Sports Highlights 2019

Another year has come and gone but some of the biggest sports stories will never be forgotten. Just to name a few.....Atlanta’s girls’ track team not only won the 3A state championship but also the program’s first in school history; Linden-Kildare’s baseball team bashed its way into the state championship game; Bloomburg’s softball team was very close to a state berth of its own; McLeod’s boys’ basketball team went deep into the playoffs and Queen City’s archery program shot its way onto the national stage. Now we’ll take a look at more of the published sports articles and news from 2019.

JANUARY

Bloomburg students chose two homecoming beaus in January of 2019 seniors Conner Hooker and Zach Giles. The homecoming queen was senior Hanna Parker. Pictured from left are Conner Hooker, Hanna Parker and Zach Giles. McLeod’s student body chose Caleb Boyter and Haley Burden as its king and queen in January of 2019.

FEBRUARY

Atlanta seniors Shun Hunter and Jawan King, pictured here with Coach Matt McClure, signed letters of commitment for college in front of family, friends, coaches and school officials. Shun signed to play football at Kilgore College and Jawan signed to play football at Rice University.

Atlanta’s boys’ basketball team (29-3, 12-0) finished the season as undefeated district champions, and the Lady Rabbits won its Bi-District tilt against the defending state champions from Mt. Vernon.

Queen City archers qualified for state-level competition. Morris Upchurch Middle School and J.K. Hileman Elementary School participated in the Morris Upchurch Middle School Archery Tournament in order to qualify to advance to the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state level competition held in Belton.

MARCH

After another successful powerlifting campaign the Atlanta Ironworkers set the bar at regional meet. Mar. 8, of 2019 the Atlanta Ironworkers competed in the regional powerlifting meet at Malakoff High School with 60 other schools involved. At the end of the day Atlanta was team champions with 23 points which was 10 points better than second place Lone Oak. Senior Jacob Nash placed first in the 165-pound weight class which gave him a season sweep and undefeated year. Nash is a back-to-back regional champ and state qualifier who netted 1,400 pounds total. Senior Clayton Mosley placed second in the 181s with a total lift of 1,365 pounds. Mosley is a back-to-back regional medalist and qualified for state. Junior Cade Fant placed second in the 242-pound weight class with a total lift of 1,400 pounds Fant passed three lifters on his final dead lift to qualify for state. Sophomore Trey Adams hit automatic qualifying total for state in the 220s and placed third with a total of 1,450 pounds. Sophomore Tyrell King also hit automatic qualifying total for state and placed third with a total lift of 1,550 in the 275s. Senior Dalton Johnson is a 4-time regional qualifier and lifted a total of 1,055 pounds, and junior Xavier Coleman qualified for regionals in his first year lifting. Coleman finished with a lift total of 1,015 pounds. Mar. 16, of 2019 Atlanta hosted its annual Atlanta Lions Club, Gordon Pynes, Runnin’ Rabbs Relays. Along with host Atlanta: Liberty-Eylau, Tatum, Kaufman, Gilmer, Carthage, Hughes Springs, Jefferson, Alto, Grace Community, Daingerfield, Linden-Kildare, Gladewater, Union Grove, Hallsville, Springhill and Bloomburg teams or single members thereof were present. Atlanta’s varsity boys won 12 straight titles from 1996 to 2008 with the 2006 meet being canceled because of inclement weather, and now have won three straight since Tatum won it in 2016. Atlanta’s varsity boys’ squad edged out rival Liberty-Eylau 91 to 89. The Lady Rabbs placed second behind a strong L-E team. Atlanta’s JV boys made a strong showing too as they topped L-E for first place with 146 points. Queen City’s bass team hauled in big bass on Wright Patman Mar. 23. There were six boats with 12 student anglers from Queen City using the Major League Fishing format to compete for the top prize in the fifth QC BFA tournament on the schedule. Twenty-nine bass were caught totaling 64.92 pounds during the seven and half hour tournament. Three teams started to pull away from the field with totals that quickly reached double digits. The final standings for the Wright Patman tournament were: First place - Carson Dillinger and Rylan Donaldson - eight fish - 22.76 pounds; second place - Clayton Whittenberg and Logan Oas - seven fish - 16.32 pounds; third place - Jasey Engledowl and Alexia Engledowl - six fish - 11.38 pounds; fourth place - Aubrie Kiser and Austin Fahrney - three fish - 8.54 pounds; fifth place - T.J. Stagner & J. Stagner - four fish - 5.02 pounds and sixth place - Ryan Ream and Dylan Benson - one fish - 0.9 pounds. Linden-Kildare senior Jacob Owen signed to play football with Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm.

APRIL

Atlanta Ironworkers finished another successful season at the state meet Mar. 23. The Atlanta powerlifting team was represented well at the State Powerlifting Meet in Abilene. Senior lifter Jacob Nash medaled in third place with a total of 1,375 pounds in the 165-pound weight class. Nash had a career best 340-pound bench press and was named to the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) Academic All-State Elite Team. Sophomore Tyrell King posted a career high 1,590 pounds to medal fifth in the 275-pound class. King squatted 630 pounds, benched 390 pounds and dead lifted 570 pounds which were all personal and team bests this season. Senior Clayton Mosley had a career best 1,385 pounds which placed him sixth in the 181-pound class. Mosley was named to the THSPA Academic All-State Second Team. Sophomore Trey Adams placed eighth in the 220-pound weight class with a total of 1,370 pounds. Adams tied his career best with a 500-pound dead lift. Junior Cade Fant placed 11th in the 242-pound class with a total of 1,390 but did pump out a personal best 535-pound squat at the meet. Dalton Johnson, who was a 4-time regional qualifier, was also named to the THSPA Academic All-State Second Team. Mar. 29-31, Queen City archers competed in the Texas State NASP Archery Tournament in Belton along with 2,451 other Texas archers in grades 4-12. Both the elementary and middle school teams advanced to the highly anticipated 2019 NASP Nationals. Queen City student archers, coaches and parents will travel to the Bluegrass state’s Exposition Center (KEC) located in Louisville, Kentucky where more than 15,000 archers are expected to compete on the national stage. Queen City fifth grader, Caleb Kimble, set a record this year at the NASP State Tournament by becoming the youngest ever Overall Highest Scoring Male at a Texas-NASP State Tournament with a score of 295 out of 300. Caleb Kimble also received the following awards from TPW (Texas Parks & Wildlife) a Limited Edition Genesis Bow, (Overall Male Champion Grades 4th-12th) which only two archers in the state receives; a Texas Youth Hunt at any ranch of his choosing; a free Morrell target an overall Elementary Male Champion trophy.

The elementary team total score was 2,944 placing them at sixth out of the 25 elementary division teams competing this year.

The elementary team boosted their team score total by 251 points from their shooting performance last year at the NASP State tournament. This will be the elementary team’s second trip to Nationals.

Atlanta boys’, girls’ track teams won both the district and area track meets in April of 2019.

Atlanta’s JV boys’ track team also won district.

After the dust had settled for the district track meet Atlanta’s varsity boys’ team won the crown with 264 points, the Lady Rabbs won with 234 and the JV boys won with

261.

At area the Atlanta boys won with 177.5 points and the Lady Rabbs won with 187.5 points.

L-K’s Ty Patterson and Chase Bynum medaled at the regional tennis meet and advanced to state after winning the championship. The Tiger duo competede at the 2A state tennis tournament in May.

MAY

No doubt the Atlanta Lady Rabbits winning its first-ever track and field state title and the first state title for any girls’ sport in school history is the biggest sports story of 2019 in my opinion.

There was so much for each school but this story also includes clean sweeps of every meet and relay throughout the season. The title didn’t come easy at all but the Lady Rabbs pulled together as a team, a family and brought home a historic state title.

At state the 4x100m relay team of Kitty Andrews, Keyona Easter, Jennifer Easter and Sheveonia Smith won first at 48.26, the 4x200m relay team of the same lineup placed first at 1:42.64 and the 4x400m relay team of Hannah Wicks, Dani Arredondo, Andrews and India Cooper placed fifth at 4:06.60.

The conditions were less than favorable as rain fell during the meet.

One of the biggest wins came in the 300m hurdles as Smith edged out another competitor for first place by .02 seconds. By the end of the meet Atlanta had edged out a victory with 54 points while East Bernard finished second with 50.

For the boys’ team long distance runner Dagen Ward capped off a very successful season by placing second in the 1600m run at 4:29.29.

Josh Edwards placed seventh in the 100m hurdles and J.J. Fields placed fifth in the triple jump, but both athletes gave it their all as well.

May 9, 30 Queen City archers competed in the 2019 NASP Eastern Nationals Tournament in Louisvillle, Kentucky along with 14,950 other archers across the U.S. in grades 4-12.

Both Queen City elementary and middle school teams competed really well as they represented Queen City at the National Level.

The Queen City Elementary advanced to the highly anticipated 2019 NASP World Championship which was held on July 25-27.

Queen City fifth grader, Caleb Kimble, qualified for the World Tournament individually, where he placed 33rd out of 2,525 boys in the nation in the Elementary Division.

The elementary team total score was 2,912 placing them at fourth out of the nine elementary division teams from the State of Texas and 83rd out of 207 teams across the nation competing this year.

The elementary team boosted their team score total by 253 points from their shooting performance last year at the NASP Eastern National tournament. This will be the elementary team’s first trip to the NASP World Championship.

In May several area athletes signed letters of intent for college.

Linden-Kildare senior Ty Patterson signed to play football for the Missouri Valley College Vikings; Queen City’s Colleen Kilgore signed with Allen Community college in Kansas to play volleyball; Atlanta’s Charlie Powell signed with Paris Junior College to play basketball; Queen City’s Marlee Durmon signed with Northeast Texas Community College to play softball, Atlanta’s Kadevuiona Andrews signed with Fort Scott Community College to run track; and Queen City’s Isaiah Stiger signed with Central Baptist College to play basketball.

Atlanta’s baseball team won District and then captured the Bi-District title with a sweep of Prairiland, and across the county the Linden-Kildare baseball team was crowned regional quarterfinal champs.

JUNE

Linden-Kildare’s baseball team made an amazing run to state and finished runner-up. amazing run to state

Atlanta’s Jake Thompson signed with East Texas Baptist University to play baseball and Sheveonia Smith signed with Southeastern Oklahoma State University to run track.

Bloomburg’s varsity softball team came within a hair of making the state finals. Bloomburg captured the inevitable and succeeded in the impossible as they made historic strides this season. To that end true freshman Corinne Ray was named Newcomer of the Year. Ray hit .536 with 12 homeruns, 23 doubles, three triples, 52 runs scored, 46 RBIs, a .612 OBP, 21 stolen bases and 13 intentional walks. On the mound she posted 16 wins with 170 strikeouts in 25 starts. Teammate Kylie Williams was named to the Second Team All-District list. The junior catcher hit .354 with a .436 OBP, 17 stolen bases and she threw out 14 runners.

JULY

Atlanta’s 14U All-Star team won the Dixie Ranger State Tournament in Longview July 22. The game totaled 14 innings and was three hours and 45 minutes long.

Atlanta junior Daimion Collins picks up his 14th basketball offer from USC to go along with offers from SFA, University of Houston,TCU, SMU, University of Texas, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, VCU, Tulsa, LA Tech, University of Arkansas,Baylor and Texas A&M.

AUGUST

M.U.M.S. cheerleaders attended UCA camp at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, August 11-14.

The squad was awarded three “Spirit Sticks” throughout camp and two “Superior” ratings on evaluations. M.U.M.S. cheerleaders were also recognized as an “Outstanding Squad” and brought home a trophy for that honor.

Jordyn Jones was selected as an “All American” cheerleader. Brenna Turbeville and Mallori Stringer aka Sugar and Spike, were chosen for “All American Mascots”.

Brenna also received the “Most Spirited Mascot” award. Sugar and Spike were awarded the “Most Animated Mascots” of camp. Antonianna Gamble was selected for a “Pin It Forward” award for her enthusiasm and kindness.

SEPTEMBER

Andrea Lee signed a new six-fight extension heading into UFC 242.

McLeod ISD hosted the Mooney Tournament which helped funds raised go into a medical account for the expenses of one of the school’s high school juniors and his sister, both of whom have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Kevin Burns and Marissa Tyson were crowned Homecoming King and Queen for L-K.

Ravon Justice, Freddie James and George Jackson were inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.

OCTOBER

Queen City students selected Adam Bowen as its King and Jayley Stringer as its Queen for the 2019 year.

Atlanta’s JaQuavius Allen and Shamranique “Kitty” McCauley were crowned King and Queen for the 2019 school year.

M.U.M.S. drumline beat out the competition after competin in the Fire Ant Classic in Hooks on Oct. 1. They received the following awards: First division snare line, Outstanding junior high snare line, First division tenor line, Outstanding Junior high tenor line, First division bass line, Outstanding first division section and JUNIOR HIGH CHAMPIONS.

NOVEMBER

Both Queen City’s Band of Champions and Atlanta’s Big Bad Band from Rabbit Land performed at the state marching finals in San Antonio.

QC finished third in the state and Atlanta finished fifth.

Rabbit hurler Hunter Allen signed to play baseball for UA Rich Mountain.

DECEMBER

Atlanta Bulldog Nation wins the 12U National Championship. The team was undefeated.