Mustangs’ Tristen Mikesh headed to All-Star game

The San Antonio All-Star Football game is set to return in January and one Nixon-Smiley Mustang made history for the football program.

Senior cornerback Tristen Mikesh received an invitation to the annual all-star game in San Antonio at the Alamodome Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025; Mikesh is the first Nixon-Smiley football to receive an invitation and was happy about receiving such an honor.

“It feels amazing. I’m just going on, putting on for my town, my small town, not many people's been there. So I just want to go out, show out, and show everybody what I can do,” Mikesh said.

Mikesh added his heart sang with excitement when his coach made the announcement.

Mustangs head football coach Paul Kirby is no stranger to the game; Kirby played in the all-star game in 2005 with Roosevelt High School.

“It means something very special, especially being that, as a young man, because he is, he does so much right. He does right all the time. He's a great leader. He's a great leader in the classroom. He's a great student, first and foremost, and he's a great football player, and he's somebody that we trust, and I'm so proud of him. Can't tell you enough how big of a deal it is to make that game,” Kirby said.

“It's been going on for 45-plus years. The fact it's the first time we got one is a big deal. It's a strenuous process. It's a lot of writing to get those guys nominated. It's a lot of stats you have to go dig deep for. He got picked, and that's a big deal for the community, for the school. For us, him and his family. It's a blessing so I'm excited to see what's going to happen from it,” Kirby added.

Mikesh’s message to all future Mustangs that are hoping to make the All-Star game in the future: “Show up, and if you put your mind to it,, you can do anything.”