GAMES
RANKINGS
SPRING WRAP: Eagle's Soar High In 2021-2022 Seasons
The Eagles were 19-14-1 overall in securing their postseason bid and buoyed by stellar performances from a number of players.
Senior Zane Councill hit .374 with 24 RBIs and a .468 on-base percentage. Junior Benji Elizondo hit .374 with 21 RBIs and a .508 on-base percentage to go with a team-high 25 walks. Junior Caleb Bratcher had 22 RBIs. Senior Blaine Baird had 21.
On the mound, junior Clay Krisch led the team in innings with 50 1/3 and had more than three times as many strikeouts (53) as walks (14). Senior Markos Romo led the team in appearances (16) and ERA (2.88), striking out 17 and walking only four in 24 1/3 innings of work.
SOFTBALL
FBCA SOFTBALL UNDERWENT SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP CHANGE IN 2022.
And the wins kept coming.
With Kelli Jacoby taking over for longtime leader Kelly Carroll, the Eagles went 11-1 in TAPPS 5A district play to earn a share of the District Championship and advanced to the State Tournament. FBCA did not skip a beat under Jacoby.
Though this is her first stint as head coach, she is a respected club coach who spent the previous 14 years as associate head coach for the Eagles.
FBCA was paced by senior and Oklahoma-signee Avery Hodge (.722 average, .767 onbase percentage, 14 RBIs; 1.87 ERA in 52 1/3 innings), senior and Nicholls State signee Reagan Heflin (.641 average, 26 RBIs), sophomore Hadley Hodge (.610 average, 15 RBIs), sophomore Jaelynn Lee (.475 average, 13 RBs) and senior Grace Payton (.317 average).
TENNIS
A FEW FRESHMEN MADE THE 2022 SPRING TENNIS SEASON ONE TO REMEMBER FOR FBCA.
Amber Hayes and Farrah Childs enjoyed an outstanding season on the courts as a doubles tandem, making it all the way to the TAPPS 5A State Tournament before falling 6-3, 6-2 to Austin Regents.
Freshmen Naomi Jones and Elizabeth Johnson also qualified as feed-in matches at State. FBCA enjoyed a strong freshman class overall. Sydney Batts and Kendall Dailey also performed admirably in their debut seasons.
On the boys’ side, freshman Austin Martinez is someone to keep an eye on down the road.
TRACK AND FIELD
IT WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR TRACK AND FIELD AT FBCA.
The girls won the Regional Championship and sent 10 qualifiers to the TAPPS State Meet in Waco, where they followed up by winning the TAPPS 5A State Championship.
Bayleigh Minor qualified in the long jump, triple jump, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, and 4x400. She was the star in Waco, taking home five gold medals at State.
Angel Nwodu qualified in the shot put, triple jump, 200-meter dash, 4x100 and 4x200. Lani Brown qualified in the 300 hurdles, 4x200 and 4x400. Brooke Coleman qualified in the 100-meter dash, 4x100 and 4x200. Gabbie Washington qualified in the 400-meter dash, 4x100 and 4x400. Bailey Hanner qualified in the high jump, and in her first year competing in track and field won gold in the event at the State Meet.
Daniella Herrera qualified in the 4x200 and 4x400. Shea Bedminster qualified in the 4x100 and 4x200. Kyra Whitman qualified in the 4x400. Thea Longbottom qualified in the 4x200 and 4x400.
The boys also sent 10 to State and finished by placing third in Waco.
Cobey Sellers qualified in the 110 hurdles, 200-meter dash and 4x400. Noah Brooks qualified in the high jump, 400-meter dash, 4x100 and 4x400. Brooks won gold in the 400 meters.
Sam LeBlue qualified in the long jump and 4x200. Max Granville qualified in the shot put and 4x400. Bryce Grays qualified in the 100-meter dash, 4x100 and 4x200. Bryan Domino qualified in the long jump, 4x100 and 4x200. Matthew Brown qualified in the 100-meter dash, 4x100 and 4x200. Ben Longbottom and Ryan Welch each qualified in the 4x400. Tekena Williams qualified in the 4x200.
The Eagles’ dominance at State was no surprise. They set a plethora of school records during the season and postseason.
Minor set records in the triple jump (37’-0”), long jump (18’-3.2.5”), 200-meter dash (24.44 seconds) and 400-meter dash (56.31 seconds). Sellers set the record in the 200-meter dash (21.80 seconds). Brooks set the record in the 400-meter dash (49.58 seconds).
The boys 4x100 relay of Grays, Brooks, Domino and Brown set the record with 42.86 seconds, and the 4x200 of Grays, LeBlue, Domino and Brown set the record with 1:29.92.
The girls 4x800 of Minor, Washington, Sidney Arnold and Maddie Font set the record at 10:23.29, the 4x100 of Nwodu, Coleman, Washington and Minor set the record at 48.04, the 4x200 of Coleman, Nwodu, Washington and Minor set the record at 1:41.09 and the 4x400 of Washington, Coleman, Herrera and Minor set the record of 3:53.40.
If you lost count, that’s 12 school records set in one season.
GOLF
FBCA’S BOYS TEAM STARTED STRONG BY WINNING FOUR OF ITS FIRST FIVE TOURNAMENTS THIS SEASON, AND THEN WAS REWARDED BY QUALIFYING FOR THE TAPPS STATE TOURNAMENT.
The Eagles’ boys were led by Eli Walker Campbell (71 average) and Andrew Jammal (73). Chris Jammal (87), Brody Cowser (95) and James Donovan (99) also qualified for State due to the team’s strong standing at the Regional Tournament.
At the TAPPS 5A State Golf Tournament, Campbell finished ninth overall shooting a 142 (72, 70). The FBCA team finished seventh overall, shooting a 636.
Andrew Jammal shot a 159 (79, 80), Chris Jammal scored a 167 (80, 87), James Donovan scored a 168 (81, 87) and Brody Cowser hit a 194 (95, 99).
FALL WRAP: Willis Fall Sports saw Some Bright Spots
The Willis Wildkats went 6-6 on the season under the direction of coach Michael Wall, finishing fourth in district play with wins over College Park and Oak Ridge.
The ‘Kats reached the postseason and won a first-round playoff game over Dekaney before falling to State Semifinalist Tomball.
Quarterback DJ Lagway threw for over 1,500 yards, rushed over 700 yards and accounted for 23 scores. He earned a second-team, all-district nod. Zach Rogers was named first-team, all district off of the offensive line and has earned a preferred walk-on spot at Texas A&M.
On defense, Jadarius Brown (Sam Houston signee) was the District’s Utility Player of the Year. David Soriano and Johnny McHenry were first-team linemen, Aiden Collier was a first team linebacker and De’Von Lovelady was a first-team defensive back. Collier was also first team, all-state at linebacker as well.
Second-teamers included offensive lineman Sean Calkin and linebacker Trevor Jones. Tight end Kory Ford, linebacker Macin Connell and DB Jayden Marshman were honorable mentions.
CROSS COUNTRY
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ‘KATS DISTANCE RUNNERS.
The future looks bright on the cross country landscape as the teams’ best runners were underclassmen.
On the girls’ side, freshman Joselyn Lira had the best finish in the district meet coming in 18th. The boys were paced by sophomore Jonah Beniquez, who finished 33rd.
VOLLEYBALL
YOUTH TO BE SERVED IN 2022.
It was a tough season for the Willis Wildkat volleyball team, playing in one of the toughest districts in the State of Texas. Each playoff eligible team in the district won at least one postseason game.
Coach Megan Storms’ team fought the good fight, but just fell short.
There were some bright spots, however, as Taylor Thomas earned another first-team, all-district nomination. Libero Caroline Woodfill and Georgia Everett were second-teamers. Reece Edmiston and Savannah Paske were honorable mentions. Woodfill and Paske will return next season with hopes of getting the Ladykats in the postseason conversation.
