Graham athletes advance to area in track and field

Fourteen Graham athletes will compete in the track and field area competition after their performance at the district meet and Lady Blues soccer athletes were recently recognized with all-state honors. 

Lady Blues earn Academic All-State honors

The Texas High School Coaches Association announced last week this year’s Academic All-State Teams in boys’ and girls’ soccer with four Lady Blues named to the team. 

To be eligible for nomination, an athlete must be an athlete, student trainer or manager in good standing with the team; of good moral character, a senior, and have an overall grade point average of 92 or above. The four teams athletes are eligible for are Elite, 1st Team, 2nd Team and Honorable mention.

The four Lady Blues named academic all-state are: Taylor Lauster (1st Team), Ellie Weatherman (2nd Team), Tara Dawson (Honorable Mention) and Mylee Lattimore (Honorable Mention).

Nominations for the award were due from coaches April 1, but meeting the criteria does not guarantee a spot on a team. When reviewing the nominations, the THSCA considers each students’ GPA, class rank, SAT and/or ACT score. The students receive points based on each criteria. The total number of points they receive determines which team they are placed on. 

Lady Blues softball falls to Lady Eagles

The Lady Blues’ struggles continued on the softball field Friday, April 10, with an 8-1 loss on the road to the Brock Lady Eagles. The loss leaves the team with a 1-7 district record with two games remaining in the season. 

The team entered the district contest on a five-game losing streak, with their last win coming on March 20 against Glen Rose. 

At the plate, the Lady Blues struggled to make meaningful contact against Lady Eagles pitcher Ali Coleman, who struck out 10 batters and gave up three hits while earning the win. 

While Tiffany Cotter was able to put the ball in play with a flyout to right field with one out in the first inning, the following seven batters were struck out before the next ball was put in play. This was a lineout in the fourth inning to right field by Ruby Shaffer.

The Lady Blues’ offense found success late in the game in the seventh inning to avoid a shutout loss. Tiffany Cotter opened the inning with a line drive double to center field and was brought home with a two-out triple by Hadleigh Allen. Larissa Warren singled in the fifth inning for the team’s first recorded hit of the game.

Cotter took the loss for the Lady Blues in the pitcher’s circle, giving up nine hits and eight runs, five earned. She struck out three batters and gave up one walk.

With the Lady Blues traveling to Brownwood after press time, Tuesday, April 14, the team will close the season out with senior night at home on Friday against Mineral Wells.

Steers swept by Rams

The Graham Steers showed fight Friday, April 10, while trying to turn around a difficult district season, but ultimately fell short, 7-4 at home against Mineral Wells. The loss completed a two-game series sweep by the Rams.

Steers pitcher Ayden McDougal struggled early in the game, giving up a pair of walks and a double in the first inning, which allowed the Rams to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Steers looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning when Toby Boenich led off with a walk. However, Cooper Corley hit into a double play when trying to advance Boenich to second base with a bunt. 

The team looked to rebound again in the second inning when Tripp Mahaney opened the bottom of the inning with a single to center field. Tyson Louder gave the Steers a runner in scoring position when he advanced to second base following his single to third base. Mahaney caught stealing third base before Colt Taylor grounded out to end the inning.

Trailing 5-0 at the bottom of the fourth inning, the Steers found the scoreboard when Corley scored on Hurford’s groundout to the shortstop. The Rams added runs in the fifth and sixth inning.

The Steers scored again in the fifth inning and their rally in the seventh inning fell short after scoring two runs.

While out of contention for a district championship, the Steers’ playoff hope remains alive with both Brownwood and the Steers one game behind fourth-place Glen Rose in the District 6-4A standings. 

The Steers split their series with Brownwood, with each team earning their lone district wins in the series. After a two-game series this week against Stephenville, with games April 14 and 17, the Steers will close the season out next week with a two-game series against Glen Rose, which could determine the fourth and final playoff spot in the district.

Graham hosts district track meet

Graham High School played the role of host for the UIL District 6-4A Championships in track and field April 8-9. In the UIL track and field postseason, the top four finishers in each event qualify for the area meet.

Graham High School will be represented by athletes in 14 events in this year’s area meet. The area meet will see advancing athletes from districts 5-4A and 6-4A. Abilene ISD will host the area meet Friday, April 17 competing for a spot in the 4A Region 1 meet May 1-2 in Lubbock.

Team Results
4. Varsity Lady Blues
4. Varsity Steers
5. JV Lady Blues
3. JV Steers

Lady Blues Varsity

100-Meter Dash
1. Kaden Atwood, 12.50

200-Meter Dash
4. Bentleigh Martin, 26.77; 7. Ella Pettus, 27.66

400-Meter Dash
5. McKynley Corley, 1:02.66

800-Meter Run
6. Taylan Locker, 2:36.97; 7. Ellie Weatherman, 2:42.26; 9. Calen Dawson, 2:44.40

100-Meter Hurdles
5. Kate Hufstedler, 16.70; 6. Ava Street, 16.99; 7. Madison LeFevre, 17.45

300-Meter Hurdles
7. Kate Hufstedler, 50.13; 8. Madison LeFevre, 50.80

4x100-Meter Relay
4. Graham, Katie McGehee, Kaden Atwood, Emily Hughes, Bentleigh Martin, 50.64

4x200-Meter Relay
3. Graham, Katie McGehee, Kaden Atwood, Emily Hughes, Bentleigh Martin, 1:47.54

4x400-Meter Relay
4. Graham, Katie McGehee, Mckynley Corley, Kate Hufstedler, Ellie Weatherman,4:13.30

High Jump
2. Emerie Stogner, 5-6; 8. McKynley Corley, 4-8

Pole Vault
4. Ava Street, 9-0

Long Jump
7. Bentleigh Martin, 16-1; 13. McKynley Corley, 14-11.75

Discus Throw
2. Gabby Reyes, 105-0; 5. Hudson Wright, 97-5

Triple Jump
7. Emerie Stogner, 33-11.25; 9. Austin Hughes, 33-1.5

Shot Put
3. Gabby Reyes, 34-6; 4. Madison Cauble, 33-4.5; 6. Briley Randall, 33-1

Steers Varsity

200-Meter Dash
7. Walker Bennett, 23.82

800-Meter Run
1. Caden Hulsey, 2:01.61; 6. Ish Garcia, 2:09.53; 11. Nolan Wankowicz, 2:16.21

1600-Meter Run
2. Caden Hulsey, 4:41.63; 4. Hudson Weatherman, 4:57.71

3200-Meter Run
7. Hudson Weatherman, 11:37.89

110-Meter Hurdles
1. Andon Masterfield, 14.85; 8. Kyson Bates, 16.38

300-Meter Hurdles
2. Andon Masterfield, 41.36; 9. Kyson Bates, 46.15

4x100-Meter Relay
3. Graham, Jace Gill, Isaiah Flores, Walker Bennett, McRae Menard, 43.52

4x200-Meter Relay
5. Graham, Jace Gill, Isaiah Flores, Walker Bennett, McRae Menard, 1:31.95

4x400-Meter Relay
5. Graham, Kaesan Stogner, Andon Masterfield, Walker Bennett, Santiago Zamora, 3:36.51

High Jump
6. Jordan Alexander, 5-10; 10. Brodie Martin, 5-8; 11. Kaesan Stogner, 5-8

Long Jump
7. Walker Bennett, 20-11.75; 8. Colt Taylor, 20-8; 12. Jordan Alexander, 19-1.5

Triple Jump
7. Jordan Alexander, 40-10.5; 9. Nolan Wankowicz, 39-0; 10. Brodie Martin, 38-1.75

Discus Throw
5. Roan Pratt, 133-2; 8. Helo Weiser, 118-3; 10. Jack Van Winkle, 111-5

Shot Put
10. Thomason Burkett, 41-5.25; 11. Brennan Strawbridge, 40-3; 12. McCrae Reese, 37-0.75

JV Lady Blues

100-Meter Dash
5. Braylee Wenninger, 14.02

200-Meter Dash
8. Braylee Wenninger, 29.98

400-Meter Dash
4. Alexa Enns, 1:07.23

800-Meter Run
10. Natalie Hunter, 2:57.63; 11. Maddison Bishop, 3:00.87; 12. Finley Nevarez, 3:04.29

1600-Meter Run
8. Maddison Bishop; 6:43.08; 12. Mackenzie Vacante, 7:15.15

100-Meter Hurdles
3. Rylee Besack, 18.03; 3. Paizlee Evans, 18.47

300 Meter Hurdles
3. Rylee Besack, 52.73; 5. Paizlee Evans, 54.00

High Jump
7. Emmalyn Bock, 4-2

Pole Vault
2. Anzley Howard, 7-6; 3. Addelynn Fade, 6-6

Long Jump
9. Paizlee Evans, 14-3.25

Discus Throw
5. Bayleigh McGee, 79-5.5; 9. Teren Yowell, 73-1; 13. Carmen McGee, 62-1

Shot Put
5. Bayleigh McGee, 27-6.25; 9. Teren Yowell, 25-11; 12. Carmen McGee, 22-6

JV Steers

100-Meter Dash
3. Jot Thorne, 11.61

200-Meter Dash
4. John Morrill, 24.70; 7. Austin Kilpatrick, 25.37

400-Meter Dash
4. Dax Elder, 56.12; 6. Ethan Chandler, 57.69

800-Meter Run
5. Waylon Hicks, 2:19.77; 8. Jack Clark, 2:24.00; 12. Ryan Howell, 2:28.00

1600-Meter Run
3. Dayne Dunnam, 5:15.18; 11. Jack Clark, 5:52.12

3200-Meter Run
4. Dayne Dunnam, 11:43.56

110-Meter Hurdles
1. Kase Bundrick, 16.76; 3. Liam Bailey, 17.92

300-Meter Hurdles
1. Kase Bundrick, 44.32; 6. Liam Bailey, 46.08

High Jump
2. Waylon Hicks, 5-10; 4. Braxton Bennett, 5-8

Long Jump
4. Waylon Hicks, 18-9; 12. Brodie McMillan, 16-10; 13. Daven Green, 17-75

Triple Jump
8. Braxton Barnett, 36-8.25; 9. Waylon Hicks, 34-8

Discus Throw
6. Jacob Alexander, 112-10; 8. Jouah Thomas, 110-1

Shot Put
4. Tyson Louder, 40-5; 7. Matthew Llanas, 38-5.5; 14. Bryce Tucker, 33-2.5