By Donnie A. Lucas

With just short of 40 players showing up for practices on Monday, Lady Lion volleyball coach M.J. Reneau is pleased with the response and excited about the upcoming season.

The volleyball teams are finishing up two-a-day workouts today and will start scrimmaging other teams on Friday.

Albany is hosting a three-way scrimmage starting at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the competition that includes Lingleville and Benjamin. The Lady Lions will play Lingleville at 11:00 a.m., followed by a bout against Benjamin at 1:00 p.m.

By Sam Waller

Golfers will have six resodded greens to putt on this year at the Albany Golf Club’s annual Labor Day tournament, scheduled for Sept. 4-5.

Golf Club board member James Waters said the greens, which were damaged by February’s hard freeze, have been resodded with TifEagle Bermuda and are in good condition.

“We were going to do all nine of them, but we couldn’t get the grass,” he said. “The three we didn’t get to are rebounding, and by the time we have the tournament, they’ll be in good condition.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

Pictures for varsity and JV football players and volleyball players have been set for this week, with cheerleaders tentatively scheduled.

Volleyball players will meet Thursday (today) starting at 5:00 p.m. in the main gym.

Varsity, JV, and junior high cheerleaders are tentatively scheduled to meet for their pictures at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 5, with the junior high and JV groups at Robert Nail Stadium, and the location for the varsity to be decided.

By Sam Waller

Fans of the Albany Lions and Lady Lions athletic programs will have the chance to meet this year’s athletes at the All-Sports Athletic Booster Club Hamburger Supper, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9 at Bank Park.

In addition to the introduction of football and volleyball teams and cheerleaders, attendees may purchase a hamburger meal for $8.

High school athletes and coaches eat free of charge.

Along with the hamburgers and chips, cheerleaders will make homemade ice cream, which will be available to everyone.

By Sam Waller

Albany cross country coach Tate Thompson welcomed five runners this week for the start of training for the upcoming season, and he hopes to add to that number before district competition.

Thompson said he will have four girl runners and two boys to start the season.

“The last couple of years, we haven’t had boy runners,” Thompson said. “There are not a whole lot of boy runners in the district, so that’s going to give us a good chance of advancing those two guys.”

By Sidney Bartee

Albany graduate Addie Beth Denton competed in the American Junior Rodeo Association Finals the past week in Sweetwater, the last time she will compete as a high school student.

Denton competed in breakaway roping, goat tying, and barrel racing.

After catching all three calves, Denton was crowned the Champion Breakaway Roper.

Placings for breakaway roping include third in the first round, sixth in the second round, and second in the short go.

By Sidney Bartee

Albany students Cort Peterson and Will LeMay competed in the American Junior Rodeo Association finals last weekend, bringing home a top award.

The boys won the team roping short go competition in their division and received a saddle and belt buckles as prizes.

Peterson is the header for the team and LeMay is the heeler.

The duo has traveled to rodeo competitions most weekends since September of 2020, and their successes in the qualifying events made them eligible for the finals.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs began preseason practices in football, volleyball, and cross country on Monday in preparation for the upcoming school year.

Lady Bulldog volleyball season begins Tuesday, Aug. 10 with a match at Loraine. The Bulldog football team kicks off its season Aug. 27 at Benjamin.

Football

Coach John Hughes started the week with the bare minimum six players, but has already seen that number increase and expects more players to join the team.

By Sam Waller

Enrollment packets for prospective students at Moran Independent School are available now in the school office. All students planning to attend Moran schools need to pick up a packet.x

Students may pick up paperwork during business hours over the next two weeks. Packets will also be available during the Meet the Teachers event on Aug. 19, according to principal Jo Hise.

Meet the Teachers will be preceeded by Meet the Bulldogs.