Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Fall-sport updates
Cross Country: It was quite the day for Hornet runners at the District 23-4A meet held here earlier this week. The GHS boys captured the district championship, their first since 2020, and had three runners finish among the Top 10. The GHS girls, with a pair of Top 10 individual finishes, claimed 3rd place and is headed back to regional. One point, one place – it was the difference in the boys being champs or being runner-up, and it was also with the point difference that the girls edged out Robinson for the third team spot. Every…spot…matters! And along those lines, the 8th grade girls finished the season with a sweep of all five meet titles after winning the 23-4A trophy.
Football: Military Night is coming up next Friday at Tommy Davidson Field at McKamie Stadium. Not going to lie - it’s always one of my favorite nights, because GHS celebrates the Red, White, and Blue in style. There will be U.S. flags spread around the stadium, a military fly-over prior to kickoff, former and current veterans will be recognized, and there will be a slew of soldiers on the turf supporting each school.
Team Tennis: For those that have asked – team tennis in the fall is based upon match play where all matches count toward the same goal of winning 10 overall (19 total played); spring tennis is individual competition where players advance to the postseason in singles and doubles play.
Volleyball: GISD Athletics has quite the social media presence for many of its sports, and none any more eye-catching than GHS Volleyball. A recent Facebook post demonstrating and encouraging student section and fan etiquette has now reached 989,000 plays, 7.5 thousand likes, and 350 shares. I’m no social media expert, but those are pretty snazzy numbers.
Notes and dotes
…Nothing better than seeing kids, coaches, and teachers supporting each other during competitions. It was evident at Monday’s District 23-4A cross country hosted by GHS. Several athletes from other sports were there to support their teammates and friends, cheer was there, and GISD staff members. Believe me when I say these things make a difference, and our student-athletes notice.
…GHS setter Taylor Sanderson recently notched her 1,000th assist as a varsity player. Good setters are worth every dime, and the junior has a knack for finding the “bread and butter”. Hornet volleyball players, current and former, will know what that means.
Hall of Fame
The Class of 2024 that will be introduced at today’s (Saturday) GHS Athletics’ Hall of Fame Banquet has a little bit of everything.
Judy Kafer Hurst was a multi-sport Hornette (yes, old school name) standout. She was a four-year basketball varsity letterman and also qualified for the track state meet all four years. Judy will join older brother, Gary, in the HOF.
Jim Saunders was a three-sport standout for the Hornets. He was an all-district quarterback during the 1970 and 1971 seasons and would later receive a scholarship to play at Baylor University.
Ex-coach Guy Dean becomes the sixth coach to be inducted after a brilliant career that included duties in football, basketball, golf, and cross country. He was a head coach in the latter three and led teams to district titles in each of those sports. Dean’s most memorable successes came from GHS boys golf teams, which were state champions in 2009, runners-up in 2010, and bronze medalists in 2008 and 2019.
The 1950-51 boys basketball team, coached by Lloyd Mitchell, reached the state tournament. That year’s team captured the program’s ninth district title in 10 years. They are getting their due some 73 years later.
The 2009 softball team, led by coach Michelle (Bartch) Edwards, advanced to the state semis after posting a school-record 32 wins and knocking off higher-rated opponents in most rounds of the playoffs. That group found ways to win games, simple as that. Tom Leib and Terry Aslin made Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” cool again that spring season.
Upcoming schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 15
Golf: Varsity Boys at Burnet tourney
Tennis: 7th-8th at Groesbeck
Volleyball: Varsity-JV-9th here vs. Connally
Thursday, Oct. 17
Football: JV Black and JV Gold at Lorena, JV White at Lake Belton
Football: 7th-8th A-B here vs. Lorena
Friday, Oct. 18
Football: Varsity here vs. Lorena
Volleyball: Varsity-JV-9th here vs. Lorena
Saturday, Oct. 19
Athletics: GHS Hall of Fame Banquet
Hornet Fight Never Dies!
Gatesville Hornet Athletics on Facebook, @FightinHornets on X, www.gatesvilleathletics.com
