Sports

Regular season draws closer for VZC football teams

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All six Van Zandt County varsity football teams were involved in pre-season scrimmages Aug. 15 as the countdown to the regular season openers on Friday, Aug. 29 continues. Among the teams scrimmaging were the Van Vandals as they hosted the Corsicana Tigers at Van’s Memorial Stadium. Van, Wills Point, and Fruitvale will open their regular seasons at home while Canton, Grand Saline, and Edgewood will start their 2025 campaigns on the road.
Regular season draws closer for VZC football teams

Pre-season football scrimmages underway

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davidb@vanzandtnews.com After practicing against their teammates over the past few days, Van Zandt County varsity football teams now have the opportunity to show what they have learned against a different opponent as preparations for the 2025 regular season continues.
Van Vandal quarterback Rawly Hinch looks for a receiver downfield Aug. 8 during the Annual Red/White Inter Squad Scrimmage held at Van’s Memorial Stadium. Varsity football teams around Van Zandt County are in the middle of their pre-season scrimmage schedule as they continue preparations for the start of the 2025 regular season Friday, Aug. 29. Photo by David Barber

DOWNRIGGING: Deadly technique for big fish

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My first experience with using downriggers for stripers and hybrid stripers occurred 30 years ago. I was fishing with a very experienced guide that specialized in using downriggers, a very effective method of trolling lures at a specific depth using a heavy metal ball to maintain the proper depth.
Lake Tawakoni guide Omar Cotter with a chunky hybrid striper caught last week. Downrigging or trolling with deep diving plugs with trailers is producing well now for both hybrids and white bass. Photo by Luke Clayton

Experience saves the day at Lake Texoma

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Catching fish can be a challenging endeavor especially when conditions change quickly and patterns that have been as constant as the Polar star fail to produce bites. Such was the case with a striper fishing trip at Lake Texoma last week with my friends at Striper Express.
Jeff Rice, middle, shows off the big striper of the day landed with guide Lil’ Dave, left, and Bill Carey. Photo by Luke Clayton

Male, Female Athletes of the Year named in Van

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With an estimated crowd of 500 in attendance May 12, the annual Van High School Sports Banquet was held in the VHS Cafetorium. Easton Hinch and Caden Rowe were named as the Male Athletes of the Year while Kaelyn Harvey and Averi Crouch were selected as the Female Athletes of the Year.
Kaelyn Harvey and Averi Crouch were named as the Female Athletes of the Year during the annual Van High School All-Sports Banquet May 12 at the VHS Cafetorium. Photos by Jillian Veader, V8R Photography
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