Sports

Track and field for Graham is still early in its schedule while the powerlifting season has ended, and both sports have seen outstanding results from local athletes.

While Graham joins other schools this weekend at the annual PK Relays hosted at Newton Field, the powerlifting season recently concluded for both the Lady Blues and Steers. 

This week, The Graham Leader recognizes Braylee Mayes of the Lady Blues and Scout Smith of the Steers for their recent performances in track and powerlifting.

Braylee Mayes, Lady Blues track

It is not often a school can send an athlete to state the same year it introduces a program, but that’s just what Newcastle ISD did with powerlifting.

After implementing the program in the 2024-2025 school year, junior Catherine Youngblood was the first to not only win a medal for powerlifting in the district’s history, but the first athlete to make it to state.

During the Texas High School Women’s 2025 State Championships for 1A and 2A powerlifting held Wednesday, March 12, Youngblood placed 11th out of 15 competitors in the 114-pound weight class.

Graham’s track and field teams got more experience at multiple events during the Brad Legan Friends and Family Invitational Meet last week in Springtown.

The meet was held Thursday, March 6 with 14 schools participating across all divisions.

The JV Lady Blues picked up a fourth place team score while the varsity team picked up a sixth place team score. The JV Steers picked up a sixth place team score while the varsity team picked up a fourth place team score.

Graham High School was well represented by three Steers during the regional powerlifting meet last week, with the athletes closing out a successful season.

The Boys Region 1 Division 2 powerlifting meet was held Thursday, March 6 at Abilene Wylie. Lifters in the competition were Scout Smith, Mateo Rodriguez and McCrae Reese, who all qualified for the meet Thursday, Feb. 20 in Decatur.

Smith placed third in the 242 weight class with 570 pounds on squat, 375 pounds on bench press and 500 pounds on deadlift. 

All four Graham High School soccer teams had to brave strong winds and cold weather this week as they closed out their district schedule and now look at what comes next.

The varsity Steers and Lady Blues teams held their senior nights Tuesday, March 4 and honored those students and the season as a whole. Both teams had standouts players from their respective games this week. 

This week, The Graham Leader recognizes Thomason Burkett of the Steers and Olivia Pettus of the Lady Blues as Athletes of the Week.

Thomason Burkett, Steers soccer

It was a fight against the elements Tuesday as the Steers continued to push during their senior night game, but it ultimately ended in a 4-3 loss to the Mineral Wells Rams.

While other sports saw cancellations Tuesday, March 4 due to strong winds blowing through the area, soccer was on at home for the Steers rematch against Mineral Wells. 

There were two opponents on the field against the Lady Blues this week, the Mineral Wells Rams and over 40 mph winds. Graham pushed and came away with one final win to close out their district schedule.

The game opened Tuesday, March 4 with a pass to senior Camden Thorne who was injured and in crutches to give her one final moment at home with her teammates. The play was followed up with a hug from a Mineral Wells player as well as from head coach Casey Weil and teammate Tara Dawson.

Graham High School’s track and field teams took off last week at the Windmill City Relays in Merkel and continued a successful start to the season.

Lady Blues JV placed fourth overall while the varsity team placed third overall. The Steers JV team placed third overall and the varsity team placed second overall.

JV and varsity teams had individual and combined successes across various events Thursday, Feb. 27. The next event for the teams will be Thursday, March 6 in Springtown.

Steers results

JV

The Graham Lady Blues were recently honored for their basketball season performance on and off the court.

The Lady Blues’ season ended with their final district rematch Tuesday, Feb. 4 against Mineral Wells where they ended things on a high note with a one-point victory over the Lady Rams. 

The team represented their school well and were honored for their efforts. Shown below are the all-district honors received by the team.

Lady Blues All-District

1st Team All-District
Katelyn McGehee

It is the first year for the powerlifting program in Newcastle and one Ladycat will be advancing to the state competition after a promising performance at the Region 6 – 1A-2A Regional Championship.

The Newcastle Ladycats traveled Saturday, March 1 to compete in the regional powerlifting meet at Bells ISD. 
Ladycat lifters who participated in the meet were Catherine and Bailey Youngblood, Kourtney Whitfield, RaeLyn Bennett, Camren Mallory, Addison Riley and Jayden Ballard.