Sports

Ladycats walk off with sixth title after Pavlu single

WIMBERLEY – The Columbus Cardinals 7 on 7 team is hoping that they will be playing in the state tournament later this month, but to do so, they will need to secure one of the few spots available at the top of the standings at a state qualifying tournament throughout the season. The Cards could not take advantage of their first opportunity to potentially secure their spot at State despite winning two of their games in pool play.

Is your student/child an athlete with ties to Colorado County? We want to feature them in the paper! Whether your student is young athlete in little leagues and select ball or a county alumnus doing great things in collegiate sports, we’d like to highlight all the summer sports going on in with anyone and everyone related to Colorado County! Make sure to send all photos and information to [email protected] to give your athlete a chance to be featured in the pages of the Citzen!

The summer 7 on 7 season is in full swing as the Weimar Wildcats competed in the Rice-hosted state qualifying tournament for a chance to move on to the state championship tournament later in the month. The Wildcats competed, but they generally had struggles scoring the football during their games as they never truly threatened to take the lead or overcome deficits in any of the three games they played during the pool stage. After completing pool play without a single win, the Wildcats left the tournament still hoping they can turn things around for their next shot at a qualification.

The 7 on 7 teams for the Rice Raiders gave themselves a chance to compete for a spot in the State Tournament later this month after hosting a qualifier tournament that featured several teams from around the area. The teams included the Raiders, East Bernard, Tidehaven, Weimar, Ganado, Louise, Brazos and Somerville.

District MVP

After a forfeit win against Jackson County in the first game, the Weimar Vets recorded the second win of the early season by a score of 12-10.

The collegiate outdoor track and field season is drawing to a close as teams prepare to compete in the NCAA first round. A runner with ties to Columbus will be travelling to Sacramento on June 8 to vie for a top-24 placement and a spot in the next round of compet ition. Jessica Rabius, daughter of Timothy and Denise Rabius of East Bernard and granddaughter of the late Daniel and Annie Munsch of Columbus, will be looking to continue her strong year for Houston Christian University as she reaches the national level meets for the second straight season.

SCHULENBURG – Colorado County received a little more state recognition for their two, playoff-qualifying lady hoops teams this past basketball season. The Columbus Lady Cards and the Weimar Ladycats were the two teams that represented Colorado County in the UIL State Playoffs and had strong seasons that ultimately allowed them to reach the postseason. A host of impact players contributed to each of these teams’ success as they competed in their playoff runs. The Lace ‘em Up All Star game gave the opportunity for these teams to once again be seen and recognized at a state level as a pair of lady hoopers from each team, Bailey Gustus and Treasure Upson for Columbus and Paige Pavlu and Kim Hinze for Weimar, attended and competed in the exhibition of some of the best talent in the state. The Lady Cards got some added familiarity on the team as their head and assistant coaches Mike Albers and Zach Albers led their All-Star teams as well.

COLUMBUS FISHERS COMPETE AT STATE

Trinity Rayne Hopkins of Columbus was invited to attend the exclusive All-American Collegiate Catchers Camp. Specifically planned to help improve catcher skills and reflexes, the camp offers a one-to-one training experience for softbal l catchers around the country. The Camp invites only 12-18 catchers from each state, putting Hopkins in an elite number of youth softball players to catch the AACCC’s attention.

District MVP

The Rice Raiders still have some sports action despite the arrival of the end of the school year. Rice athletics is in the midst of playing through the summer football schedule as the Raiders compete in the Rice League 7 on 7 football season. Starting on May 16, the Rice 7 on 7 team has already hosted three separate events and competed in a fourth as May comes to a close. Their season continues to pick up momentum as they continue to make their way through the schedule and vie for a chance to play in the state playoffs.

Dallas Avila is a graduating senior at Rice High School who competed at the State Special Olympics in San Antonio Texas on May 19 and 20, 2023 at the Hero’s Stadium. He competed in the 200-meter dash and received a silver medal. He also competed in the running long jump event, receiving a bronze medal for his efforts. This is his fifth year participating in the Special Olympics, but just his first time competing at a state level in Track & Field events. He is the first Rice student to compete at the state level in the Special Olympics.

The athletics programs of Columbus High School have been having strong seasons across the board as several different sports have boasted deep runs in the UIL State Playoffs for their respective competitions. With several appearances at a regional and state level during the spring sports season, the Cardinals have been moving up the ranks of the Texas Lone Star Cup. Columbus moved into the top five of all 3A Texas schools with 45 points, just one point behind the fourthplace team in the standings.

AUSTIN – The varsity golf team for Weimar had a strong performance at the boys’ state championship meet as the Wildcats came away with a top-10 effort as a team. Weimar reached State after an impressive outing at the regional level. The Wildcats, led by individual regional champ Hudson Ervin, played their way into first place and claimed the regional championship to earn their spot at the state-level meet. Another quality performance at State helped the Wildcats finish in ninth place as a team with several top individual scores as amongst the team well.

The Ladycat varsity softball team punched their ticket to the state semifinals after holding on for a hotly contested victory against fellow softball juggernauts and district rivals, the Shiner Lady Comanches. In a 3-game series that was as hotly contested and competitive as their regular season offerings, it was the Ladycats who took the advantage after finding just enough scoring to outplay their longtime rivals. The storylines were plentiful heading into this Regional Finals series. Both teams spent a majority of the season in the TGCA’s top 25 poll as Weimar entered the series as the third-best team and Shiner entered as the fourth-best team in the rankings. The two teams also split their matchups during the regular season as they finished first and second in the district standings.

Helyn Lorena Hobbs Farris, 89, of Eagle Lake passed away peacefully and quickly on May 18, 2023, at the Rice Medical Center. She was born in Leverett’s Chapel, a community in the middle of the Kilgore oilfield, on Aug. 31, 1933, to Horace Hillborn and Evia Jewel Norris Hobbs. Her childhood was spent across the Texas Gulf Coast in many communities before graduating from Columbus High School in 1950.

Karl Edward Hill, devoted husband and father, departed this world and went to be with our Lord on May 22, 2023, at the age of 58, while at his home in Columbus, Texas.

AUSTIN – The Columbus Cardinals’ golf team had a strong total performance at the UIL State Championship Meet that had its first day on Monday, May 22. They placed in the top 10 as a team on each day as they finished in ninth place overall from both days in the meet. The Cards were led by their top individual performer, regional champion Kaldon Roensch, after he secured a top-25 spot in the tournament. Cullen Loessin was not far behind, and the rest of the Cards finished around the middle of the pack as they took one of their highest finishes in their history at the state meet.