By Donnie A. Lucas
There are still 11 of the 36 spots for team entries in the annual Father’s Day Golf Tournament set for June 20-21 at the Albany Golf Club.
Restrictions on activities at the local golf course have been eased in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing the local golf club to host the traditional 36-team tourney.
By Donnie A. Lucas
After almost a three-month lull in activity, local student athletes who will enter grades 7-12 next fall have their first opportunity to start supervised workouts that include both conditioning and limited sport-specific training.
The strength and conditioning sessions start Monday, June 8 with boys and girls divided into separate groups. The workouts will continue until July 30, with two idle weeks along the way.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Five of the eight local senior athletes who were selected to participate in this summer’s FCA All-Star games were presented last week with personalized items they would normally have received as part of the festival events.
Paul Johnston, who is a Big Country FCA representative, met with the Albany graduates at the high school flagpole last Tuesday, May 26.
He gave each all-star a plaque, an FCA Bible and their individual jerseys for the particular sport they were picked for.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany Little League games started this week despite a lengthy delay from the original start date due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Both major and minor teams will play three days per week during a shortened season scheduled to end by June 30.
T-ball and coach pitch leagues also started this week, continuing their schedule on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The last set of games for those two leagues is currently set for Wednesday, June 24.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany youth who usually spend much of their summer vacation attending local sports camps will have to wait a little longer to see if the use of school facilities is allowed.
According to athletic director Ryder Peacock, AISD is waiting on state guidance for the use of indoor facilities for youth camps.
The UIL, which regulates student athletics in Texas, recently allowed schools to conduct conditioning and skill specific training for students participating in athletics during the next school year.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany Little League action will finally get underway next week with full team practices and games following more than a two-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Local teams had gone through the draft and were preparing to start practices when the shutdown occurred, according to league president Paul Hamilton.
“We have been able to hold practices this week for groups of five or less,” Hamilton said. “Full team practices and games can begin starting May 31.”
By Donnie A. Lucas
Summer strength and conditioning workouts for students in grades 7-12 are being allowed by the UIL starting Monday, June 8 but will come with new restrictions due to concerns for the coronavirus pandemic.
The school district has offered summer conditioning programs for both boy and girl athletes for several years, and in more recent years has been allowed to offer certain sport specific instruction.
By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany senior Jaleigh Morales earned places on All-Big Country basketball teams for both Class 2A and the overall Super Team, while two Albany Lions made the Class 2A second team.
Morales was named to the first team for Class 2A and later was picked for the Super Team which includes all classifications. She was named as a member of the second squad on the Super Team.
Seniors Ben West and B.J. Morris were picked for the boys Class 2A second team.
By Kathy Thomson
Moran senior November Meredith was recently named to the Texas Girls Coaches Association 1-A Academic All State Team.
“I’m proud of November for getting this honor,” said athletic director and coach John Hughes. “She showed up every day and gave me everything she had. She not only took care of business on the floor, but in the classroom as well.”
Meredith scored 116 points and pulled in 49 offensive and 96 defensive rebounds during the 2019-20 basketball season. She was also credited with eight blocks and 50 steals.
By Donnie A. Lucas
The University Interscholastic League has extended the current suspension of all UIL sanctioned activities, including both academic and athletic events, through May 3 due to concerns over the coronavirus.
The organization first enacted a suspension through March 29, but that was expanded to May 3 and might be extended again if schools do not reopen due to the virus spreading in Texas.
The suspension includes all contests, rehearsals, practices, and workouts until further notice.
