Sports

Leopards football is going through a lot of big changes as the ’23-’24 school year approaches. La Grange recently hired Kyle Cooper as their athletic director and head football coach while graduating two division one football players in Jaren Woods (Baylor) and Bravion Rogers (Texas A&M). With Woods and Rogers being two huge losses, the Cooper hiring brings optimism to a new-look Leopards team.

The Bellville High School volleyball team is known for making the state tournament and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them go again this fall. Brahmanette volleyball is led by hall of fame coach Susan Brewer, who has nothing short of a powerhouse running at Bellville. Brewer was inducted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Hall of Fame last summer, has been to multiple state tournaments, and does it all with pure class.

After the recent departure of former Sealy High School head football coach and athletic director Shane Mobley, newly hired Clint Finley will take on the same role to start the ’23-’24 school year. Finley has plenty of quality football experience as he played college football at University of Nebraska and also had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys, along with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

A few Lady Cardinals volleyball players traveled to Florida for the AAU Junior National Volleyball Tournament and didn’t come home empty handed. Seniors Ally Tribe and Claire Klausmeyer earned third place in the 18u division out of 60 teams.

Grissom places second at TFAA State Field Championship

Paige Pavlu and Reagan Wick from Weimar softball were recognized for their efforts this year and made the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Softball Legacy Team. TGCA picks a maximum of 20 Legacy All-Stars from conferences 1A through 6A and these selections are made by the TGCA Softball Committee, which is made up of softball member coaches of the association. Athletes have to be seniors in order to qualify.

2023 senior Brooklyn Jaeger of Fayetteville High School has been recognized for her efforts in sports and in the classroom by earning a 2024 Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) scholarship.

Isn't stopping any time soon

COLUMBUS – The Columbus High School volleyball team went to their second state tournament in a row last year under head coach Kayley Johns and the Lady Cardinals still have the personnel for a potential thirdstraight trip to the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland.

FLATONIA – Bulldogs boys basketball has had quite the success in recent years and even made it to the state tournament last year.

Baylor University running back and former Bellville Brahma Richard Reese came off a huge football season last year as a freshman and is projected to have a similar type of year in 2023. Reese became Bellville’s all-time leading rusher during his tenure as a Brahma and is one of those backs that is just that good.

Sealy High School football coach and athletic director Shane Mobley has departed from his duties. Mobley is coming off a 7-5 season last year with the Tigers to go along with a first round playoff win against Jasper. Sealy then was ousted in the next round by Cuero on a score of 41-18.

baseball fill up District 26-A All-District Team

Columbus 2025 quarterback Adam Schobel has chosen to further his football career beyond high school and commit to the Baylor University football team. Schobel is a three-star recruit according to 247 Sports, but had a four-star composite ranking and is the 20th ranked quarterback in the country among 2025 recruits.

As the school year comes to a close, that means football season is right around the corner. While there are many respectable teams in the tri-county area, Bellville and Columbus high schools seem to still be the premier programs at this point.

ROUND ROCK – The Fayetteville High School baseball team made it to the state championship game with a win against Nazareth High School June 7 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock by a score of 4-0. The Lions scored early and were also able to score when it mattered in the later innings of the game.

ROUND ROCK – The Fayetteville Lions baseball team was defeated by Abbott Panthers June 9 at the 2023 UIL Class 1A State Baseball Championship finals at Dell Diamond in Round Rock by a final score of 6-5.

SAN MARCOS - Lions baseball won the first game of a playoff series with D'Hanis High School May 30 by a final score of 11-1 in five innings at Rattlers Field in San Marcos. Fayetteville scored right away and collected runs throughout the game while the pitching staff kept things intact. "With them, we always know it's gonna be a battle," said Fayetteville head baseball coach Clint Jaeger.

Bellville High School head baseball coach Todd Hatton has resigned and assistant Ty Morgan has taken over the program. Hatton posted an overall record of 46-17-2 during his tenure at Bellville and it was reportedly his own decision to resign.