Sports

(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Tripp Mahaney makes contact with a pitch Thursday, May 22 for a base hit. Mahaney led a potential scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth.

Steers season ends in Stephenville as Graham drops regional final 7-0

The Graham Steers gave it their all this postseason in a run all the way to the regional finals.  

Unfortunately for Graham, that would be all she wrote this year as the team lost to the Brock Eagles 7-0.

Much of the Steers undoing tonight was something that they had put behind in previous weeks, but came back to rear its ugly head - unforced errors.

(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Thomason Burkett defends a pass Saturday, May 17 against the Springtown Porcupines. Burkett made the most of his first chance to shine on both ends of the field during the opener of this offseason program.

Steers open 7on7 football at Northwest High School

It may not seem like it, but the Graham Steers and Lady Blues are just a little over three months away from fall sports kicking off once again. The Steers took a step in preparation for that by kicking off their 7on7 football schedule in Fort Worth. 

The Steers first tournament took place Saturday, May 17 where they took part in three matches against teams like Panther Creek, Springtown and Lake Worth. 

(NEWCASTLE ISD | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Newcastle’s Mattie Dollar with her medal for being the girls runner up in the regional tennis tournament in North Richland Hills. For qualifying for the championship match, Dollar punched her ticket to Dodd City for the state tournament Thursday, May 15.

Dollar ends her season with solid performance at state tournament

After a long and successful season, the Newcastle tennis program’s 2025 campaign has come to an end. While ultimately not being the champion, Mattie Dollar still had a strong performance. 

Dollar earned her spot in the state tournament after a strong performance at the regional championships in North Richland Hills. She won her first round matchup against Iredell High School, winning both of her sets 6-0 and 6-1 respectively. 

In the second round, she faced Mount Palm High School and won both of her sets that round as well 6-1. 

(GRAHAM ATHLETICS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The Graham Steers advanced once again in the post season to the regional final after sweeping the El Paso Riverside Rangers in two games.

Steers advance to the regional final after sweeping Rangers

The Graham Steers advanced once again in the post season and are now heading to the regional final after sweeping the El Paso Riverside Rangers in two games.

Graham accomplished this once again by putting on an offensive clinic that proved to be too much to overcome for El Paso Riverside. 

In game one, the teams bats came alive from key playmakers like Ryder Taylor hitting a bases clearing RBI triple to put the Steers up 2-1 Early. 

(NISD | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) The Graham Leader is recognizing Mattie Dollar as the Ladycats athlete of the week. The lone athletic representative left for Newcastle has had a strong postseason to qualify for the state championship in Dodd City.

Dollar, Wright named Athletes of the Week

There aren’t many spring sports left for this academic year, but there’s still enough to highlight some stellar performances. 

Steers baseball continued to stay hot and advanced to the regional semifinals. Meanwhile the Ladycats tennis team still has a lone representative heading to the state tournament in Dodd City. 

For the final time this year, The Graham Leader is recognizing Mattie Dollar and Bruin Wright as the Athletes of the Week. 

Mattie Dollar, Ladycats Tennis

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Camren Mallory makes a shot during the Ladycats bi-district matchup Monday, Feb. 10. Among other accolades, Mallory was named All District Defensive Player of the Year for her Ladycats basketball season performance.

Newcastle honors athletes at spring sports banquet

Newcastle is nearing the end of its athletic and academic season which means they turn to one of its biggest celebrations. That of course is the spring sports banquet. 

Athletes from their programs such as cheerleading, girls cross country, football, volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball, boys and girls powerlifting, boys and girls golf, boys track, girls track and girls tennis were recognized with athletic and academic awards. 

(GHS TENNIS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Jade Dospapas in her matches during the district tennis tournament Wednesday, April 23 in Brownwood. Dospapas finished second at the event to qualify for the regional championships in Lubbock.

Dospapas shines with a top five finish in regional tournament

Despite the Graham High School tennis season officially coming to an end, it was a great day for one of its finest performers. 

Jade Dospapas participated in both days of the regional tournament and had a strong finish. 

Dospapas had an outstanding last couple of weeks both through being honored as one of the top performers on the team this season and for her efforts during the district tournament in Brownwood. 

(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Younger camp participants wait their turn on an obstacle course which tests speed and agility as part of Graham’s youth camp in 2024. Camps will begin this week in Graham and run through July.

Summer sports camps approaching for area

Graduation is creeping closer at Graham High School and that also means that much of the main athletics calendar has all but wrapped up. 

A few sports programs are still competing in the postseason however most have already played their last game. 

Graham athletes and the community shouldn’t be sad about this though. While the final pages of the 2024-25 calendar are being turned, all eyes can turn to the future. 

That future begins with the many summer athletic camps that are in place to train up the next wave of athletes for Graham. 

(ALEX HAVARDANKSY | THE GRAHAM LEADER)  The Graham Steers hold their area champs banner and trophy Friday, May 9. The Steers defeated the FW Castleberry Lions 7-3 in the second round.

Steers stay hot, take down FW Castleberry 7-3

Graham is advancing once again in the postseason. The Steers defeated the FW Castleberry Lions 7-3 in their one game win-or-go-home showdown. 

Right from the jump the Steers were locked in. Senior Pitcher Ryder Taylor once again brought his A-game. 

Taylor managed to get out of some high pressure situations early such as stranding runners on the corners with a strikeout to end the top of the second and keep things knotted at zero. 

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