Sports

The Canton Eagles hit the field three times last week, clashing with South Garland, Palmer and Sunnyvale at their annual tournament. Canton would go 2-1 overall, picking up a pair of lopsided wins before falling to the Raiders in a high-scoring affair.

Van Zandt County track and field programs were well represented in Malakoff last week with athletes from Canton, Edgewood, Van and Wills Point all in attendance at this year’s Tiger Relays. Individual results for local athletes competing in the varsity boys division included: -100: Holden Fletcher, WP, first, 11.09; Austin Hayes, EW, second, 11.44; Tuff Arozamena, Van, fourth, 11.54; Curtis Griffith, Canton, fifth, 11.73 -200: Joseph Roland, WP, fourth, 23.81 -400: Arik Phillips, WP, first, 53.1; Renato Medina, WP, third, 55.03 -800: Arik Phillips, WP, first, 2:07.7; Nathan Allen, WP, second, 2:08.25; Miguel Arce, Canton, third, 2:09.94; Renato Medina, WP, fourth, 2:13.7 -1600: Miguel Arce, Canton, first, 4:54.75; Avery Brown, WP, second, 4:59.59 -3200: Miguel Arce, Canton, first, 10:36.73; Avery Brown, WP, second, 10:49.42; Randall Alaniz, EW, fifth, 13:22.25 -110 Hurdles: Austin Snyder, Canton, second, 15.71; Jacob Elliott, Canton, fourth, 16.01; Reid Johnson, Van, fifth, 17.22; Rocco Foley, Canton, sixth, 17.25 -300 Hurdles: Austin Snyder, Canton, second, 43.25; Rocco Foley, Canton, third, 43.47; Bryce McDaniel, WP, fifth, 49.6 -4x100: Wills Point, first, 44.84; Van, third, 45.53 -4x200: Van, second, 1:35.7 -4x400: Wills Point, second, 3:39.77; Edgewood, third, 3:42.59; Canton, fourth, 3:43.06 -High Jump: Nathan Goodson, Canton, fourth, 5-08 -Long Jump: Joseph Roland, WP, fourth, 18-09.5 -Triple Jump: Ryder Shoquist, Van, first, 38-09.5; Ethan Robertson, Canton, second, 38-07.5 -Pole Vault: Grant McCarver, Canton, first, 10-06; Monty Vandermeer, WP, third, 10-00; Avery Brown, WP, fourth, 9-00 -Discus: Preston Yarber, Canton, first, 156-02.5; Jacob Daniels, WP, second, 122-01; Brayden Hullum, Van, fourth, 116-02.5; Jason Mitchell, Canton, fifth, 107.11.5 -Shot Put: KD Erskine, Van, third, 39-07.5; Chase Buckley, WP, fourth, 36-05.75; Kyle Wilson, WP, fifth, 36-00.5 Individual results for local athletes competing in the varsity boys division included: -100: Kayla Jones, WP, first, 12.61; Kiley Mays, Canton, sixth, 13.85 -200: Kiley Mays, Canton, third, 29.19; Emma Pearson, WP, fifth, 29.72; Baylie Hall, Van, sixth, 29.84 -400: Lexi Taylor, WP, first, 1:04.3; Rockie Collier, Canton, second, 1:05.64 -800: Favor Cantrell, Canton, first, 2:40.99; Amity Hall, Van, second, 2:42.96; Jasmine Chambers, Van, fifth, 2:55.03; Lily Perez, Canton, sixth, 2:56.86 -1600: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 5:39; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 5:51.72; Lana Stapleton, Canton, third, 6:12.19; Abby Clyburn, Van, fourth, 6:21.67; Madison Clyburn, Van, fifth, 6:22.93 -3200: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 12:18.58; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 13:02.27; Lana Stapleton, Canton, third, 13:42.3; Yolanda Galaz, Van, fourth, 17:34.29 -100 Hurdles: Kenna Conner, WP, first, 17.24; Bailey Dykes, WP, fourth, 18.6 -300 Hurdles: Chloe Barton, Van, second, 50.74; Bailey Dykes, WP, fourth, 53.4; Kimber Holley, Canton, fifth, 53.52; Erin Thornton, WP, sixth, 55.94 -4x200: Wills Point, first, 1:57.07 -4x400: Van, first, 4:48.82 -High Jump: Rockie Collier, Canton, first, 5-00; Adyson Horan, Van, fourth, 4-06 -Long Jump: Favor Cantrell, Canton, third, 15-00; Kori Nicklas, Canton, fourth, 14- 10.5; Emma Todoroff, WP, fifth, 14-05; Trinity Ballard, Canton, sixth, 14-05 -Triple Jump: Kori Nicklas, Canton, second, 32-07.5; Emma Welty, Canton, third, 31-07; Bailey Dykes, WP, fifth, 30-11 -Pole Vault: Kaymon Dale, Van, first, 11-00; Hannah Cade, Canton, second, 9-06; Kimber Holley, Canton, third, 9-00; Lauren Potter, Van, fifth, 6-00 -Discus: Virginia Bradway, Canton, second, 89-02.5; Clara Pool, EW, fifth, 76-07.5 -Shot Put: Anna Nicholson, EW, fourth, 30-06.25.

The Edgewood Lady Dogs took to the road March 8, traveling to take on a highly regarded Prairiland Lady Patriots squad in this year’s District 12-3A opener. Prairiland would go on to live up to its pregame hype, limiting Edgewood’s offense to just two hits in a 10-0 shutout win.

The Grand Saline Lady Indians made the short trek to Rains High School on Tuesday night, tangling with perennial power Emory Rains in the District 12-3A opener for both squads. Rains would prevail in the matchup of longtime rivals, using big offensive outbursts in the third and fourth innings to secure the 11-1 win.

With all District 14-4A teams officially eliminated from playoff contention, coaches released their list of Superlative and All-District honorees. Canton, which won its third district championship in as many seasons, doubled up on MVP recognitions with senior Ja’Braylon Pickens and junior Chantson Prox sharing honors.

The Canton ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve the hiring of Heath Ragle for the position of CISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach on March 9. Ragle is a 2001 graduate of Canton High School. Ragle was joined by his family during the board meeting. Photo by Britne Hammons

The Van Vandals played host to Mineola on Tuesday night, looking to build some early season momentum as the start of district play looms just over the horizon. Van would come away with an easy win in the contest, getting a pair of solid pitching performances and timely hitting to score a 7-2 win over the Yellowjackets.

The Wills Point Tiger tennis program continued to navigate its way through the spring season last week, hitting the court in Longview for the annual Lobo Invitational March 4. Wills Point fared well overall with multiple players bringing home top-level finishes against a field that included larger programs from across the state.

The Martins Mill Lady Mustangs made their way to what has essentially become their home away from home this week, hitting the court at the Alamodome in San Antonio for a 2A State Semifinal matchup against the 35-2 Stamford Lady Dawgs March 4.

Sophomore Kate Lindsey makes an entry pass into the post around the outstretched arms of a Stamford defender. The Martins Mill Lady Mustangs finished the 2021-’22 season with a 36-4 record overall and an appearance in the Class 2A State Semifinal. Team members included Braleigh Whitus, Makayla McLemore, Reese Hataway, Kylee Lookabaugh, Kate Lindsey, Launa Coker, Ruthie Mein, Mattie Burns, Libby Rogers, Jada Celsur and Baylee Valenzuela.