Sports Year in Review for 2024
Part 1-of-2 (January – June)
Another year of sports wrapped up as the year turned from 2024 to 2025.
My line of work coincides with school sports. Here in our neck of the woods these country schools churn out the best student-athletes in the state. Not just in athletics but UIL events of all kinds.
From debate to one act play, to band, Cass County boasts some of the best schools statewide.
Each school district has something to be proud of and memorable moments that will not be forgotten.
With each new year comes the hope that things will get better than we left them in the previous year.
From a sports point of view, what happened in 2024 set the bar for 2025 success.
CHAMPIONS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Payton Woods won first place in the seventh-grade ladies’ shot put on Apr. 2, at the Texas Private Middle School State Championship held in Bullard. Her winning toss was 30 feet, 1 inch.
ATLANTA Signings
Atlanta three-star athlete Markeylin Batton made a verbal commitment, and later signed, to play football for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Jalarrion Andrews signed to play football with Central Arkansas, AnneMarie Hanner signed with Baylor University where she will run track, Ma’Kaylin King signed to play volleyball with Jarvis Christian University, Dimoree Limbrick signed with Harding University where he will play football and Madison McCoy signed with Jarvis Christian University where she will play volleyball.
Atlanta seniors Kym Sheppard and Ja’Daeya Larry officially signed to play at the collegiate. Sheppard will join the Ranger College volleyball team, while Larry will hit the court with Southern Arkansas University Tech’s basketball team.
Other
Atlanta basketball coach Jarrod Boston earned his 400th win as a head coach in the early part of 2024.
Will Woodruff was named Player of the Year and Coach David Hooten was named Coach of the Year for District 14-3A.
Tori Clayton was named the Defensive Player of the Year for District 14-3A.
Basketball
Atlanta’s seventh grade boys’ basketball team won the district tournament.
Atlanta’s varsity boys’ basketball team made it to the playoffs and earned some 14-3A All-District accolades. Aidan Boston was named the Offensive Player of the Year.
Atlanta’s varsity girls’ basketball team rolled into the playoffs and after having a solid year, the Lady Rabbs accrued some 14-3A All-District hardware.
Ma’Kaylin King was named Defensive MVP and Kym Sheppard earned Co-Outstanding Rebounder status.
Baseball
Atlanta’s baseball team hosted part of the Atlanta/ Winnsboro tourney Mar. 7-9. The Rabbs went 3-1 in tourney play after defeating Jefferson, Hughes Springs and Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill.
The Rabbits s topped DeKalb 2-0 on Mar. 15, on Mar. 19, the Rabbs beat New Boston 11-2 and on Mar. 22, Atlanta blanked Paul Pewitt 17-0.
Atlanta and longtime rival Queen City met on the diamond Mar. 29, and Atlanta hung on for a 4-2 win.
Atlanta beat Hooks 10-0 on Apr. 2, topped Redwater 6-1 on Apr. 5, edged DeKalb 3-1 on Apr. 9, edged New Boston 4-3 on Apr. 12 and beat Harleton 7-3 in a non-district contest.
Atlanta’s baseball team thrashed Paul Pewitt 28-10 on Apr. 16 and topped Hooks 10-5 in its final district game.
Atlanta’s baseball team added another check to its list of goals. The Rabbits won a District title, a Bi-District and sealed an Area championship after defeating Elysian Fields.
Softball
Atlanta’s varsity softball team opened its season on Feb. 13, with a 15-0 thrashing of the Waskom Lady Wildcats.
The Lady Rabbs competed in the Liberty-Eylau tournament from Feb. 15-17 where they beat Linden- Kildare 8-4, Liberty-Eylau 14-0, Daingerfield 10-0 and McLeod 6-4. On Feb. 20, the Lady Rabbs banged out 16 hits and dismantled Ore City 14-3.
On Feb. 22-24, Atlanta hosted the Lady Rabb Classic and absolutely dominated the competition as they finished the Classic undefeated. The Lady Rabbits topped Waskom 17-2, defeated Detroit 11-1, dismantled Ore City 18-1, rolled past Union Grove 24-3, beat McLeod 6-4 and edged James Bowie 8-7.
The Lady Rabbits took part in the Ashdown tourney Mar. 1-2. The Lady Rabbs beat Horatio 17-6, Waldron 27-8 and Bradley 17-2.
Atlanta’s varsity softball squad edged Redwater 5-4 on Mar. 12, beat New Boston 5-4 on Mar. 19, smacked Paul Pewitt 17-0 on Apr. 5, edged DeKalb 7-6 on Apr. 11 and beat New Boston 3-1 on Apr. 12.
Track
Atlanta’s seventh grade track team rolled up 248 points and won by 41 and Atlanta’s eighth grade team placed first overall with 228 points which was 90 points better than the second-place team at the Hooks’ meet.
Atlanta’s seventh grade girls’ track team posted 221 points and won the Redwater meet by 22 and Atlanta’s eighth grade girls’ team put up 167 points and won the meet by 44.
Atlanta’s JV girls’ squad captured first place over Pleasant Grove, Paris and L-E with a whopping 151 points at the Paul Parr Relays on Mar. 28, at Liberty-Eylau High School. Atlanta hosted the district 14-3A track meet on Apr. 3 and 4. Atlanta swept all three divisions and earned district titles.
Atlanta’s varsity girls’ track squad won the Area crown with 173 points and the varsity boys finished second with 110 points.
Atlanta athlete Marquavion Owens competed in the Class 3A boys triple jump at the state track and field meet and finished ninth in the event.
Golf
On March 18, Atlanta’s golf teams conquered the Oak Grove Invitational golf tournament, securing first place victories. Emma Jo McCall clinched first place and Makenzie Lampshire claimed second place. For the guys, Jase Welborn turned in an outstanding performance, earning second place with a personal best score of 82.
Powerlifting
On Jan. 4, Atlanta powerlifters took part in the Redwater Boys’ Tri-Meet. In the 165’s Darryk Prounh placed second and Austin Phelps came in third. In the 198’s Charles Tyson placed third, in the 220-pound weight class Ty Waldon placed third, in the 242’s Wesley Kennedy placed third and in the 308-pound weight class Jaylen Finley placed third.
Atlanta’s powerlifting programs took part in the Last Chance Qualifier Meet hosted by Maud ISD on Feb. 15. Darryk Prouhn placed second in the 165s and teammate Austin Phelps placed third. Wesley Kennedy placed third in the 220-pound weight class.
BLOOMBURG Signings
Bloomburg seniors Cassie, Jacee and Kaleigh Glasgow signed letters of intent to Crown College. Cassie and Jacee will join the basketball and track/ field program while Kaleigh will join the softball and basketball program.
Other
Bloomburg’s 2024 Homecoming King and Queen was Eli Brown and Cassie Glasgow.
Softball
Bloomburg’s softball team beat Saltillo to win a Bi-District title.
Track
Bloomburg’s Jacee Glasgow placed first in the 100m hurdles at 17.21 at the J.K. Hileman Relays.
Jacee Glasgow won first place in the 100m hurdles at 17.37 and Cassie Glasgow placed second in triple jump at 32 feet, 1 inch at the Bill Hines Relays.
Jacee Glasgow placed second at 17.47 in the 100m hurdles and Cassie Glasgow placed third in long jump at 14 feet, 9 1/2 inches at the Doug Sibley Relays hosted by Paul Pewitt ISD on Mar. 1.
Jacee Glasgow placed first in the 100m hurdles at 16.68 and Cassie Glasgow placed first in long jump at 16 feet, 3 1/2 inches and first in triple jump at 33 feet, 1 inch at the Union Hill track meet on Mar. 28.
Bloomburg’s Jacee and Cassie Glasgow advanced to Regionals after turning in solid performances at the District 23 and 24-1A Area track meet on Apr. 11, in Mt. Pleasant. Jacee Glasgow placed first in the 100m hurdles with a time of 16.50 and Cassie Glasgow placed second in both the triple jump and long jump events with marks of 32 feet, 5 inches and 15 feet, 8 inches respectively.
Bloomburg’s Cassie Glasgow placed fourth in Triple Jump and Jacee Glasgow placed fourth in the 100m Hurdles at the State track and field.
LINDEN-KILDARE Signings
Max Belford signed a letter of intent to play football with the Waldorf University Warriors.
Other
Linden-Kildare AD and Head Girls’ Basketball Coach Jarrick Farmer earned his 100th win.
Maysen Lemmon was named Pitcher of the Year for District 18-2A and Chris Cowan was named Coach of the Year for baseball.
Hannah Wall was named Outstanding Defensive Player and Kaycee Neville was named Outstanding Offensive Player for District 18-2A softball.
Basketball
Linden-Kildare’s JV Lady Tiger basketball team posted an undefeated season, 12-0 overall and 10-0 in district.
Baseball
L-K topped Pleasant Grove 12-5 on Feb. 15. Feb. 22-24 the Tigers hosted its own tournament and beat Sulphur Bluff 10-0 and defeated Paul Pewitt back-to-back by scores of 12-4 and 10-3.
L-K beat Harts Bluff 3-2 on Mar. 11, blanked Avery 10-0 won Mar. 13, edged McLeod 3-2 on Mar. 19 and beat James Bowie 4-1 on Mar. 27.
L-K beat Harts Bluff 13-3 on Apr. 2, topped Avery 14-1 on Apr. 5, defeated Maud 11-4 on Apr. 13 and beat James Bowie 5-4 in extras.
Linden-Kildare’s baseball team played a tough North Hopkins team in the first round of the playoffs and won a Bi-District title.
Softball
L-K opened its season with a resounding 17-2 win over Paul Pewitt on Feb. 8 and then beat Sabine 11-9 on Feb. 13.
On Feb. 15-17, the Lady Tigers took part in the Liberty-Eylau tourney and topped L-E 10-5 and a tough Winnsboro team 8-5.
On Feb. 22 and 24, the Lady Tigers competed in the Paris Chisum tournament where L-K battered host Chisum 14-2, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill 19-3 and Paris 12-0.
The Lady Tigers took part in the Union Grove tourney and won 2-0 over Alba-Golden, 15-5 over Union Grove, 6-2 over Harmony and 8-0 over Gladewater.
L-K crushed Harts Bluff on Mar. 11, 25-5, blanked Maud 14-0 on Mar. 12, slammed Avery 19-1 on Mar. 18 and beat Bloomburg 13-3 on Mar. 28.
L-K beat Harts Bluff 20-8 on Apr. 2, topped Maud 10-5 on Apr. 5, dispatched Avery 23-1 on Apr. 11 and beat Harleton 12-4 on Apr. 12.
Track
L-K’s varsity girls’ track squad placed third overall at the Doug Sibley Relays on Mar. 1.
L-K hosted the Bill Hines Relays on Mar. 7 and L-K’s varsity girls’ group placed first overall.
Linden-Kildare’s varsity girls’ track team competed in the Texas High Invitational on Mar. 28 and rolled up 135 points in the process.
Linden-Kildare competed in the 21-2A district track meet on Apr. 1 and its varsity girls’ squad placed third overall in their division.
Linden-Kildare track athletes competed in the 21 and 22-2A Area track at Cushing High School on Apr. 11 where the varsity girls’ squad finished second overall and turned in some blazing times. Linden-Kildare sophomore Jamiah Birmingham placed second in triple jump and eighth in long jump at the State track meet in Austin.
Tennis
Linden-Kildare’s JV tennis team competed in the district tournament on Monday, Apr. 29. The team won the overall girls’ district title. Emma Stewart placed first in girls’ singles, Kalysa Roberts and Makinah Washington placed first in girls’ doubles and Emilee Stone and Addison Grider placed second in girls’ doubles.
Powerlifting
On Feb. 1, Alexis Benton finished first in her weight class with a total lift of 410 pounds at the Maud Meet.
Linden-Kildare’s Lady Tigers’ powerlifting team finished second overall at the Redwater Powerlifting Meet. Allie Watson and Karma Montoya placed first in their respective weight classes, MaKinah Washington and Charington Tayler placed second and Devonna Linwood, Ashlyn Lee and Cadi Belford placed third.
Linden-Kildare’s powerlifting programs took part in the Last Chance Qualifier Meet hosted by Maud ISD on Feb. 15. L-K’s girls’ squad placed second overall as Allie Watson placed first, Ashlyn Lee placed second, Cadi Belford placed first and Devonna Wood and Charington Taylor placed 1-2.
Band
Evey Lansdale and Elizabeth Farris represented L-K as members of the Four States Honor Band.
Cheer
Linden-Kildare took part in the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) cheer camp at the University of Texas at Tyler.
L-K won NCA Top Team Band Chant, NCA Top Team Chant, the NCA Spirit Award, the Herkie Team Award, the Technical Excellence Award, a Superior Ribbon on their first evaluation, Superior Ribbons and Spirit Stick for the athletes. Additionally, Ja’Maiya Mack won NCA Top Mascot and All American as Tori the Tiger which is a huge honor to achieve.
FFA
Linden-Kildare FFA students Tylton Surratt, Keegan Surratt, and Christian Arnold received a blue ribbon on their 20-foot hay feeder trailer. .
MCLEOD Signings
McLeod’s Kenslee Cross signed a letter of intent to continue her softball career at Northeast Texas Community College.
Other
McLeod’s 2024 Basketball King and Queen are Kale Parker and Kenslee Cross.
Basketball
McLeod’s boys’ basketball beat Ore City 67-25 on Jan 5, the JV boys won 43-18 and the varsity girls won 49-4.
The varsity boys’ team ran its season record to 26-2 after a 68-60 win over Big Sandy on Jan. 9, and the ladies won 46-28 over Big Sandy.
McLeod’s boys’ basketball team beat Union Grove 62-33 on Jan.12 and the JV team won 27-22.
McLeod beat Harleton 44-30 on Jan. 19, the Lady Longhorns won 49-37, the JV ’Horns won 37-21 and the Lady JV Longhorns edged Harleton 20-18.
The varsity boys’ team steamrolled the L-K Tigers 71-10 and the Lady Longhorns edged L-K 47-45.
On Jan. 30, the varsity boys’ team beat Ore City 6835, the JV boys won 36-19 and the girls’ won 52-19.
On Feb. 2, McLeod swept Big Sandy as the varsity boys’ won 51-47, the JV boys won 37-32, the Lady Longhorns won 43-17 win and the JV girls won 17-9.
The boys’ team beat Union Grove 66-51 and the JV boys won 45-20.
The varsity boys’ basketball team won a Bi-District title on Feb. 19, as they topped Alto 56-47.
Baseball
On Apr. 12, McLeod beat L-K 6-0 as Kannon Dempsey tossed a 1-hit shutout.
Softball
On Mar. 27, McLeod beat L-K 5-1. Kenslee Cross scattered six hits and struck out 13 and from the dish fell a double short of the cycle as she hit a 2-run homerun, a triple and a single with three RBIs.
On Apr. 16, McLeod outlasted L-K 2-0.
The Lady Longhorns wrapped up a District title by going 12-1, earned a Bi-District title after a solid series against Fruitvale, beat Kerens 5-4 for the Area title and beat Como-Pickton in two games and wrapped up a Regional Quarterfinal title.
Track
Jaxon Smith placed second at 23.10 in the 200m dash at the District 21 and 22-2A Area track meet at Cushing High School on Apr. 11
Tennis
McLeod’s JV tennis team won a district title as Kale Parker, Patrick Dickerson and Heath Shelton placed 1-2-3 in boys’ singles, Brayden Bascombe and Chase Cook placed first and Kason Cook and Malachi Rhodes placed second in boys’ doubles, and Emmaryn Johnson and Jaylee Downs placed third in girls’ doubles.
QUEEN CITY Signings
Four Queen City athletes signed letters of intent to compete at the next level recently. Timothy Brady signed with Lyon College to run Cross Country, Lauren Carrell signed with East Texas Baptist University for cheer, Jamecia Cook signed with Lyon College to play basketball and Trey Jones signed with West Virginia Wesleyan College to run track.
Other
Clint Wiley took home top baseball honors as he was named the Offensive MVP for District 14-3A after a stellar, standout year.
Trinity Oden was named the District 14-3A softball MVP.
For the Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team, Lauren Carrell was named Offensive MVP and Mallori Stringer earned the 6th Man Award.
Lauren Carrell, was selected to the Texas Girls Coaches Association Legacy All-Star Team. Lauren is one out of only five 3A Seniors chosen from across the entire state of Texas and is the very FIRST Queen City Cheerleader elected to this position.
Basketball
Queen City’s varsity girls’ basketball squad destroyed Paul Pewitt 68-7 on Jan. 12 and beat rival Atlanta 58-55 on Jan. 20.
The MUMS seventh grade Lady Bulldog basketball team won a district championship last week with a 26-24 win over rival Atlanta.
Queen City’s varsity girls’ basketball team won a Bi-District title with a 51-49 win over Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill on Feb. 13, and wrapped up an Area title with a solid 44-27 win over Troup on Feb. 16.
Baseball
Queen City beat Atlanta 6-4 on Mar. 5.
Softball
The Lady Bulldogs opened its softball season by going 5-0 in the Tyler tournament Feb. 22-24. QC blanked Malakoff 8-0 followed by wins over Hudson 3-0, Winnsboro 12-6, 6A power Tyler Legacy 5-2 and 5A power Pine Tree 11-0.
Queen City opened district play on Feb. 27 with a 19-0 win over Paul Pewitt.
On Feb. 29-Mar. 2, QC blanked Estacado 11-0, topped host Saginaw 13-5, fell to Burleson 6-5, battered Fossil Ridge 15-1 and fell to Richland High School 2-0 in the Saginaw tournament.
QC blanked the Lady Rabbits 10-0 on Mar. 5, beat Hooks 3-0 on Mar. 12, blanked Redwater 10-0 on Mar. 18, edged DeKalb 3-2 on Mar. 19, slammed New Boston 11-1 on Mar. 23, upended Paul Pewitt 22-0 on Mar. 26 and beat Atlanta 8-1 on Mar. 29.
QC topped Hooks 5-1 on Apr. 5, beat DeKalb 10-1 on Apr. 12, crushed Redwater 14-0 on Apr. 13 and wrapped up its third consecutive district title with a 12-1 win over New Boston.
Queen City’s softball squad won district, won a Bi-District title over Quitman, won an Area title over Hughes Springs and won a Regional Quarterfinal crown with two wins over Mineola.
Track
The MUMS seventh grade Lady Bulldogs racked up 152 points at the New Boston Relays on Feb. 26.
The varsity boys’ team placed third overall and the JV boys’ team placed third at the Doug Sibley Relays hosted by Paul Pewitt ISD on Mar. 1.
Queen City’s track programs competed in the Mo Parker Relays hosted by Hooks ISD on Mar. 14.
The varsity boys’ team earned 231 points overall and finished first, the JV boys’ team put up 227 points and finished first and the varsity girls’ team placed third overall. Queen City’s seventh grade girls’ track team placed second with 209 points at the Redwater meet.
Queen City competed in the Gerald Pinkham Relays hosted by DeKalb High School on Mar. 28.
The varsity boys finished first in the for the fourth week in a row, the JV boys finished third and the Lady Bulldogs placed second overall.
Queen City was runner-up in both the varsity boys’ division and varsity girls’ division at the district 14-3A track meet on Apr. 3 and 4.
Queen City’s DJ Henson placed sixth in Triple Jump at the 3A State Track Meet last week in Austin.
Tennis
Queen City varsity tennis player Vincent Wong competed in the Holly Ford Memorial Tennis tournament hosted by Springhill High School on Mar. 1. Wong came in first place in the boys’ singles division.
Queen City’s JV Tennis Team played in Atlanta where Braylee Stanfield and Jasey Engledowel took second place in Girls’ Doubles and Ryland Durmon placed second in Boys’ Singles.
Queen City’s Vincent Wong competed in the varsity tennis tournament on Mar. 21. Wong came in first place in the boys’ singles.
Vincent Wong won the varsity boys’ singles and Luke Moore came in second at the Love Invitational tennis tournament on Feb. 16.
The Queen City High School tennis team competed in the District tennis tournament on Apr. 25 and 26. Vincent Wong came in first in the boys’ singles division and Luke Moore placed third. Vincent advanced to the Regional tennis tournament.
Archery
The Queen City Archery team consisted of 150 archers last year. Seventy-two of those archers competed in the Texas State NASP Archery Tournament in Belton, March 26-27, along with 3,220 other Texas archers in grades 4-12. Queen City was able to qualify an elementary, middle school and high school team in both Bullseye and 3D for the 2024 NASP Nationals on May 9-11 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Powerlifting
On Jan. 4, Queen City powerlifters took part in the Redwater Boys’ Tri-Meet. In the 132’s Caleb Kimble placed first, in the 181-pound weight class Delvon Federick placed first and Christian Nard placed second, in the 242’s Ke’Idie Harrison placed second, in the 275’s Daniel Jones placed first and Tyson Bell placed second and in the 308-pound weight class David Jackson placed second.
Queen City’s boys’ powerlifting team took part in the FCA Liftoff on Jan. 20. In the 181’s Delvon Federick placed second and in the 275’s Daniel Jones placed first overall.
QC’s boys’ powerlifting team edged Texas High by a point to win the Maud Meet on Feb. 1. In the 165’s Charlie Kirkland placed third, in the 181-pound weight class Delvon Federick placed second, in the 242’s Ke’Idie Harrison placed second, in the 275’s Daniel Jones placed first and in the 308’s David Jackson placed first. For the ladies, Brenna Turbeville placed second, Abigail Leverett placed second and Zoe Breach placed third.
Queen City’s powerlifting programs took part in the Last Chance Qualifier Meet hosted by Maud ISD on Feb. 15. Charlie Kirkland placed second in the 165s, Christian Nard placed third in the 198s, in the 242s Ke’Idie Harrison placed second and in the 308s David Jackson placed third. For the ladies, Abigail Leverett placed second in her weight class.
Queen City powerlifter Delvon Federick won a bronze medal at the THSPA Region 3, Division 3 Regional Meet and qualified for State.
Band
On Saturday, Jan. 6, six Band of Champions members traveled to Chapel Hill HS for Area band tryouts against all the top players in classes 1A-4A. Three of the six earned their way into the All-State Band for the second consecutive year. Preston Scoggins earned 4A First Chair Clarinet honors, Kaylin Butler earned 4A Fourth Chair Clarinet honors and Alyssa Delgado earned 3A First Chair Clarinet honors.
FFA
Queen City High School’s Ag Mechanics students brought home awards after their success at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Lathan Chamblee, Kaden Satterfield, and Mason Stringer placed first with their 18-foot trailer, Kolt Strickland and Aidan Hamilton placed first with their shop table and the trio of Brayden Wiley, Noah Williams and Cayden Dawson placed second with their 12-foot trailer.