Albany in top 20 of Lone Star Cup

by Kathy Thomson

Albany High School was among the top 20 Class 2A schools in the state in vying for the University Interscholastic League Lone Star Cup for the 2018-19 school year.

Albany earned 38 points to tie for 18th place with Valley Mills this year. 

“The Lone Star Cup standing is not something that we set our sights on during the year,” said Albany Independent School District superintendent Jonathan Scott. “We simply want to make Albany ISD students better prepared, day in and day out, and the results of those efforts are seen in everything that we do. The accolades of being identified in the Lone Star rankings is simply icing on the cake.”

In 2017-18 Albany earned 42 points to tie for ninth place with six other schools, the previous year Albany earned 44 points to tie for ninth place, and in 2015-2016 AHS tied for seventh place at 47 tallies.

This year the 2A division was won again by Mason with 76 points, six marks higher than they earned the previous year. Sundown earned the top spot in 2016-17.

The UIL Lone Star Cup recognizes the top high schools in each of the six UIL classifications based on overall team achievement in a variety of UIL sanctioned competitions including state and area marching band, academics, one act play, and various sports contests.

The 203 schools that are included in the UIL 2A classification range in enrollment from 106 to 223 students, with the exception of three schools with 75 to 86 students that requested to be placed in 2A instead of 1A.

Albany had 151 students when the 2018-20 UIL realignment was drawn and 121 of the 2A schools had larger enrollments, placing Albany in the lower half of 2A schools in student numbers.

Schools placing in the top 10 in the cup challenge for the 2A division in 2018-19 include 1. Mason – 76; 2. Sundown – 68; 3. Thorndale – 66; 4. Lindsay – 61; 5. Martin’s Mill – 57; 6. Grapeland – 56; 7. (tie) Crawford – 54; 7. (tie) Windthorst – 54; 9. Refugio – 52; 10. (tie) Gruver – 50; 10. (tie) New Deal – 50.

Finishing out the top 20 were 12. Shiner – 47; 13. San Saba – 46; 14. Brackettville Bracket – 43; 15. Wellington – 42; 16. Shelbyville – 40; 17. Valley View – 39; 18. (tie) Albany – 38; 18. (tie) Valley Mills – 38; 20. Muenster – 37.

Albany placed ninth among schools the same size competing for the cup in 2013-2014, fourth in 2010-2011, and sixth in 2009-2010.