Pictures for varsity and JV football players and cheerleaders have been set for this week.

Cheerleaders will meet at Nail Stadium Thursday (today) starting at 5:00 p.m. for the junior high group. The varsity squad will follow at 5:20 p.m.

Football players and coaches are scheduled for pictures at 2:00 p.m. Friday at the stadium.

An Albany baseball player has been recognized on the Class 2A All-State Baseball team.

Junior Joshua Dyer received honorable mention as a second baseman for the Lions on the annual list that is sponsored by Collin Street Bakery and the Texas Sports Writers Association.

The Lions advanced to the Region I quarterfinal, losing to DeLeon. Albany was undefeated in District 8-2A with a 10-0 record, finishing the season at 17-5-3 with playoff wins over Winters and Anthony.

A total of eight girls and one boy have shown up so far for high school cross country practices since the program started last Wednesday.

Coach Tate Thompson said that only three of the girls are returning from last year’s district meet, with the remainder participating as part of the girls basketball off-season training.

“We have been starting at 8:00 a.m. each morning with some weight training and running,” he said. “We will switch to morning practice at 6:30 a.m. two mornings per week once classes start. We will also work out some during the athletic period.”

Albany sports fans are invited to attend the Athletic Booster Club’s annual ice cream supper next Monday, Aug. 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bank Park. 

The Albany Lion volleyball team, cross country team, cheerleaders, and football team will be introduced at the event, and the young girls cheer camp participants are expected to perform a variety of cheers and dance routines. 

High school athletes eat free of charge, while the hamburger meal costs $7 for the general public. 

Summer workouts for volleyball started Wednesday, with about 30 high school girls showing up to get ready for the 2018 season.

Coaches and players will have only two days on the court to prepare before the first scrimmage set for Friday in Clyde.

“It is really tough having only a couple of days to  practice before scrimmages start,” head coach Kimberly Hill said. “And our first regular season game is Tuesday.”

Albany football coaches are expecting almost 50 players to show up Monday for summer workouts – or two-a-days – representing an increase by several players over last year.

The Lions will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 6 for the opening workout. Equipment will be handed out, followed by the first practice of the season for the high school players.

Practice will continue in the mornings through Aug. 10,  with practices shifting the following week to the afternoons on days the coaching staff has teachers meetings.

Runners interested in participating in cross country track this fall met Wednesday, Aug. 1 to organize for the season.

Coach Tate Thompson handed out the required forms for runners to have signed by parents in order to participate.

The coach discussed the workout schedule for the upcoming season, along with the scheduled meets.

Thompson said that he has three or four girls returning, along with one male runner. He noted that anyone who wants to participate can still sign up by contacting him at the school.

The deadline for placing ads in the 2018 Albany High football program has been extended until Monday, Aug. 6, according to Albany Athletic Booster Club president Mindy Ary.

Ads in the magazine-type program cost $225 for a full page, $120 for a half page, $60 for a quarter page, or $30 for business card size.

The programs are sold at each of the home football games. Proceeds from the ads are typically the Booster Club’s largest fundraiser of the year and are used to help promote all high school and junior high school sports.

Members of the Albany varsity and junior varsity football teams will be in full pads on Friday, Aug. 10 for team and individual photos to be taken at Robert Nail Stadium.

The Lions and their coaches will gather at 2:00 p.m. after the morning practice.

The photos will be used for publicity, as well as in the football program.

Players can also order individual photo packages.

Cheerleader and volleyball pictures have not yet been scheduled, but will probably be taken next week.

Everyone is invited to come out to the Bank Park the evening of Monday, Aug. 13 and meet the players, coaches, and cheerleaders that will represent Albany High during the fall sports season and for a few dollars they can also enjoy a freshly cooked hamburger meal and desert.

Albany Athletic Booster Club’s Ice Cream Supper also gives club members a chance to connect with other fans and encourage them to join the Boosters, sign up team parents, and market items from the Spirit Shop.

Ice Cream Supper