youngblood, 5. Mary Lou Alvarado.

Walkers

Men: 1. Andrez Valladarez, 2. Richard Bowers, 3. Charlie Cypress, 4. Todd Willis, 5. Bobby Frank; Women: 1. Ana Bowers, 2. Michelle Thomas, 3. Kay Braswell, 4. Virginia Osceola, 5. Terri Frank.

Seniors: 50–59

Runners

Men: 1. Avant Brown, 2. Pastor Johnny Shomo, 3. Andy Bowers; Women: 1. Patty Waldron, 2. Shirley Clay, 3. Mary Tigertail, 4. Agnes Billie Motlow, 5. Violet Jim.

Walkers

Men: 1. Earl Kirkland, 2. Steven Jim, 3, Mitchell Cypress, 4. Paul Bowers, 5. Mike Tiger; Women: 1. Jenny Johns, 2. Judy Tiger, 3. Teresa Jumper, 4. Sarah Kirkland, 5. Wanda Bowers.

Super Seniors: 60–69

Runners

Men: 1. Terry Tichenor; Women: 1. Martha Jones, 2. Gladys Bratcher, 3. Connie Whidden.

Walkers

Men: 1. Joe Dan Osceola, 2. Stanlo Johns, 3. John Billy, 4. Dan Bowers, 5. Peter Hahn; Women: 1. Mabel Haught, 2. Edna McDuffie, 3. Elsie Bowers, 4. Agnes Bowers, 5. Dorothy Tommie.

Golden Seniors: 70 and older

Men: 1. Howard Micco, 2. Jack Micco, 3. Ingram Billie.

Strollers

Men: 1. Jose Herrera, 2. Roy Cypress, 3. Richard Osceola, 4. Richard Garcia, 5. Joseph Entry; Women: 1. Suraiya Smith, 2. Wendy Juarez, 3. Sarah Osceola, 4. Clarissa Bowers, 5. Arnie Oseola.

Wheelchairs: 1. Virginia Tommie, 2. Lydia Cypress.

Family: 1. Louise Billie, 2. Elaine Aguilar, 3. (tie) Mary Tigertail, Josephine Villa, Roger Smith.

Employees

Runners

Men: 1. Mario Silva, 2. Carlos Adamson, 3. A.J. Blackman, 4. John Davis Jr., 5. John Martinez; Women: 1. Cristina Restrepo, 2. Maria Moncada, 3. Dominique Brown, 4. Sherrele Brown, 5. Shannon Ferguson.

Walkers

Men: 1. Kenny Bayon, 2. Chris Goodwin, 3. Chris Scanlon, 4. Tony Roberts, 5. Mark Lichtenberg; Women: 1. Tamara Parrish, 2. Benina Regino, 3. Tina Menella, 4. Candice Hightower, 5. Jovita Turrubiartez.

Surprisingly, there is no trophy or prize for the overall winner of Rez Rally. So a special congratulations to Mario Silva! Congratulations to everyone who participated. Rez Rally 2006 will be on the Hollywood reservation.