James Monroe

James Monroe spent his high school athletic career participating in wrestling and football. His wrestling career was limited to three years as a broken arm prevented him from wrestling his freshman year.

Once James began wrestling he was able to improve every year with many awards to his credit. In his sophomore year, he was 4th at the district meet in the 191-pound weight class and was voted Most Improved by his fellow teammates. As a junior, he was selected Most Inspirational and elected a team captain. He placed 2nd in the district tournament. At State, he placed 4th in the heavyweight division.

James’s senior year he was again a team captain, with an impressive record of 24 wins and 3 losses. He won the district heavyweight class and finished his high school career placing 3rd at state with his teammates voting him Most Outstanding Wrestler.

James continued his involvement with the AHS wrestling team by working as an assistant coach in 1988 and later worked from 1992-2000 as coach for the Austin Youth Wrestling League. In 2004, he was offered an assistant coaching position for the University of Texas Club but had to decline due to military deployment.

Football was also a big part of James’s high school life. He played four years spending time as a linebacker and running back on the AHS Football Team. In his senior year, he was voted the Cowapa League Defensive Player of the Year, and also won the Chris Pohl award as AHS outstanding back.

After high school, James entered the US Army and began a military career. He completed many military schools including Airborne Jump School and Officer Candidate School. After becoming an officer, his assignments were 143rd Airborne Battalion, Texas Counter Drug Task Force: Operations Office Region Commander, Company Commander, Operations Chief, 136th Regional Training Battalion: Officer Candidate School Command, Instructor, TAC (similar to drill sergeant only scarier), Battalion Executive Officer, 2-142 Infantry Battalion: Officer in Charge of Security at Houston Hobby Airport, 2003 Assistant Operations Officer –FOB Adder, Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq Year’s 2004-2006, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.

James served with the 36th Infantry Division as an Intelligence Planner in COB Basrah, Iran Operation New Dawn from 2010-2011. During his military service in 2007, he graduated from Liberty University with a BS in Business Management. He retired from active duty in 2013.