By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High tennis team got its first taste of outside competition Wednesday, April 20, with more than 30 players competing against opponents from Winters at the Albany courts.

“The junior high tennis season is very short,” coach M.J. Reneau said. “It’s about  getting racquets in their hands, learning some rules, getting on the court, and just trying to get them some experience to see if this is something they’d like to do in high school.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

The list of honor students in the 2022 Albany High School senior class was released last week, naming Luke Ivy as valedictorian and Sarah Cotter as salutatorian.

Ivy, son of Paul and Ginny Ivy, has a near-perfect four-year average of 99.586.

The salutatorian, daughter of Mike and Darla Cotter, has earned an overall average of 96.857.

Both are Albany natives, and both are extremely active in all aspects of student life, ranging from success in multiple sports to appearances at UIL state academic events.

By Sam Waller

Sarah Cotter returned to the girls singles final at the Class 2A state tennis tournament this week, dropping just five games in a trio of straight-set victories to claim the gold medal.

Cotter, last year’s state runnerup, was one of three Albany entries at Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio.

Luke Marshall reached the boys singles semifinals before being forced to withdraw because of an injury, and received the bronze medal during ceremonies on Wednesday.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Ministerial Alliance is again spearheading local participation in the National Day of Prayer.

The local event will be held at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, May 5 at Bank Park.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

The first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer in 1775. President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of prayer in 1863 during the Civil War.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions split a pair of games last week in the final full week of the regular season.

On Tuesday, April 19, the Lions fell 10-4 to third-ranked Anson in a game that decided the top two spots in District 8-2A. Albany bounced back Friday, April 22 with a 14-3 victory in six innings at Cisco.

The Lions wrapped up the regular season Tuesday, April 26 by beating Hawley 13-3 at home. Before the game, the team’s two seniors – Luke Ivy and Cooper Fairchild – were honored with senior night activities.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s freshman and junior students participated in an aquatic biology field day earlier at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Moran science teacher Matthew Hise said the program provided a general overview of different kinds of environments. The freshman students are taking biology, with the juniors involved in an aquatic science class.

“We  don’t have aquifer water in our area,” Hise said. “It was an experience to see aquatic organisms that are totally different from what we have in our area.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs qualified four athletes in eight events to regional competition at last week’s area meet.

The area meet, held Wednesday, April 20 at May, matched athletes from Moran’s District 13-1A against those from District 14-1A. The top four finishers in each event advanced to the Region II-1A meet on Friday-Saturday, April 29-30 at San Angelo.

“The kids did well overall, with a couple getting some PR’s in some events,” coach John Hughes said. “Congrats to them all.”

Parents of Albany High School graduating seniors are reminded to gather baby pictures for The Albany News’ upcoming graduation section.

Pictures are due by the end of next week, on Thursday, May 5, if possible.

High resolution images for the graduation special section can be emailed to news@thealbanynews.net or photos can be brought by the News office to be scanned and returned immediately.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions split their final two District 8-2A softball games last week and start the playoffs this week.

Albany defeated Gorman 7-0 on Tuesday, April 19 on senior night at Webb Park before falling 7-5 on Friday, April 22 at Cisco.

Seniors Ana Balliew, Kam Browning, Ansleigh Garcia, and Sara Smith were recognized during the evening.

“Overall, it was a good week,” coach Jimmy Fuentes said. “We continued to play well.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

It wasn’t exactly a case of lighting striking twice, but it was close.

The first time the Albany Lion Band earned a Sweepstakes Award for earning Division I ratings in marching, sight reading, and concert contests was in 1962.

The band that year was in the second year of a new director who had to dip down to the eighth graders, and even a few members from the seventh grade, to have a group large enough to truly compete.

Fast forward to 2022, some 60 years later, when the Lion Band repeated earning the Sweepstakes Award.