With about 55 campers already signed up, Albany High School cheerleaders are preparing for their annual Mini Cheer Camp, set for July 28–30 at the AHS gym. 

Incoming Pre-K through sixth grade students can still register, but organizers are encouraging sign-up as soon as possible so that participants can get a camp T-shirt.

“We’re excited to have more than 50 kids signed up,” said cheer sponsor Lauren Peacock. “If they haven’t signed up yet, cheer campers need to register as soon as possible to ensure they get a T-shirt.”

Albany’s 7-on-7 football team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Division III State Tournament in College Station June 26-27, finishing among the top eight teams in the state.

The Lions went 3-0 in pool play Thursday, securing the No. 1 seed in their bracket with a last-second win over Tidehaven. Albany opened with a 24-12 win over Hico, followed by a 32-28 victory over Tidehaven and a 14-7 win against Wolfe City.

The Shackelford County Youth & Livestock Association will host its annual 3-Person Golf Scramble at Albany Golf Club on Friday and Saturday, July 19–20, with proceeds benefiting local students who participate in the county stock show.

The tournament is limited to 40 teams, and while the afternoon flight is already full, a few morning spots remain for the 8:30 a.m. tee time. Entry is $125 per player.

In addition to the tournament, a meal will be provided Saturday evening followed by a Calcutta and live music by Matt Stapp.

Albany Junior/Senior High athletes are heading into the final stretch of their summer conditioning programs, with coaches and players preparing for the start of preseason football and volleyball practices in early August.

Local boys can still work out in conditioning sessions led by coaches at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday through July 17, but can continue to work out on their own after that.

Albany Junior/Senior High student-athletes remain active this summer with steady participation in conditioning programs and the conclusion of summer league competitions.

The boys’ summer conditioning program continues Monday through Thursday from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., with an average of about 30 athletes showing up each morning.

“We’re still doing morning conditioning, but no sport-specific football yet,” head coach Denney Faith said. “We’ve got 7-on-7 going right now, and we’ll see when we start the rest.”

Albany’s 7-on-7 team will open pool play Thursday morning at the Division III State Tournament in College Station, returning to the event after missing out last summer.

The Lions will compete in a four-team pool that includes Hico, Tidehaven, and Wolfe City. Albany is scheduled to face Hico at 10:00 a.m., Tidehaven at 11:30 a.m., and Wolfe City at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the 16-team championship bracket on Friday, while the others will compete in a single-elimination consolation bracket.

Albany High School cheerleaders wrapped up a three-day NCA home camp June 22–24, with both varsity and junior varsity squads participating in 22 hours of instruction.

Led by a National Cheerleaders Association instructor, the camp emphasized game day experience, sideline spirit, jumps, stunts, and team building. Cheerleaders stayed together for the duration of camp, creating what sponsor Lauren Peacock described as “a great bonding experience that helped set the tone for the year.”

The Albany Golf Club’s 100th anniversary celebration teed off in style this past weekend, with 40 teams and 120 players participating in the Centennial Classic tournament. The two-day event included morning and afternoon flights on both Friday and Saturday, with strong attendance and competitive scores.

On Saturday, between rounds, club members gathered for a commemorative photo—recreating a tradition from the 1920s when the club was first established.

By Melinda Lucas

Albany’s 7-on-7 team is on the practice field this week as players get ready for their upcoming trip to the Division III State Tournament, set for June 26-27 in College Station.

Albany punched its ticket at an Abilene state qualifier on June 6 with four straight wins – beating Merkel, Dublin, Miles, and edging Tolar 21-19 in the championship – to earn its sixth trip to the state event since 2015 and the first since 2023.

The Albany 7-on-7 football team earned a trip to the state tournament after going undefeated in four games at a Division III state qualifying tournament held Friday, June 6, in Abilene.

Albany played all of its games at The Fieldhouse, while the other half of the tournament took place at the Shotwell Annex. The Lions opened pool play with a 20–14 win over Merkel, followed by a 35–13 victory over Dublin in the second game. They wrapped up pool play with a 33–20 win over Miles to finish 3–0 and claim the top spot in their bracket.