Sports

WEIMAR – The Wildcats got some of their best stretch of play of the season during their last tournament as they made a run to the first-place game against Sacred Heart. Weimar won through their pool games, finishing at the top along with the opposing Indians. In a high-scoring championship game, the Wildcats were not able to keep up with Sacred Heart’s scoring in a difficult 12-6 defeat.

The Columbus Lady Cards’ softball team has had an up-and-down season so far, following up a five-game win streak in the last two weeks of February to dropping three of their last four matchups as they entered March. Last week, the Lady Cards saw both the ups and the downs as they started their week with a strong victory against Industrial, but then followed with a difficult defeat to Hallettsville.

The Columbus baseball team battled through a relatively tough week as they played a plethora of high-performing teams in the La Grange-hosted tournament at the end of the week. The Cards struggled throughout much of the week as the suffered three straight losses before ending the streak during the tournament. Their misfortunes started with a difficult, late loss to Industrial that set Columbus up for a difficult response game to start the tournament.

WEST HARDIN – The Columbus boys’ powerlifting team turned their season full of solid performances into a few appearances at the regional meet on Friday, March 10. The Cards notched yet another strong performance as Clay Kohleffel, Hunter Mangum and Jesse Reip represented the Cardinals at the regional meet. After a top performance at regionals, Reip qualified to move on to the next level and represent Columbus at the state championship meet in Abilene after finishing in first place for his weight class.

The Columbus Lady Cards are officially in the postseason after winning in eight of their final ten games to end the season. Their hard work paid off as their second-place finish to Bay City marked the highest spot in the district rankings Columbus has ever reached by the end of the regular season. After suffering their second loss to Bay City on March 3, the Lady Cards handled business against Calhoun and then again against Wharton as they secured the history-making mark and shifted their focus to the state playoffs.

COLUMBUS GOLF TEAMS TAKE TOP THREE IN WALLER

The boys’ side of the Rice powerlifting team turned in some strong outings at the regional powerlifting meet. After their performance at regionals, the Raiders earned a state meet appearance after John Mendoza took first place in his weight class. Ethan Luna took fourth place after his day, and Luis Ceballos placed in fifth. Right: John Mendoza will move on to the state meet after claiming the gold medal at regionals. Above: Some of the other Raider lifters present from left to right are Zane Zbranek, Luis Ceballos and Ethan Luna.

The Rice Raiders’ soccer team has some things on the defensive end that they would like to correct before the season ends, but after two straight losses, they find themselves running out of time to do so. After falling 5-1 to Palacios on Monday, March 6, the Raiders went on to lose to El Campo in a big 10-1 defeat.

The Columbus varsity soccer team had a rough loss to start their week of competition, slowing down their progress up the district standings. With the postseason approaching and limited opportunities to claim a spot in the playoff mix, the Cards responded with their biggest victory of the season in a huge blowout that should give the team confidence as they complete the regular season and move on to the state tournament.

HALLETTSVILLE – The Columbus tennis team took another strong step toward having a high-quality season with another solid outing from the team in the Schulenburg High-hosted tournament using Hallettsville’s facilities. Both the boys and the girls finished with top placements as the Cardinals secured one of each of the top three placements.

Jalen Porch, Sr. Guard; Jon Woods, So. Forward; Dyren Johnson, Jr. Guard

WEIMAR – The Lady Cards experienced many ups and downs as they battled through the Weimar tournament. Through three games, they were able to secure only one victory in their opening matchup against the tournament hosts.

As the soccer season enters its final weeks, both the Cards and the Lady Cards have been competing with some of the other top teams in their district to try to finish as high on the district standings as possible. While both teams have made strides towards reaching the top of the district, last week brought some pitfalls that slowed down their progress.

The Columbus Cardinals’ varsity baseball team saw all of their momentum from a big win at the start of last week dissipate by the end as they struggled through a difficult stretch of games in the Yoakum varsity tournament. Despite getting a big win to open the week, they could not recreate their success in any of their four games in the tournament as they finished without a single win.

SAN ANTONIO – The Lady Cards basketball team has just completed the best two-year stretch of competition they have ever had in their history. After an undefeated regular season last year, Columbus fell in the first round of the postseason despite their potential to make a deep playoff run. This year, they recognized their potential with another impressive regular season as well as a trip to the State Tournament’s Final Four, the furthest the Lady Cards had ever reached in the playoffs. Columbus ran into a stout opponent when they faced the Holliday Lady Eagles on Thursday, March 2. The Lady Cards fell to their opponents in a difficult 59-40 defeat, but they had no lost pride as competed admirably and took their final bow at the hands of the eventual State Champions.

The Rice High School track team competed in their second straight home-hosted meet during the second iteration of the Rice Relays. Both the girls and the boys for Rice had some difficulties in claiming the point-scoring placements for their respective teams. Because of their difficulties, the boys finished just outside of the top five with a sixthplace finish, and the girls finished near the bottom of their team standings.

The Rice Raiders’ soccer team has been jockeying for position in the district standings as they compete through an up-anddown season. The Raiders experienced both the lows and highs of the season after a pair of games last week. Rice followed a difficult loss with one of their best wins of the year as the regular season draws near a close.

RICE SENDS LADY LIFTERS TO STATE

The Weimar golf team hosted and competed in the Weimar varsity golf tournament last week that featured many nearby teams, including the Columbus Cardinals. The boys and the girls from both schools had strong outings as they each finished with high placements.

Connor Schulman medaled at the recent conference indoor track and field championship.