By Sam Waller

The Albany High School tennis team won four division brackets and added three other top-three finishes March 21 at the Brownwood tournament in its final outing before district.

The District 10-2A tournament will be played Thursday, March 30 (today) and Friday, March 31 at Abilene. Albany has the top seed in each draw.

At Brownwood, Sidney Russell won girls singles, Jaci Chapman and Ella Webb won girls doubles, and Cade Fairchild and London Fuentes won boys doubles. In the B division, Mimi Ivy and Brooklyn Abbate won the girls doubles draw.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions boys golf team placed second in the team standings Monday, March 27, at the Coach David Middleton Memorial Tournament in Haskell, the team’s final outing before district.

The Lions open the District 10-2A tournament Monday, April 3 at Baird’s Shady Oaks Golf Course. The final round will be played Tuesday, April 4 at Sweetwater Country Club. The top two teams and top two individuals not on a qualifying team advance to the Region II-2A tournament Monday-Tuesday, April 17-18, at Old Brickyard Golf Course in Ferris.

By Sam Waller

The Albany junior high track and field teams enjoyed a productive day Friday, March 24, as they hosted their final meet before district competition.

The junior high district meet will be held Saturday, April 1 at Hamlin. Field events will start at 9:00 a.m. with running events starting at 1:00 p.m.

Boys coach Ryder Peacock said the athletes have made good progress over the three meets they’ve attended.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs returned from spring break with a busy week as athletes from high school, junior high, and elementary competed in track meets.

The junior high started things off Tuesday, March 21 at Blanket. On March 23, the high school teams competed at Blanket. On Saturday, elementary students were in May.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Beverly Rogers has been honored for her years of fundraising efforts on behalf of the Alz­heimer’s Association with the Abilene chapter donating six books about the disease to the Shackelford County Library.

By Sam Waller

Albany Little League opened its 2023 season with a barn-burner Monday, March 27 as the Oilers edged the Reds by one run in the last inning.

League organizer Paul Hamilton said he expects the level of competition to remain high throughout the season.

Hamilton said 160 players are participating from T-Ball through Intermediate age groups. With the Major and Minor groups each having four teams, scheduling is much easier this year, he said.

By Sam Waller

Three Moran High School students qualified for UIL academic regional competition based on their results Wednesday, March 22 at the District 13-1A meet at Eula.

Tyler Waddell finished first in Social Studies, with Terra Thompson in Computer Applications and Ellis Hise in Mathematics advancing after placing second.

The Region II-1A meet will be April 21-22 at San Angelo.

Also competing at the district contest were Jayla Bussell, Chase Murk, Connor Hail, Zech Henderson, Caleb York, Daphanie Crews, Samantha Hinkle, and Emily Murk.

By Sam Waller

Albany ISD is moving forward with a plan to purchase monuments honoring the Albany Lions’ three football state championships, with a campaign underway to raise $50,000 for the purchase and installation of six-foot-by-six-foot granite monuments to be placed around the sign which honors the title teams of 1960 and 1961.

Albany won its third crown in December, the school’s first win in five trips to the finals under veteran coach Denney Faith.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions football team has been named recipient of the 2023 Gordon Wood Award by the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

The award will be presented Saturday, May 6 at the Hall’s 2023 induction banquet in Waco.

The Gordon Wood Award is presented to an “especially noteworthy high school football team that displayed good sportsmanship, the ability to overcome challenges, had the support of the community and achieved success on the field.”

By Melinda L. Lucas

The Bank Park should be full of competitors and spectators starting about noon this Sunday, March 26, with a fund­raiser event planned in the downtown venue.

AZE’s third annual Scholarship Cornhole Tournament, which includes an amateur just-for-fun bracket in addition to a sanctioned division, is expected to draw a good number of teams from around the area, with the proceeds used for scholarships.