By Sam Waller

Despite being temporarily being expelled from their home court and battling low numbers, the Moran Lady Bulldogs began their volleyball season with five matches last week.

The Lady Bulldogs began the second week of competition Tuesday, Aug. 15 with a match at Gustine. Results will be reported next week. On Friday, Aug. 18, Moran will visit the Eastland JV.

Moran is playing the first six weeks of the season on the road as the gym floor is replaced. Work on that project began this week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions volleyball team finished fourth in the Albany Summer Slam tournament to wrap up the first week of competition.

The Lady Lions (3-3) returned to the court Tuesday, Aug. 15 to host Newcastle, defeating the Lady Bobcats 25-13, 25-21, 25-22.

Albany makes its second tournament outing Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 17-19 at the Electra tournament.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions football team got its first taste of outside competition Friday, Aug. 11 with a controlled scrimmage at Coleman that head coach Denney Faith termed “very beneficial.”

The Lions get their final preseason tuneup Thursday, Aug. 17 (tonight) with another scrimmage at Early.

At Coleman, the Lions scored three touchdowns and allowed none.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs saw a slight increase in numbers as the second week of preseason football practice began with eight players on hand.

“I had one come in Monday from Breckenridge that I’m going to try to get eligible to play,” head coach John Hughes said. “If I get him, we’ll have nine, so we’re about where I figured we were going to be.”

Moran wraps up its second week Thursday, Aug. 10 (today) with a three-team scrimmage at Trent.

Some of the younger participants in the recent cheer camp (at left) await their turn to perform at Monday night’s traditional Ice Cream Supper sponsored by the Albany Athletic Booster Club. Varsity athletes were introduced, the band played (below), and ice cream was given away (below left) during the evening. As is also traditional, a good crowd  attended despite the heat, and the hamburger meals were just as popular as always. The varsity cheer squad showed off some of their routines, and the band played music from the fall show.

By Sam Waller

Freshman year is a big adjustment for new college students.

Albany graduate Luke Ivy added to the level of difficulty during his first year at Rice University by expanding his athletic pursuits even more.

Ivy, who competed in football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and track in high school, signed with Rice for track. Then he took up the decathlon.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions wrap up their second week of preseason football practice with their first look at outside competition.

The Lions will scrimmage the Coleman Bluecats Friday, Aug. 11 at Coleman. The junior varsity portion will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the varsity to follow.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions wrapped up the first week of volleyball practice with a pair of scrimmages over the weekend.

Albany opened its regular season Tuesday, Aug. 8 at Breckenridge, losing in three tough sets, 21-25, 14-25, 23-25.

The Lady Lions host their annual Albany Summer Slam tournament Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 10-12.

Lady Lions head coach M.J. Reneau said the team is ready to get the new season underway.

By Sam Waller

Moran High School athletes began preseason workouts for football, volleyball, and cross country this week.

Football began Monday morning before shifting to afternoon practices the rest of the week.

Bulldogs coach John Hughes had expected 10 or more players at the start, but those hopes were dashed.

“I thought we weren’t going to have to deal with the numbers issue, but right now we are,” Hughes said. “On Monday and Tuesday, I had seven out here.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany cross country program officially began workouts with more than a half dozen runners taking part Monday, July 31.

“We had a really good first morning,” coach Donnie Hart said. “We had six girls who are going to compete in meets and a couple more who are doing workouts to determine how that’s going to fit in with other sports.”

Those expected to be on the team are seniors Callan Edgar, Makki Hart, and Sidney Russell, junior Avery Everitt, and freshmen Ashlyn Miller and Zayne Lefevre. The group began training with a 30-minute run.