Sports

SECOND ROUND: After defeating Evant on the road last Friday in four competitive sets by scores of 25-13, 25-14, 27-29 and 25-14, the varsity Lady Bulldogs returned home to open the second round of district competition last Saturday. Hamilton defeated the visiting Meridian Lady Jackets in three decisive sets, 25-13, 25-5 and 25-10, improving to 6-1 in district. The Lady Bulldogs trail only Tolar in the District 11-2A standings and were scheduled to host Evant on Tuesday of this week. The Lady Dogs will play Three Way in Hico’s elementary gym this Saturday at 10 am followed by a home match versus Hico next Tuesday. The JV Black squad is set to host Hico next Tuesday at 5 pm, directly preceding the varsity match at 6. Hamilton’s JV Black improved to 13-3 on the year and a perfect 5-0 in district with a 25-7, 25-0 two-set victory over Meridian on Saturday. Hamilton’s JV Red team dropped just their third match of the year on Saturday to Hico and are now 9-3 on the season and 1-2 in district. Pictured, Emiley Hale rises to spike the ball, and Trinity Craig makes a pass in a recent home match. Staff photos

STRONG KICK: Freshman Campbell Lengefeld is pictured passing a runner from Rogers down the final stretch in Jarrell to lead the Lady Dogs to team gold with a fourth overall individual finish. Staff photo

Hamilton’s seventh and eighth grade junior high football teams improved to 2-0 on the season with wins over DeLeon and Valley Mills respectively at Kooken Field last Thursday night. In junior varsity action, the Valley Mills Eagles flew the coop with a 28-16 victory over the now 3-1 JV Bulldogs.

Scenes from Hamilton High School’s Homecoming Pep Rally.

HOMECOMING COURT: Above, Sophomore Averi Poe, senior Sawyer Wright, senior Kady Weatherford and freshman Helena Knutson pose with Sparky (Skylar Carr) for a pre-game photo. Weatherford was crowned queen during the half-time show. (Top to bottom on left) Sawyer Wright was escorted by her dad, David Wright. Macie Parrish was escorted by her dad, Bill Parrish. Jenna Hinton was escorted by Tyner Haile. Averi Poe was escorted by C.J. DeLeon. Helena Knutson was escorted by Joseph Polster.

The Seuss-like Itasca Wampus Cats were no match for the mighty Hamilton Bulldogs last Friday night at Kooken Field. In battering and bamboozling their district opponent 70-14 in a Hamilton Homecoming showdown, the 2020 Dogs became just the third Bulldog football team to post 70 points in a ballgame. The previous two teams to accomplish the fete were the 1976 and the 2006 Bulldogs who each tagged 74 points to the board in claiming gridiron victory.

By Grant Lengefeld

TRENCHES: Hamilton’s offensive line dominated along the line of scrimmage as the Dogs pounded the ground for six rushing touchdowns. Pictured (l-r), right tackle Wesley Griffin (67), right guard Jose Najera (60) and center Xander Ceresini (53).

SCAVENGING FOR GOLD: Hamilton’s cross country teams competed in the Crawford Pirate Invitational last Saturday. Both the high school Lady Bulldog and Bulldog sprint squads placed second overall behind 3A-Division I McGregor, and the junior high Bulldogs and Lady Dogs both earned team gold. The varsity boys finished ahead of West, Clifton, Crawford, Bruceville-Eddy, Axtell and Eagle Christian Academy respectively and were led by second overall finisher Caleb Lengefeld. Lengefeld was closely escorted by teammates Dawson Melde in sixth, Taylor Long 10th, John Polster 12th, Hayden Blackwell 18th, Caden Hopper 20th and Joseph Polster in 22nd. Ben Cooper, Jaydon Watson, Landon Thompson and Hunter Mize crossed the line in order, closely trailing Hamilton’s top seven. The HHS Lady Dogs completed the course ahead of West, Clifton, Crawford, Axtell and ECA respectively, and were led by top 10 finisher Campbell Lengefeld with a ninth overall finish. Madison Henkes crossed the line in 11th position and was shadowed by Fernanda Olalde in 12th, Grace Killian 15th, Grace Carson 16th, Kaatje Jarrell 17th, Cortland Mehaffey 18th, Ashtyn Hansard 19th and Mia Coker 28th. Leading the gold medalist junior high Dogs, Morgan Henkes earned a first place ribbon and was closely pursued by teammate and cousin Colter Johnson in third. Giving chase was Halston Haile in fifth, Ryder Coker eighth, Carson Roberts 10th, Judson Coalson 11th, Caleb Allen 24th and Tyler Bloomcamp 25th. For the gold winning junior high Lady Dogs, Kaitlyn Walton set the pace with a first overall finish. Walton was pursued by Presley Long in second, Emery Parrott fifth, Destini Ranaghan eighth, Kayla Tawater 10th, Addison Massingill 15th, Emma Thompson 24th, Clementine Cooper 25th and Jocelyn Johnson 26th. Hamilton’s high school cross country competitors will race next this Thursday in Jarrell with the varsity girls set to run at 9:15 am followed by the boys at 9:30. On Wednesday, October 7, all of Hamilton’s runners will compete in Hamilton’s Mona Gloff Invitational to be hosted at the Perry Country Club. Pictured (l-r), Lady Bulldogs Kaatje Jarrell, Grace Killian and Grace Carson dig deep on the front mile of the Crawford course. Bulldogs Dawson Melde (bib# 109) and Hayden Blackwell are pictured rounding the corner for the final stretch in Crawford.