SENIOR NIGHT! | Kilgore honors Lady ‘Dogs

Kilgore High School girls senior basketball players Hallie Smires, Auniyeuh Matlock and Maggie Quine, and honorary manager Hania Chmielewska, were all honored Friday night prior to their game against Carthage. Pictured are the girls with family members. Congratulations, ladies! (Photo by MITCH LUCAS – ETBLITZ.COM)

It was senior night for the Kilgore High School Lady Bulldogs Friday night, and four seniors – Auniyeuh Matlock, Hallie Smires, Maggie Quine, and honorary senior manager Hania Chmielewska – were honored.

Matlock was the first to hit the court, escorted by her mom, Kimberly Matlock, and by Billy Anthony. Auniyeuh – who was named academic all-district for the Lady Bulldogs – listed the overtime game against Gilmer as her favorite memory, and in her immediate future, she plans on attending college, continuing her education in nursing to become a pediatric nurse while playing basketball.

Other activities Auniyeuh enjoyed at KHS were being a three-year cheerleader, vice president of the African American Student Association, three years of track and a member of the Anchor Club.

In her words: (Thanks to) “My mother, both of my dads, my aunts, both of my grandmothers, my coaches, and anyone who supported me the whole way.”

Hallie Smires was up next. Hallie was escorted by her mom, Gretchen, and her sister Kate, and walking alongside her in spirit was her dad, Mark. Hallie knows Mark is smiling down upon her.

In Hallie’s basketball career, she was a four-year varsity player, second-team all-district, four-year academic all-district, and was sophomore and junior offensive player of the year. Her favorite memory, she wrote, was beating the team they all thought they couldn’t.

Other extracurricular activities for Hallie included being a member of Junior and Senior National Honor Society, and Pass in junior year.

In the immediate, she will attend Baker University on scholarship to play basketball, and after college, she wants to be an elementary school teacher and a basketball coach.

In her words, she thanked “My mom and sisters, Nana and Memaw, my Kansas city family, the whole Smires family and Smires Inc., and to coach Carter, who started my love for basketball.”

Maggie Quine was escorted by her parents, John and Jennifer Quine.

Maggie was academic all-district all four years of her basketball career, and she wrote, “hopefully academic all-state.”

Other activities for Maggie in her high school career: she was vice president of the National Honor Society the past three years; she was in Model UN all four years; she was on all-A honor roll all four years; competed in track a year; competed in UIL contest two years in social studies and writing; is currently ranked third in her class, and has been in the National Society of High School Scholars all four years.

Her favorite basketball memory?

“Every one of them with Molly,” she wrote. “From her dramatic flops on the court to cuddles on the bus, having my baby sister, on my team this year has made senior year that much better.”

Her future plans after KHS are to attend Sam Houston State University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Chemistry, then to attend Louisiana-Monroe for a Masters in Toxicology. After college, she plans to enter a crime lab to have a career as a forensic analyst.

“I want to thank my parents, who never missed a game, for their love and support,” she wrote. “I want to thank Shai for pushing me to keep going. And most importantly, I want to give all the glory to my God. Everything I do in the classroom, on the court, and in my life are for him.”

Hania Chmielewska was honored, as well, escorted by Sherri Hunter.

Chmielewska, a manager for the team, said her favorite basketball memories were away games, especially the Gary Tournament. “I met so many amusing girls through the basketball season. I really enjoyed speaking with them after school and during the games.”

In her junior year, Hania was on the all-A honor roll, volleyball and track, and a participant of the Polish Championship in Rhthmic Gymnastics, from 2018-2023, and a participant in the Polish and international tournaments in Rhthmic Gymastics and dance from 2013-2023.

After graduating from high school, she plans to attend Wrocław Medical University in Poland, and then become a surgeon.

To close, she offered thanks.

“I would like to thank my parents, who made it possible for me to come to the U.S., and Kilgore High School, for accepting me to the school. I want to thank all the teachers for being understanding and patient, and my friends, who supported me from the first day.

“I am so sad that I won’t be here next year, but I think I made the most of my first basketball season.”