Sports-Henderson County Now

TVCC Play 4Kay Winner

The 2014 NJCAA champion Trinity Valley Community College Lady Cardinals and their fans raised $7,600 for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund at their annual Play 4Kay game in February. As a result, TVCC was named the Community College Division winner by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and The V Foundation for Cancer Research. TVCC organizers of the event were (from left) Judith McGilvray, Elena Lovato and Lucy Strom-Miller.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund®, in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation for Cancer Research, today announced the divisional winners of the 2014 Play 4Kay® initiative.

Trinity Valley Community College was named the winner of the Community College Division. TVCC raised $7,600.

“It is a true testament to the hard work, commitment and selflessness of the staff, fans and community of Trinity Valley and Athens to be able to achieve such an accomplishment,” said TVCC athletic director and head football coach Brad Smiley. “Everyone involved in this year’s Play 4Kay efforts should be very proud.”

The Play 4Kay initiative serves as a platform for a nation of coaches, student-athletes and fans to raise awareness and funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, an organization committed to funding women’s cancer research and supporting projects that assist the underserved community.

The institutions that raised the most funds in each division will be recognized at the 2014 Wow 4Yow Party on Friday, April 4, held in conjunction with the 2014 Women’s Final Four and the WBCA National Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Congratulations, Cutter Carpenter

Cutter Carpenter won All Around Boys Junior High Champion, Champion Boys Goat Tyer, Champion Boys Breakaway Roper, Champion Ribbon Roper and Reserve Champion Heeler. Cutter will now advance in all four events to the Texas Junior High Rodeo State Finals Rodeo in Gonzales the week of May 25th – 31st. Cutter is 12 years old, from Athens and is a 7th grader at Martins Mill Junior High. (Photo is of Cutter & his prizes from the weekend).

In High School Division: Justice Cathey and Cole Surls (of Athens & students at Cross Roads High School) finished 7th in team roping and will advance on to the Texas High School State Finals Rodeo in Abilene, TX June 8th-14th.

Lady Card Softball in the Homestretch

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

The Lady Cardinal softball team is headed down the homestretch of the 2014 season. Coach Ashley Johnston’s squad is 23-9 on the season and 7-3 in conference play.

The Lady Cardinals, who last year qualified for the national tournament for the first time in school history, are coming off a weekend doubleheader sweep against Bossier Parish at Cain Park. They won 3-0 and 6-3.

The Lady Cardinals have just two home dates remaining on their schedule – Wednesday, April 9, against Northeast Texas and Sunday, April 13, against Kilgore. Action starts both dates at 1 p.m.

Here are the remaining regular season games for the Lady Cardinals:

Wednesday, April 2 – at Kilgore, 1 and 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 5 – at Navarro, 1 and 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9 – Northeast Texas, 1 and 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 12 – at Paris, 1 and 3 p.m.
Sunday, April 13 – Kilgore, 1 and 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 16 – at Ranger, 1 and 3 p.m. (non-conference)

The regional tournament is scheduled May 1-4 at Angelina College in Lufkin.

Storm Warriors Finish Year Undefeated

The Athens Christian Academy Storm Warriors Basketball team made a lot of noise this season. The Storm Warriors thundered through the regular season undefeated before falling 2 games short of the CSAC tournament championship game. The Storm Warriors are made up of students from the Athens Christian Preparatory Academy 7th and 8th grades and the Athens Christian Academy 5th and 6th grades. The team was coached by Chris Weisinger who is the Athletic Director at Athens Christian Preparatory Academy. Coach Weisinger stated “The students worked hard this year and were a blessing to work with.” The Prep/Academy students compete in Soccer, Basketball, Golf and are looking at starting a Junior High 6 man football team. For information on the Athens Christian Preparatory Academy contact ACPA at 903-386-0400. For information on Athens Christian Academy contact ACA at 903-675-5135.

Pictured, front row from left, Caleb Graham, Landry Johnson, Christian Kocian, Jared Millar, Matthew Witten; back row from lerft, Coach Weisinger, Eli Ridgle, Paschal Wilson, Matthew Johnson, Gavin Hardin, and Micah Santelli.

TVCC Rodeo Team Turns in Strong Showing at A&M

By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information

The TVCC Rodeo Team competed at Texas A&M on March 21-22.

Freshman Keaton Denio finished sixth in the average in Calf Roping. Sophomore Kacey Kirby ran a 17.36 in Barrel Racing to win second in the first round. She qualified for the short go and placed fourth in the average. Kacey is now third in the Barrel Racing standings for the Southern Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. She will need to perform equally as well at the last two rodeos in order to maintain her qualifying position for the College National Finals Rodeo held in Casper, Wyo., in June.

Sophomore Justus Whitcher won the first round in Steer Wrestling with an outstanding time of 4.4 seconds. Justus finished second in the average and is currently fourth in the standings.

“We are faced with two good problems,” TVCC Rodeo coach Brent Bratton said. “The top three in each event qualify for the CNFR, and these two have that opportunity. All they need to do is do the best they can and let the other contestants worry about the other stuff.”

The next rodeo will be held at Hill College April 11-12.