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El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, January 6, 2016
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EC boys grab victory in final minute vs. Bellville Ricebirds face tough 5A opponents before district play begins By CHRIS WIMMER sports@leader-news.com
For the second time in four days, a Ricebirds game was decided in the final minute of the contest. On Saturday afternoon, the fireworks were provided largely by sophomore forward Reed Spenrath. El Campo trailed Bellville 37-35 in the Brahmas’ gym with 1:30 left to play. Spenrath hit a 3-point shot — his only attempt of the day from behind the arc — to put EC ahead 38-37. Senior guard Demarcus Williams then sank a free throw to extend the lead to 39-37. Bellville set up a play to lob a pass to a backdoor cutter on its final inbound attempt, but the throw was intercepted by Spenrath to seal the victory for EC, 39-37. “Both teams were sluggish,” El Campo Head Coach Matt Sandoval said. “Bellville missed a lot of layups. We missed a lot of layups, but it was a road win and a bad win is better than a good loss.” After EC’s tough loss to East Bernard in the championship game of the Ricebird Holiday Classic one week ago, Sandoval reinforced the need to work the ball into the post. “We took 34 three-point shots against East Bernard,” he said. “The Golden State Warriors don’t shoot 34 threepointers. I’m sure we took another 10 to 15 jump shots. When 80 percent of your shots are jumpers, that’s not good.” Sandoval installed some new plays designed to work the ball into low post and Bellville was the first test for the new schemes. He also planned to try some different lineup rotations and both ideas collided on Saturday afternoon.
The Ricebirds started off well in the first quarter but the scoring fizzled toward halftime and EC trailed 23-18 at the break. “When you run new stuff, it’s kind of like day one again,” Sandoval said. “But we did it and it was somewhat effective. We just need to get better at it now.” EC regained the lead after halftime and held a 3229 advantage going into the fourth quarter. Both teams struggled to score in the final period but the Ricebirds hit critical shots when they needed them and did enough to win. LeTrent Greely led the team in scoring with 13 points and added 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Wesley Arrambide notched 8 points and 5 rebounds and Lothario Pratt contributed 6 points. Pratt, a junior, is adapting to the varsity game after having played on the JV squad last year and Sandoval is pleased with his progress. “What Lothario lacked compared to the other guys was not skill, it was just experience,” Sandoval said. “I think in this first part of the season he has been trying to find himself. It just takes time, but he’s a real asset to have.” The Birds are trying to develop as many assets as possible with just eight days before District. In the interim, EC faces two Class 5A schools at Ricebird Gym — Terry and Foster — that have traditionally been difficult opponents. Foster will come to Ricebird Gym on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. “I’m looking to compete,” Sandoval said. “These next two games (Terry and Foster), we’re not going out there to lose.”
Low Post
L-N Photo by Chris Wimmer
Sophomore forward Reed Spenrath grabs a rebound and quickly converts it into a low post basket against East Bernard. EC Head Coach Matt Sandoval emphasized the need for more work in the paint so the Ricebirds will not rely as heavily on jumpshots as they did in their Holiday Classic contest versus East Bernard.
Oldag teaches nation new tricks in NFL contest By CHRIS WIMMER sports@leader-news.com
Tanner Oldag, 13, is in eighth grade at Saint Philip Catholic School. When the school year started in August, he had no idea he would be spending New Year’s weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana as a guest of the NFL. He participated in the national finals of the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick contest at the Indianapolis Colts’ indoor practice facility. He posted a combined score of 362-feet-5-inches in the three events, which earned him third place in the competition. “I think my performance was pretty good,” Tanner said. “I improved on my punt and my kick, but my throw was a little shorter than at the (Texans) team championship. Sometimes, it just doesn’t go your way.” Tanner earned his spot by registering one of the top four scores in the nation in the 12-13 Boys division during the preliminary contests hosted by each NFL franchise. He won the competition hosted by the Houston Texans on the final weekend of November and by the time all the NFL teams wrapped up their contests, his score was no. 1 in the country for his age bracket. His performance won him a trip to Indianapolis to compete against contestants from Pennsylvania, WashContributed Photo The Punt ington and Arizona who represented the Buffalo Bills, the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals. The Tanner Oldag launches an attempt during the first event of the NFL’s Punt, Pass boy from Arizona eventually won the title with a score and Kick contest in Indianapolis. His overall performance earned him third place. of 369.9.
Tanner didn’t take the gold but the overall experience might have been the real prize. He started with a local competition at Ricebird Stadium in September that was sponsored by the El Campo Lions Club and ended his journey on the Colts’ practice field in Indianapolis. He had been on a plane only once before and he doesn’t remember it. He was six or seven years old when his family took a trip to Disney World. So, the flight from Houston to Indianapolis on New Year’s morning was an adventure of its own. In short, it was “awesome,” Tanner said. His parents, Donald and Tracy Oldag, accompanied him on the trip and Tracy pointed out Tanner’s growing excitement during the journey. Each new turn was more awesome than the last. When they landed in Indianapolis, a driver with a sign was waiting in the airport to escort them to their hotel shuttle. That was awesome. The J.W. Marriott Hotel and dinner on Friday night at the hotel’s High Velocity Restaurant for the PPK competitors were both awesome. The gift basket of Houston Texans swag that was waiting for Tanner in the lobby was awesome. And all of it was paid for by the NFL, which was definitely awesome. “The whole thing is neat, but at this level they really do go all out,” Donald said. “Everything was top-notch and they do a really good job of making it all about the (See OLDAG, Page 2-B)
Rice resists Ladybirds’ rally District competition begins Friday at Columbus By CHRIS WIMMER sports@leader-news.com
The Ladybirds reversed their fourth-quarter scoring struggles against Rice Consolidated on Saturday and achieved the 40-point goal that head coach Gabe Villarreal set for the team, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lady Raiders. Rice outlasted El Campo’s fourth quarter comeback to win 47-42. It was the Ladybirds’ first game after three long days of travel and competition in Brazoswood Holiday Classic to begin the week. “(Rice) is a very scrappy, physical team,” Coach Villarreal said. “I worked there for two years so I knew what they would do and what they would come here with.” Rebounds and turnovers have been the difference for the Ladybirds this season. When they win both categories, they typically win the game. The same can be said for virtually every team but in EC’s case, the contrast is stark. EC trailed Rice in both facets of the game and the deficits proved insurmountable. “Again, it’s our turnovers,” Villarreal said. “We got out-rebounded pretty good in the first half. If you turn the ball over and don’t block out, it’s not going to work out.” The Ladybirds were neck-and-neck with the Lady Raiders throughout the first half despite their struggles on the glass. EC trailed by only 2 points after the first quarter and 22-18 at halftime. But Rice exploded in the third quarter behind the play of sophomore Larissa Manciaz. EC held Manciaz in check to begin and end the game, but she did her damage in the second and third quarters. She racked up 16 of her 19 points in the middle portion
of the contest. EC trailed 40-29 entering the fourth quarter, but the Ladybirds controlled the ball for much of the remainder of the game and earned repeated trips to the foul line down the stretch. Senior forward Veronica Murray and sophomore guard Eneyshia Lindsey started the comeback for the Ladybirds. EC put on the full court press and began to create turnovers that led to baskets or fouls. Junior guard Paige Halamicek spent much of the final three minutes at the free throw line and she knocked down 4 of 6 shots. But the Ladybirds’ late charge ran out of time despite their efforts. Halamicek and senior Elise Raun finished as the top scorers with 10 points each. The roster is also in transition midway through the season as Coach Villarreal searches for the right personnel before district play begins. The team lost starting point guard Madilynn Balles when she moved to Boling and Villarreal elevated three players for the remainder of the season. Junior guard Krystana Stavinoha moved up from the JV squad three weeks ago and freshmen Natalia Terrell and Iyanda Jayasinghe were added to bolster the roster before the Brazoswood tournament. After the competition, Villarreal decided the two young post players would stay with the varsity team. “They give us a little bit more size inside,” he said. “Natalia has been getting quite a few minutes. She’s strong, she’s learning. She only has a handful of games under her belt right now so I think she will continue to get better and help us down the road.” “Down the road” is fast approaching for the Ladybirds. They begin district play on Friday in Columbus at 7:30 p.m.
On The Verge
L-N Photo by Chris Wimmer
EC senior guard Elise Raun buries a jump shot in a home loss to Rice Consolidated while newly-promoted freshman forward Natalia Terrell boxes out an opponent under the hoop. The Ladybirds will look for major contributions from Raun and Terrell as they move into district play versus the Columbus Lady Cardinals.
SPORTS
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El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Page 1-B
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Quinn to pitch for UH-V next season
Standout Ricebird catches college’s attention
By CHRIS WIMMER sports@leader-news.com
Satchel Paige is arguably the best pitcher is baseball history. Paige, himself, would certainly argue in favor of his status. He once said, “My pitching philosophy is simple — you gotta keep the ball away from the fat part of the bat.” Regardless of his place in history, his philosophy was solid and El Campo’s senior pitcher Collin Quinn likely believes in the same strategy. In his last outing, he struck out 12 batters and allowed just one hit. Monday morning, he signed a letter of intent to pitch for the University of Houston – Victoria. “I’m excited,” Quinn said. “I’ve always wanted to play college baseball and now it’s here.” EC’s starter put pen to paper in the conference room of the Ricebird field house flanked by his father Paul and his mother Terri. EC baseball coaches Russell Krenek and Elliott Babcock stood over one shoulder and UHV Head Coach Terry Puhl and L-N Photo by Chris Wimmer EC Athletic Director Wayne Condra Next Challenge watched over the other. Collin Quinn, seated, center, signed a letter of intent to continue his baseball career at the University of Houston-Victoria Puhl said the Jaguars will be in duirng a ceremony at the Ricebird field house Monday. Also pictured seated are his parents, Paul and Terri. Standing are Elliot serious need of pitchers next season Babcock, Russell Krenek, Terry Puhl and El Campo Athletic Director Wayne Condra. due to injuries and graduation. After
Ready to
last season, three seniors departed with degrees. This season, UHV lost two starters to injuries and another to a family issue. “I’ve lost six pitchers in two years, so I’m thin, I’m awfully thin,” Puhl said. “I’m looking to restock that area and I want to do it with younger guys.” The Jaguars will begin to replenish their supply of pitchers with Quinn, who has a 4-1 record, a 1.40 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 30 innings this season. He was a First Team All-State pitcher last season and the District Co-Newcomer of the Year in 2014. Quinn popped up on Puhl’s radar after his performance against La Vernia in the Yoakum Tournament. Puhl began a dialogue with EC Head Coach Russell Krenek that led the UHV coach to EC for a personal visit. Puhl saw Quinn strike out 9 batters and give up just one run in the Ricebirds’ 7-1 win over Bishop in the EC Tournament. That was a clincher. “It’s well deserved,” EC Head Coach Russell Krenek said. “I’m happy for him and what happens next in his career. I think (Puhl) is going to get a player who is ready to go right now. And he not only gets a player, he gets a competitor.”
IGNITE
Hunt auditions for NFL during Frogs’ Pro Day By CHRIS WIMMER sports@leader-news.com
FORT WORTH –Four years ago, Joey Hunt was a fresh-faced senior with short hair at El Campo High School who had just earned All-State honors on offense and defense. That’s when he signed a letter of intent to play college football at Texas Christian University. Now, he is a senior at TCU with long hair, a beard and arms as wide as car tires. He was the team’s starting center for three years. He was named First-Team All Big 12 Conference in 2015. Last week, he completed a once-in-a-lifetime audition for NFL coaches and scouts at the Horned Frogs’ Pro Day. After his workout, he smiled through quick breaths as he thought back on his time in EC. It’s now four years removed, but a lifetime away after having played in the mammoth stadiums of the
Big 12 and the pressure-packed arenas of bowl games. “A lot of things I learned in El Campo have helped me here,” Hunt said. “It’s a hard-working school. We don’t have the most athletes, but we win a lot, so it has stuck with me.” The consensus of those who spoke about Hunt at Pro Day was that hard work and intellect were the defining characteristics of the player an NFL team will receive if it selects him in the draft April 28-30 or signs him as a free agent afterward. “(A team) is going to get a smart football player, a kid who understands the game of football, who wants to play football,” TCU’s offensive line coach Jarrett Anderson said. “He’s going to be a toughminded kid and he’s also going to be a leader. If they ask him to go play kicker on the kickoff team, he’ll go play kicker on the kickoff team.” (See HUNT, Page 9-B)
JOEY HUNT
EC blasts past Black Cats 11-5 Ricebirds offense pounds out 13 hits, hold onto top spot in district standings By CHRIS WIMMER sports@leader-news.com
BAY CITY — El Campo improved to 14-4, 2-0 after Saturday’s win. The Ricebirds traveled to the home of the struggling Blackcats and left with an 11-5 victory. The Birds kept their middle-inning scoring trend alive, producing 10 of their 11 runs in the third and fourth frames. Pitcher Dawson Mach threw strikeouts or forced routine defensive stops in his five innings of work and EC tallied another win. “At the plate, we had a bunch of hits, so we did a good job there,” EC Head Coach Russell Krenek said. “Anytime you score 11 runs, you feel good about what you’re doing.” EC accumulated 13 hits on the day, with nearly every batter tagging at least one pitch. Junior Brock Brandl and sophomore Reed Spenrath finished 2-4. Brandl added 3 runs and an RBI and Spenrath crossed the plate twice and had 2 L-N Photo by Chris Wimmer RBIs. Sophomore Zach Lee also grabbed Another Strike 2 hits on 3 at-bats and produced 2 Dawson Mach prepares to unleash a pitch during El Campo’s 11-5 win over Bay RBIs. City last week. EC sits atop the district standings with a 2-0 record in league play. “We were a little aggressive
STOCK rounding third and trying to push runs across the plate,” Krenek said. “They kind of let us. If they’re not going to challenge us, we’re going to push.” The Ricebirds also welcomed the return of senior Riley Stock to the offensive side of the ball. Stock missed two games with a right arm injury, but stepped back into the batter’s box against BC as the designated hitter and leadoff man. Stock finished 1-2 with one run
LEE on the day. Coach Krenek has been pleased with Stock’s recovery and hopes to work him back into his third base position this week. “He’s been slowly phasing himself back in,” Krenek said. “We’re happy to get everybody healthy and back on board. It was good to see him at least in the lineup as the DH.” On the mound, it was junior Dawson Mach’s show. He pitched five innings, though not consecutively. (See RICEBIRDS, Page 2-B)
Wharton County Rocks – Literally
Ricebirds Host Roughnecks In Homecoming Game Page 1-B
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Volume 132 Number 56 • Wednesday, September 21, 2016
20 Pages, 2 Inserts
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‘Lofty’ plans for next revitalization effort City, CDC goals taking shape through public visions, effort
EC paint store transformation includes art, coffee, classes
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
Coffee bar, home decor, party place, DIY classes, workshops and, oh yeah, it’s still going to be a paint store too. It’s all part of the transformation under way at Paint Perfection, 115 N. Washington. Owners Molli and Gary Bodungen purchased the building just to the south of the current store and are in the process of reworking it into a twostory gathering/shopping place while still stocking the brushes, rollers and paint cans normally associated with the business. In the process, Molli Bodungen said, she hopes to work with as many local businesses as possible – putting sample items in display settings, for example, or selling a limited amount of a local pastry or other items in the coffee bar. Formerly an El Campo ISD principal, she retired and moved into the retail business, now with big plans for the future. “Twenty years in education was (See BUSINESS, Page 5-A)
L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree
Building Business From Walls Up
Standing in what will be “The Loft” of Paint Perfection by December, owner Molli Bodungen explains her vision for an expanded business. The new Paint Perfection will include a coffee bar, the upstairs loft where everything in each decorative setting will be for sale and a workshop for painting style parties, classes and more.
Downtown revitalization efforts actually aren’t new, but recent activity from merchants, city officials and economic development specialists are beginning to show results. Three projects are under development now in the downtown area. The Mareks’ project at the old Muldoon’s site off South Mechanic brings shopping as well as dining. Chris Staff’s revitalization of the old Finkelstein Building near the railroad tracks on Hwy. 71 should bring a party venue and dining while Molli Bodungen’s redevelopment of Paint Perfection on North Washington creates unique shopping, a coffee bar and more. All three are planned to open between December and February. “Things are moving quite fast right now,” City Manager Mindi Snyder said. “We have a very committed staff that believes in the vision that the City Council has ... to draw local residents and visitors alike back to the downtown area as a gathering place and as a vital driver in the sales tax mix.” The efforts are something the City (See DOWNTOWN, Page 5-A)
Dove season’s start expected to be business boon By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Leaders Share Future Plans With Public
Dove hunting season opens Friday bringing hundreds of out-of-towners to El Campo potentially increasing sales for local merchants. “It’s crazy how they call all of a sudden and want five, six, 10 rooms at a time,” Lonestar Inn Front Desk Receptionist Shaniqua Smith told the Leader-News Monday, adding they were all booked up through the weekend. Best Western is completely booked as well. “Since
– See Page 3-A ALSO INSIDE: VIEWPOINT......................................Page 4-A OBITUARIES.....................................Page 7-A SPORTS.............................................Page 1-B FOOTBALL CONTEST......................Page 4-B LIFESTYLE.........................................Page 5-B CROSSWORD...................................Page 9-B CLASSIFIEDS & REAL ESTATE......Page 10-B
LOCAL WEATHER Wednesday
Sunny DAY: 0% HIGH: 92º NIGHT: 0% LOW: 74º
Thursday
Chance of Thunderstorms DAY: 20% HIGH: 93º NIGHT: 20% LOW: 75º
Friday
Chance of Thunderstorms DAY: 40% HIGH: 92º NIGHT: 30% LOW: 77º
Saturday
Chance of Thunderstorms DAY: 40% HIGH: 89º NIGHT: 20% LOW: 76º Last Week: Avg. High: 93º • Avg. Low: 73º
RAIN GAUGE
Last 7 Days............................. 0.15 In.
Last 30 Days........................... 2.48 In. Same Time In '15...................... 2.91 In.
Year To Date......................... 31.51 In. Year To Date '15..................... 35.69 In. Data Collected by LCRA at El Campo Memorial Hospital
BURN BAN LIFTED COUNTY’S MEAN KBDI: 337 Burn Ban is put into effect when the mean KBDI reaches or goes above 500.
last year,” Front Desk Manager Jamie Rubio said. “They book for next year before they leave here.” Several local outfits provide guided packages to visiting hunters creating a boon for local stores. “Typically we run about 600 to 700 (hunters) that opening Friday,” Waterfowl Specialties, Inc. Manager Mitchell Holder said, adding hunting is done in corn or milo fields at the city limits. “My uncle Terry Karstedt and his partner Jack Reed are really the pioneers for farming for the doves,” Mitchell said. As far as accommodation, visitors rely on local
ECHS Homecoming 2016
District invites community to tour bond work facilities
By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Residents and those traveling to El Campo this weekend for Homecoming are invited to tour the district’s new facilities. “This is an opportunity to view the new construction and renovations,” Superintendent Kelly Waters said. “The facilities look incredible and are definitely a point of community pride.” Homecoming was selected as the
tour day to maximize the number of potential visitors, she added. Voters in November 2014 approved a $12 million bond to complete the projects which started in mid-2015. Weather delays left construction workers scrambling this spring to get each completed enough for school’s start in August. Projects include renovations to the high school auditorium; adding (See OPEN HOUSE, Page 8-A)
High school class project carries on Texas football mum tradition By JODY LARIMER reporter@leader-news.com
Fall begins Thursday which typically brings cooler temperatures along with harvest, pumpkins, football, bonfires and this Friday night in El Campo – Homecoming. And no Texas Homecoming would be proper without wearing the traditional, ever-growing Homecoming mum, something that was keeping
Mums The Word
the high school’s floral design class busy last week. Students in Anna Zahn’s class Thursday were about halfway through with their mums. “I like being crafty,” sophomore Victoria Cortez said, while fellow classmate Caterra Wilkins said “I’m not crafty, but it’s making me be crafty.” (See FLORAL, Page 8-A) L-N Photo by Jody Larimer
El Campo ISD exchange student Romane Biname from Belgium lines ribbons up on her Homecoming Mum Thursday during the high school’s Floral Design course. For king and queen nominees, please see Page 6-B.
venues, he said. “We get a good handful that get a hotel Thursday night,” Mitchell said. “I know that we had a bigger group that had to stay out in Wharton because all the hotels were booked in El Campo.” Food, drink and other items are also necessary. “Definitely,” Mitchell said. “Anything from shotgun shells at any store in town to meals for sure. Typically hunters will eat lunch at Mikeska’s or Los Cucos. There’s a lot of money flowing into this town, not to mention grabbing water or Gatorade at the convenience store or H-E-B.”