Friday Night Lights

FNL 2023

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

SULPHUR SPRINGS WILDCATS • COMO-PICKTON EAGLES • CUMBY TROJANS

Letter from the Publisher

Well, it’s that time of year again! You can feel the anticipation in the air. People are already talking about it. How are our Hopkins County football teams going to do this year? Expectations are always high. Heck, it’s high school football in Northeast Texas. Would you expect anything less!

We have such a blast putting out this yearly Friday Night Lights Magazine. We get to focus on not only the football teams, but everything that goes into the Friday Night Lights experience: the mascots, the

Dave Shabaz - Publisher

cheer squads, the bands, etc. Sometimes those stories are the most interesting and exciting.

Let’s all support our Hopkins County teams — Sulphur Springs, Cumby and Como-Pickton — and cheer them on to victory. Whether you’re a former player, cheerleader, drum major or just a rabid fan, we know you’ll love this year’s edition of Friday Night Lights Magazine! Good luck to Sulphur Springs, Como-Pickton and Cumby. We hope that all three teams tear it up this season!

Staff and Contributing Writers

Stephanie Page - Business Manager

Faith Huffman - Editor

DJ Spencer - Sports Editor

TAMMY VINSON - Reporter

THE SULPHUR SPRINGS NEWS-TELEGRAM

1428 S Broadway St., Sulphur Springs (903) 885-8663

Friday Night Lights magazine is a publication of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and is published one time a year.

Friday Night Lights is copyrighted by and a registered trademark of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Reproduction of any part of the publication is strictly forbidden without written permission from the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram.

Tammy Crook - Advertising Sales

Faith Whittle - Graphic Artist

Enola Gay Mathews - Writer

Dinh Tran - Contributing Photographer

Carey Gable - Contributing Writer

Cover : Sulphur Springs - Brady Driver

Cumby - Chett Vaughan

Como-Pickton - Kevin Hernandez

Cumby TROJANS

Trojans seek improvement following down season Deep freshman class arrives

By DJ Spencer

The Cumby Collegiate Trojans were a young football team in 2022, and it showed. Throughout the season, they displayed flashes of good play, but could never quite put it all together.

This resulted in the Trojans finishing just 2-8 overall and 0-5 in district last season, ending the year on a six-game losing streak. Despite these results, head coach Tom Dracos likes his team’s chances of improving this season.

Dracos noted that there has been a lot of buyin during the offseason.

“We’ve had a bunch of kids show up, which has been great,” Dracos said.

This season, the Trojans will feature a roster of about 26 to 28 players on the football team.

The Trojans will also have four new assistant coaches on the staff this year, including new offensive and defensive coordinators.

“The most notable addition is Ronnie Green, who previously was the head coach at ComoPickton, who will be our defensive coordinator this season,” Dracos said. “We also have his son, Mitchell, who came to Cumby at Christmas to be our head baseball coach.”

Mitchell Green will be the new offensive coordinator for the Cumby Trojan.

Also joining the staff is Dylan Cathey, who previously worked at North Lamar as offensive line coach and Xzavier Freeman, who previously served as a student assistant at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

This season, after playing a mostly road schedule last season, the Trojans will play a mostly home schedule this year, with six home games and four road games. Additionally, two of their games will be played on Thursday, due to a lack of officials.

“Our field is in really good shape, and our road games will have early release days,” Dracos said. “Home atmosphere games are great, they just put a lot more effort on the coaches.”

The Trojans will play just one scrimmage this season, which will be Aug. 17 against Boles. Their non-district games will be against Tom Bean, Union Grove, Fort Worth Mercy Culture Prep, Tyler All Saints, and Trenton; the Trenton game will be their homecoming game. After a bye week, the Trojans will play their district schedule

with games against Detroit, Maud, LindenKildare, Simms Bowie, and Clarksville. The final game will be their senior night.

Earlier this summer, the Trojans were picked to finish sixth in their district by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. Despite this, Dracos believes his team will outperform that projection.

“I think that projection is mostly based on how young we’re gonna be this year,” Dracos said. “We have a really talented group of incoming freshmen, who are very athletic. I also know we’ve gotten a lot better than we were last year, and our kids will play harder as well.”

The incoming Trojans team will be young. Caleb Morgan is the only returning senior.

Early on, Dracos also noted there is a battle for the starting quarterback job. The players battling it out are Channing Herman and Morgan.

Offensively, the Trojans feature a strong backfield with Braylon Boggs and Dakari Johnson at running back. Additionally, brothers Chayton and Chett Vaughan will provide talent at wide receiver, and freshman Jaxon Hudson will be featured as the tight end in the offense.

On the offensive line, the Trojans return the likes of Jarred Patterson and Jorge Reyes, but will also miss the production of Colt Talley and Adrian Zepeda. Defensive lineman Justin Green will be making the jump to offensive line, and incoming freshman Jusber Nena will help provide stability as well.

Green and Patterson are returning starters on the defensive line. Johnson returns as a starting linebacker, and Boggs and Chett Vaughan return to patrol the secondary.

On special teams, Boggs will also be the Trojans’ full-time kick returner and punt returner. Additionally, freshman Gunnar Campbell will also get some looks as a returner. Osvaldo Ruiz was another freshman noted by Dracos.

Other players the Trojans will be relying on this season include Hayden Baxter, Montgomery Benton, Marshall Clements, Crash Dawson, Riley Evans, Noah Fuentes, Robert Goode, Hunter McPherson, Sonny Pierce, Adrian Radney, Colby Ralson, Josh Salazar, Canyon Talley, Kolby Vandiver, and Hendrix Walker.

The Trojans will be looking to improve an offense that averaged 24.8 points per game, and improve a defense that allowed 34.6 points per

game.

Dracos also noted the Trojans’ biggest goals this season.

“We want all of our kids to make the A/B Honor Roll, and we want to be top-three in our district. We want our kids to have a playoff mindset,” Dracos said.

The Trojans will be looking to prove the experts wrong this season. They will also look to snap a two-year playoff drought as they look to continue to get better on the football field.

Photos provided by DJ Spencer

TROJANS VARSITY

CUMBY CHEERLEADERS

Top row, left to right,

Gaby Osornio, Carrigan Oats, Trevor Mabery (mascot)

AKA “Troy”, Addey Owens, Jadan Davis

Bottom row, left to right,

Dylan Daniel, Kelsie Stewart, Kylee Jimenez, and Broklynn Keener

Photo provided by Dinh Tran

Photo provided by Dinh Tran

AssistantCoaches–RonnieGreen,MitchellGreen,DylanCathey,XzavierFreeman,MitchellLeonard,MicahMurphy

GO GO WI LDCAT S! WI LDCAT S!

WILDCATS

Wildcats look to take next step following dream season Aiming for first playoff win in 10 years

By DJ Spencer

The Sulphur Springs High School Varsity

Wildcat Football team exceeded most experts’ expectations in 2022. After an 0-10 2021 season, the Wildcats went 7-3 overall and 3-2 in district play in 2022, surprising many. This led to their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2018.

Though the Wildcats dreamed of more, their season was derailed late in the season when starting quarterback Brady Driver suffered a broken fibula. This caused the Wildcats to lose their final two regular season games, and then lose 37-33 to the Carter Cowboys in the opening round of the playoffs.

This season will be the Wildcats’ second under Brandon Faircloth, who early on said that he has been pleased with the buyin this summer.

“We have a lot of hard-working kids that have been showing up all summer

long,” Faircloth said. “We do football workouts twice a week and the kids get four workouts a week. We’ve had a great summer, and athletes across all sports have been showing up.”

The Wildcats will benefit from the fact that their coaching staff didn’t change this year. All assistants from last season’s staff are returning.

The Wildcats will play a mostly road schedule this season, with six road games and four home games, after playing a mostly home schedule last season. Though Faircloth noted he would have liked more home games, he knows the fans will show up.

“We love the Prim. It’s disappointing only having four home games, but we know that we have great fans here in Sulphur Springs that will show up for those four games, support us, and do whatever they can to help us win the

games,” Faircloth said.

During the preseason, the Wildcats were picked to finish second in their district by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, behind defending district champion Anna.

“Being picked second is a credit to the team we had last year,” Faircloth said. “We’re confident in our team, and we’re gonna work hard no matter what position we are picked for. We’ll also look to contend for a district championship.”

Faircloth noted the team will have five main goals for the upcoming season: win the first game of the season, improve every day, win the first district game, make the playoffs, and win a playoff game — something the Wildcats haven’t done since 2013.

Offensively, the Wildcats bring back seven starters and have a lot of depth that will serve them well. Driver will be returning as quarterback. He is joined by returning running back Malachi Roland.

Faircloth pointed out that this season’s wide receiver core is very strong and backed up with talented depth.

“Chris Adams, Jaxson Haire, Tristan Hankins and Skyler Lewis all have varsity experience,” Faircloth said. “Additionally, backup quarterback Kaden Mitchell will be used as a

receiver. Having him and Driver on the field at the same time will provide opportunities for trick plays and will open up the offense.”

At tight end, Grayson Reams and Andre Serta will be stepping in to replace the production of Matt Mitchell, who was lost to graduation.

On the offensive line, the Wildcats return many key players in Isaac Alexander, Aidan McCarroll, Jeff Stevenson, Ridge Swafford, and Brandon Vasquez. Another notable addition is Vincent Johnson.

“Johnson doesn’t have a ton of varsity experience, but has already garnered offers from big universities like Texas Tech and UTSan Antonio,” Faircloth said. “He will be stepping up as our left tackle to replace Sean Dial, who is now at Henderson State University.”

Over on the defensive side, the Wildcats’ back four will be their biggest strength, with Ty Bybee, Austin Chaney, and Grayson Hardy returning to patrol the secondary.

Bo Loggins and Larren Vaughan will provide familiarity at linebacker, and they will be joined by the likes of TJ Bolden, Alex McCormack, and Braxton Wall.

On the defensive line, Nathan Andrews and Zack Clarke return at defensive end. They will also benefit

from several interior lineman.

“DaeDae Hall, who played center for us last season, will be moving back to defensive tackle,” Faircloth said. “Sal Brionis will be stepping in as well, along with Truth Holmes.”

On special teams, sophomore Eric Rodriguez will be stepping in as kicker to replace Uriel Santacruz, who graduated. Driver will be returning to his role as the team’s punter as well, and Haire will be the team’s primary return specialist.

Other players Faircloth noted as players to watch include Cameron Jefferson and Dedrick Rose-Luke. This season is year two for Faircloth, who noted that

this season will be a lot easier with their new system in place.

“We are light years ahead of where we were last season, and we’ve had a great offseason,” Faircloth said. “The kids know the expectations, the offense, and the defense and, at this point, we can worry more about details. That will give us a great chance to be successful.”

The Wildcats have a lot of confidence heading into 2023, and they will look to build off of the momentum they had last season. They will also seek to end their 10-year drought of winning a playoff game.

Photos provided by DJ Spencer

Photo provided by Dinh Tran

2023 SS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SSHS Cheerleaders excited for new season of community involvement, competitions

By Faith Huffman

When you see them out on the field during games, at pep rallies and parades, the energy and verve of the Sulphur Springs High School Cheerleaders is an infectious part of the Friday night lights football experience.

The four squads, under the director of Karen Jasmer and Shaye Sabedra, strive to make rallying behind the home team exciting. Don’t let their enthusiasm and smiles fool you.

Most members of the SSHS Cheerleader put in years of practice mastering the basics of cheering, stunts, and tumbling. A lot of hard work, athleticism, and years training and practice are put in behind the scenes to make what they do seem as merry and inspiring as possible.

The cheer squads prepare routines for the game and pep rallies, and also prepare a number for competitions.

“Every now and then, they’ll dance. We try to stay away from that to differentiate cheer and drill teams. Cheer is cheer, stunts and tumbling,” noted Jasmer. “Some of these girls have been cheering their whole life.”

During competition season, cheerleaders are able

to try out for the competition team. Some attended the National Cheer Association Cheer Camp, learning extra material, which they can then share with the rest of the squad for use throughout the year. In January, a group of SSHS cheerleaders went to the competition and won a bid to state at the capital, earning a lot of awards.

For the annual Meet the Wildcats night, the cheerleaders performed two routines, which they’ve been working on over the summer, and especially in August.

They make a point during games to spread out before the spectators. working the crowd, involving and interacting with staff, students and youth to inspire them to rally behind the home team.

This year, Jasmer said the home crowd will want get involved, as the cheerleaders will have even more prizes to shoot into the crowd at all upcoming Friday night light events. They also work with the Cat Pack, who help the SSHS squads lead the crowds in cheer. Like the cheerleaders, they can be found revving the crowd enthusiastically at nearlly all events. The Pack is composed of high school students who also show leadership.

Varsity

Max Bailey

Amerson Boles

Jocelyn Brito

Chloe Cameron

Kylie Clark

Mattie Dixon

Jaicee Jasmer

Alaina Johnson

Trinity Jefferson

Mally Keaton

Lorelai Lilley

Taylor Price

Jailee Soto

Mary Taylor

Hattie Thompson

Coryn Young

SS CHEERLEADERS

JV

Aubree Capps

Jayla Haumschild

Mireya Juarez

Nicole McClanahan

Sienna Posey

Kendrie Roberts

Sadie Shutt

Kyleigh Tadlock

Kyler Vandelaar

Braelynn Willamson

Freshman

Addison Brewer

Phoebe Carmody

Savanna Darrow

Kylee Fatland

Aleska Freeman

Presley Godwin

Piper Lilley

Sicily Potter

Kaylie Resendiz

Rayne Stovall

Kiley Vaughan

Nevaeh Wilkerson

Mascot

Aspen Mayhew - V

Lindsay Hayes - JV

Photo provided by Dinh Tran

The SSHS Varsity Cheerleading squad consists of Max Bailey, Amerson Boles, Jocelyn Brito, Chloe Cameron, Kylie Clark, Mattie Dixon, Jaicee Jasmer, Alaina Johnson, Trinity Jefferson, Mally Keaton, Lorelai Lilley, Taylor Price, Jailee Soto, Mary Taylor, Hattie Thompson and Coryn Young.

The junior varsity cheerleaders include Aubree Capps, Jayla Haumschild, Mireya Juarez, Nicole McClanahan, Sienna Posey, Kendrie Roberts, Sadie Shutt, Kyleigh Tadlock, Kyler Vandelaar and Braelynn Williamson.

The freshman squad includes Addison Brewer, Phoebe Carmody, Savanna Darrow, Kylee Fatland, Aleska Freeman, Presley Godwin, Piper Lilley, Sicily Potter, Kaylie Resendiz, Rayne Stovall, Kiley Vaughan and Nevaeh Wilkerson.

The 2023-2024 varsity mascot is Aspen

Mayhew and junior varsity mascot is Lindsey Hayes. The cheer squad has two cheer managers, students who travels with the varsity cheerleaders and Wally, making sure they have everything they need for each appearance, including flags, signs or anything else needed for a performance. Another manager is being added to assist the junior varsity and freshman cheer squads, who do not travel to games, with signs, flags, anything they might need or give away during a game.

Jasmer said the SSHS Cheerleaders are committed to being just as involved in school and community activities, beyond the regular parades and football pep rallies.

The cheerleaders have been asked to lead pep rallies for elementary students this year. Whatever events Sulphur Springs has, the cheerleaders this year will try to participate in.

Champions

as one.

SSHS band strives to improve state UIL marching contest success

By Tammy Vinson

High school marching band has changed a lot in the past 25 years. Previously, bands marched during halftime at football games, played in the bleachers during the first, second and fourth quarters, and played at Friday pep rallies and seasonal concerts. The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Marching Band also competed annually at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas.

Marching band is a completely different scene, now. School band programs do all that and more.

In order to be competitive, high school band directors work with consultants to design a halftime show; professional instructors to work with the drum line and color guard; and designers create set pieces, uniforms, flags, drum wraps and a dozen other things that combine to create a prizewinning marching show.

Some things haven’t changed much. Showmanship is still a critical component of a prize-winning halftime show. Successful marching bands still need dedicated members

who are willing to spend their Friday nights on a school bus traveling between games, returning to school early from summer vacation to spend weeks outside in sweltering heat learning the steps, the music and the style (and how to do all three at the same time) to create a high caliber halftime show with potential to win contests.

Sulphur Springs High School Band Director Spencer Emmert led the Wildcat Band to a stunning fourth place finish at the UIL state marching contest in San Antonio last year. It was a tremendous victory for the entire band — staff, members, parents and supporters. It was the first time the SSHS Wildcat Band has ever placed at state but, if they have anything to say about it, it will not be the last.

Emmert took over the SSHS band program in April 2018, following the death of beloved longtime director Charlie McCauley in March. On day two of the 2023 half-day summer band section practice, Emmert concluded the morning by teaching his band students McCauley’s “FEETDIPP” philosophy. He said

Courtesy photo

he plans to operate the 2023 marching band according to that acronym. FEETDIPP stands for Fun, Excellence, Excitement, Togetherness, Discipline, Integrity, Pride and Potential.

The SSHS band has grown substantially over the years. The roster for the 2023-24 school year currently stands at 165 members, which Emmert calls “a tribute to our middle school program.”

While that number may fluctuate a bit, Emmert expects to have around 145-150 musicians take the field.

“There are three varsity football players who are also band members,” Emmert said. “We have good relationships with all the other extracurricular groups.”

This year’s drum majors include Catherine Starzyk, Jeremy Resendez, Lauren Maynard and Brody Emmert.

Still riding high on last year’s fourth place win at state competition, Emmert and his musicians hope to improve their performance this year.

“We have show consultants who help design

our show for what’s going to do the best at contest,” Emmert said. “There are certain trends in marching band and music selection—trends that elevate and trends that don’t do as well. You really are expected to have some classical music in your program, certain types and numbers of sets, body movements, et cetera, so we have consultants to advise us on that.

“This year’s H2O theme will be reflected in the band’s props, flags and uniforms. The show will feature three songs—opening with the overture from Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman.

“This piece will have a darker feel to it, and it represents a ship lost at sea,” Emmert said.

The second movement will feature the band accompanying a flute soloist playing the beloved ballad Moon River. The closer, Niagara, is based on an ancient Iroquois melody that tries to capture elements of the history and legends surrounding Niagara Falls. This portion of the show will feature a saxophone quartet consisting of two alto, one tenor and one baritone saxophone.

Color Guard

The SSHS Color Guard will perform routines that illustrate the water theme with flags, rifles and sabres. Color Guard officers include Captain Logan McCain and Co-Captains Allece Johnson and Alan Tellez. Connor Dawes, who has been touring as a performing member of the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, serves as the SSHS color guard director and the assistant director is Chloe Caradonna, a member of the Texas A&M University-Commerce Color Guard.

“I have a lot of new members, but I still have veterans to steer the newer members in the right direction,” said Dawes. “We have a great support system with the community.”

Dawes said he is really excited about this upcoming season and “where the show will take us.” He said he “loves seeing the full production.”

Dawes hopes this marching season will be even better than last year’s. He said he is not worried about having those new faces, thanks to his “good older members who have the experience to steer the younger members in the right direction. We’re really trying to depict what’s happening in the music and give a visually appealing performance. At the end of the day, we just want to put on a great show for the community.”

As color guard director, Dawes designs the routines and teaches them to the officers, who each have their own member squads. The officers are then responsible for teaching the routines to their squads. Other band directors include:

• SSHS Assistant Band Director Allison Martinez, a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and flute player who is just beginning her teaching career;

• Brittany Robinett, SSMS head band director;

• Zachary Griffin, SSMS assistant band director;

• Cody Brown, assistant band director/percussion director;

• Piper Cotton, percussion technician, who attends Texas A&M University-Commerce; and

• Steve Proctor, assistant band drector.

“I’m especially grateful to have such a great group of students and an awesome team of band directors to work with,” Emmert said.

Busy Band

In addition to the Friday night football games, the SSHS Marching Band has multiple contests and appearances planned for the 2023 marching season.

Photo provided by Dinh Tran

They include:

• Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Melissa Marching Showcase at Melissa High School;

• Saturday, Sept. 30, at the 2023 Sounds of Fall Marching Classic in Princeton;

• Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Sunnyvale Marching Invitational 2023;

• Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the UIL Regional Marching Contest in Mount Pleasant;

• Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Royse City Marching Classic;

• Saturday, Oct. 21, at the UIL Area Marching Contest in Lindale (if the band qualifies at regional to advance)

• Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the UIL State Marching Contest in San Antonio (if band qualifies at Area to advance)

UIL Solo and Ensemble Regional and State Contests will take place after the first of the year. Students who receive a Division I rating at the Regional Solo and Ensemble competition are eligible to advance to the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Austin to compete during Memorial Day weekend.

Friday, Aug. 25, the first football game will be played in Jacksonville.

This season, the Wildcats have just four home games— Sept. 8 against Hallsville, Sept. 15 against Van Alstyne for Homecoming, Oct. 13 against Mabank, and Oct. 27 against Kaufman for Senior Night.

The SSHS Wildcat Band Drum line will play at the grand opening of McAllister’s Deli, located at 205 East Shannon Rd., on Friday, Aug. 25, at 9:30 a.m.

The SSHS Wildcat Band will host their Summer Band Expo at Gerald Prim Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. This event will feature the Squad-Off contest, where instrumental squads compete against each other to win the title of Best Marcher. In 2022, the two finalists were two alto saxophone squads computing against each other.

Jazz Band

The SSHS Jazz Band typically performs at multiple locations around Sulphur Springs, such as Christmas in the Park inside Hopkins County Heritage Park, the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Lights of Life Gala in the spring and the annual Jazz on the Square concert in April. The Jazz Band will have many other public appearances throughout the year. Emmert said there are currently no plans for the Jazz Band to go to any competitions.

Blue Blazes Drill Team, a proud tradition

By Enola Gay Mathews

In the hottest, deepest stretch of summer, Blue Blazes boot camp begins. By late July, the girls are already getting into performance shape for football season, as well as for Meet the Wildcats’ on August 18, and the first football game on Aug. 25. High schoolers who sustain a schedule like that for the 10-plus weeks of football season must cultivate dedication, stamina and a love for the performance field. In spite of the sweat, there’s glory and tradition awaiting the officers and members of the 2023 Sulphur Springs Blue Blazes Drill Team. As summer ends, the Blazes are fired up and ready to perform.

Meredith Fox Dial is beginning her third year as Blue Blazes director. She’s a Wildcat, Class of 2002, a Blaze in high school and a Trinity Valley ‘Cardette’ in college at Athens, Texas. She completed her degree at Texas A&M University-Commerce and began her teaching career with the Winnsboro Raiderettes before

returning to Sulphur Springs High School. She’s full of energy and, as director, has a strong, natural rapport with the girls, keeping all 24 of them on track by setting the pace herself. She’s now growing a Jr. Varsity Blazes squad, too, with the help of her assistant, Shalie Caldwell. Besides supporting the Jr. Varsity football and basketball teams during games, the Jr. Varsity Blazes will also have a presence at the Friday night varsity games too, cheering from the stands.

Meredith has a beautiful smile, a positive, affable personality, and a lofty vision for her girls. She spoke up about the mental focus that is a necessary factor for herself and her line. “So, boot camp means 12-hour days way before school even starts, and then we practice two-a-days which is also tough. But the girls are super-focused. They accomplish each day, knowing that they’re preparing for something very rewarding. They know what they want,

Courtesy photo

not just for football season, but also for competition season next year. There’s travel, practice, and performance every week. Some of the girls also play in the band. So, this season’s tough training for field performances is providing a springboard for the dance competitions to come. Being a member is definitely a year-long commitment. They’re goaloriented as well as success-oriented. I’ve got a good group of girls,” Dial said. Every Texan knows that the drill team is as vital a part of Friday night lights as the football team is, but how did that happen? Interestingly, its history began with a girl from Farmersville, Texas who aspired to become a concert pianist, but instead carved out a career based on physical education and dance. Right out of college, Gussie Nell Davis’ first job was to direct and develop the pep squad at Greenville High School. That was 1929, and as she gradually molded her Flaming Flashes into a unique female drum and bugle corps using rhythm and dance steps to music, her confidence grew and she added more skills — stunts, dance drills and kicking routines. Her reputation as a director began to spread and in 1940, the dean of Kilgore College hired her to organize a performance drill team that would “keep the crowds in their seats during half-time” as well as to attract women to enter their college. In less than a year’s time, the Kilgore College Rangerettes were ready to appear in playful costumes on the field, emerging that autumn as the first all-girls dancedrill team in the US to perform during the half-time periods at college football games. Therefore, as sole choreographer and as a strict disciplinarian, Mrs. Davis had pioneered the field of precision dancing drill teams, which remain such an

excitingly popular feature today.

Dial proudly keeps drill team traditions alive for her Sulphur Springs Blue Blazes. The ‘gold hat’ role of drill team captain is a special place honor only one girl gets, and senior Jacquie Monroy strove to be selected as Captain of this year’s team. “She did well in tryouts,” according to Dial.

“Tryouts for officers are not easy, and all the positions hold a place of prestige, representing a year of leadership responsibility.” Jacquie agreed, then added, “I do admit, tryouts were a little scary for me! Because I am just a little bit of an introvert, I had to step out of some boundaries to get there, to take the reins, and to yell out commands. My cousin was a Blaze sergeant, and the thing I loved most back then was sensing the dedication and the friendships between the members of the drill team. Now I’m a Senior, I’m ready and I can’t wait! I am Jacquie Monroy, captain of the Sulphur Springs Blue Blazes, and proud to be a Wildcat!”

When senior Co-Captain Carter Charlton was asked about her tryout experience, she responded, “with all the many challenges of tryouts week, it’s stressful but it’s truly worth the challenge when you’ve made the selection as an officer. There’s this tradition we have called a ‘blind opening of the hats.” That means after tryouts, we all get a box, and then we get to

2023/24

2023/24

open our box and discover what hat we got for our rank! There’s a lot of squealing and jumping, and then we take pictures, hug everybody and congratulate each other. I think that’s where the sisterhood bond begins each year.”

She explained her role in practice and on the field. “As co-captain, I’m responsible for attendance, and for providing anything the captain might need the officers in the line to know. I also make sure that whatever she says is heard and gets done. As a kid, I was a Blue Blaze Buddy when my sister and aunt were in drill team, so it’s organic for me! I am Carter Charlton, co-captain of the 2023-24 Sulphur Springs Blue Blazes. Let’s Go Wildcats!”

Three lieutenants also share officer duties. They are Senior Lt. Lily Glenn, Jr. Lt. Trinity Martin, and Jr. Lt. Sedona McCollum. It’s been said that the charge which hums through the air just prior to half-time happens when the Blue Blazes assume position, on point, posed, poised, and prepared to take possession of the field. Asked how that feels, Jacquie reflected, “Well, you hear the band and the drumbeats, and we’re smiling and marching in, then performing in line in the center of the field. It’s as if everyone can feel the electricity! And I’m there at the head of the line and I know each girl is there behind me totally dancing the routine at her maximum best! It’s a great experience as a Wildcat!”

Blue Blazes Officers: Junior Lt. Sedona McCollum,  Senior Lt. Lily Glenn, Captain Jacquie Monroy, Co-Captain Carter Charlton, and Junior Lt. Trinity Martin.

Blue Blazes Captains: Captain Jacquie Monroy and Co-Captain Carter Charlton (right)

Courtesy photos

Como-Pickton CISD will begin the fall semester with Jeremy Phillips as athletic director and head coach. Phillips may be new as head football coach, but his face is but one that many Eagle fans will recognized from past years on the coaching staff.

Jeremy Phillips loved serving for four years as the offensive coordinator at Como-Pickton CISD under Coach Charles Swann, the athletic director at the time, and really loves that aspect of football. Phillips did

Coach Jeremy Phillips finds love in Texas Friday night lights

By Faith Huffman

not, however, set out to be a football coach.

Phillips, originally from the Daingerfield and Naples area, attended East Texas Baptist University, where he was on the baseball team. He began his coaching career in Pittsburg. After a year, Phillips achieved his goal of becoming the head baseball coach at Paul Pewitt High School. He spent two years learning a lot of football offense at Pewitt.

“I just kinda fell in love with offense and that allowed me to

come here and run this lofty offense here at Como for four years under Coach Swann,” Phillips said.

He credits Charles Swann for his mentorship and role in shaping his coaching career.

“I owe my career to Charles Swann, because he saw something in me and he believed in me. He told me, ‘You’re a lot like me when I was your age,’ and he always kept his word. He said, ‘If I get another athletic director job, I want you to come work

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for me and I want to show you how to be an athletic director, I want to do that for you.’ He saw something in me that I never saw in myself, he brought that out in me. I owe my career to Charles Swann,” Phillips noted.

He said in today’s world it is rare for someone to bring you inside, take the time to help you grow professionally and independently.

“I was very fortunate to have Coach Swann,” Phillips said.

“I was wanting to be a head baseball coach. I don’t know, there’s just something about Friday night lights that gets you. There’s nothing like it. So I drifted onto the football side and fell in love with the offense side. I don’t know, it’s just the Friday night lights, there’s just something about it in Texas,” Phillips said.

Phillips had made the daily drive to ComoPickton from Naples for four years, when the opportunity arose to coach a little bit closer to home in Hughes Springs under a long respected coach. He accepted the position. He’d anticipated continuing to coach near his hometown of Naples for a long time.

However, more recently, Phillips was recommended by his old mentor, Swann, to fill the opening athletic director and head football coach position in his adopted community at Como-

Pickton CISD.

Phillips said it was a hard decision, especially when faced with the hour-long commute daily from Naples, where he resides with his wife and two daughters. But, after much prayer and consideration, he is excited to return to ComoPickton as the AD/head football coach.

“It’s been probably the best decision I’ve made, just the people here that I work with and under, they’re just fantastic people,” Phillips said. “Being from a small town and a country boy at heart, just being in this setting of farmers and hard working people, it’s just amazing. I love this community.”

“They welcomed me back with open arms,” said of his return to CPCISD as the athletic director and head football coach. “Some of the kids that I coached in junior high when I was here, they were seniors. I really hated that I wasn’t going to coach them in football, but it was good to see them. They remembered me and I remember them. It really did feel like I was coming home.”

Phillips said what he wants most for the ComoPickton players, coaches and this community is success. He said Como-Pickton is a hard working team and community that have never experienced the thrill of winning a football playoff game, and he wants to help them achieve that win.

“I want nothing but that for our athletes and

Photos provided by DJ Spencer

our coaches, to be part of that. That would be a great thing. I’m not about fame. I don’t want fame or money. But, for this community and these kids, they work so hard. They work summers out in the hay fields and they’ll come to work outs. They’re just so deserving of it. That would be really, really wonderful for me, for these kids and this coaching staff to be part of it. I just want that for them and the coaches who came here and the coaches who stayed here.”

Phillips wants to help the Como-Pickton football team to develop their skills, so that they too can experience the thrill of winning into the playoffs.

Como-Pickton has four returning coaches, plus him, and three new hires, for a total of eight coaches on staff the 2023 fall season.

“I think athletics and education, they go hand-in-hand. I’m more of I want kids to have good character, good integrity, good class. I want them to play hard, be respectful and I want them to learn life lessons through athletics,” the CP athletic director noted.

He also acknowledged the 2023-2024 school year will likely be a weird, and even difficult year, that will involve a lot a challenges which will require everyone to adapt in order overcome adversity.

“I think that God has a way of putting things into perspective for you and He has a purpose and a reason for everything. As a staff and as an athletic setting, we have to come together with the community. I think it will make us stronger. it will bring us closer together,” Phillips said.

One of the biggest challenges so far, Phillips noted, has been scheduling due to damages from summer storm which caused significant damages not only to the football field and gym but the CPCISD campus as a whole. All of CP’s home football games will be played not on the CP field, but in neighboring Winnsboro High School’s stadium. That will be easier than having to play all games away from home this year.

Phillips offers special thanks to Boys Head Coach Joshua Finney, along with the administration and staff at Winnsboro High School and Winnsboro ISD, who were very generous to accommodate and allow ComoPickton athletics to use their facilities for summer strengthening conditions as well as this season to host home football games.

Phillips also extends thanks to Sulphur Springs High School Athletic Director Brandon Faircloth, as well as the coaching and other staff at schools throughout the county for their concern and generosity while the CPCISD campus and its facilities are being repaired as quickly and safely as possible.

“Coach Faircloth reached out to us and said he was always willing to help out and they are providing our practice pants that we lost. They’ve been first class as well. They’ve been nothing but accommodating, helping us in this time of need. We can’t say enough on how much we appreciate both of these communities helping out during this time,” Phillips said. “There are other schools that have reached out - Saltillo and Sulphur Bluff, they allowed us to use their facilities as well. We want to thank all of them for what they’ve done. We all have athletics as one goal, but people from different areas come together for that one goal. We had a tragedy but they helped bring us together as well,” the AD said.

Phillips praises the community of ComoPickton and surrounding communities, and hopes to continue serving as AD for some time to come, but expects he’ll continue making the 40-60 minute drive west on I-30. He and wife Britney are blessed to live with their daughters, 10-year-old Peyton and 5-year-old Paige, in their hometown, in Brittney’s dream home, with up to 20 acres of family property where the girls can play. He said there’s no better feeling that getting home and having his daughter run to him with hugs for daddy.

Sweat, Tears, and… Pom Poms

By Carey Gable

In the vastness of Moody Coliseum on the Southern Methodist University campus, cheer teams from across Texas lined up to be graded. Each year hundreds of cheer athletes attend a grueling week long camp. Staying in dorms on campus, these athletes work from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Breaks are short and time to socialize or relax are at a minimum. It is the intensity that is the deciding factor in becoming a good cheer team or a great one.

As the 10 Como-Pickton varsity cheerleaders lined up, flanked by their team mascot, Big E, they were filled with nervous anticipation. What most people fail to realize is that cheer is not just on the sidelines anymore.

Modern UIL cheer has become a multifaceted sport that requires year-round commitment and training. In the fall, cheerleaders commit to cheering at football games, pep rallies, and at all of the traditional venues and events. During basketball, it is much the same as Como-Pickton cheers at all home district games. However, in January, there is also a “cheer season.” This competition pits cheer teams from across the state into direct competition with each other. Last year saw 62 teams in the 2A division. They are graded on three categories that have to be expressed during one three minute routine. These routines are packed with athleticism, coordination and teamwork.

The first category graded is cheer. This is not just the tradition game day cheer but also the stunting and tumbling that comes with modern cheerleading. The next is band chant, which takes timing, precision, and such coordinated practice that the entire team must speak and move as one unit. The third aspect graded is that of fight song. This is often the most fun aspect of the game day experience; it becomes a combination of leading the crowd, moving to music and athletic displays.

Like any other athletic contest, cheer teams find their strengths and weaknesses. The coaches often attend coaching conferences as the athletes hit the floor for long practices.

This allows the coaches to discover the best ways to deploy their teams to maximize their talents and showcase their best attributes.

The cheer program at ComoPickton has been built just like any other athletic program. The fundamentals of the ComoPickton style are established in junior high cheer by Coach Summer Gilbreath. These skills are then further developed as the athletes move into the high school and Coach Rebecca Gilbreath takes the reins. This mother and daughter team is a benefit to the cheer team as it streamlines the learning curve for the athletes. The expectations are set early and maintained throughout the program.

As the team stands ready, at attention, Captains Sanay Diaz and Valeria Gonzalez lead the line. They are followed by the seniors Maci Glover and Katie Tifft. The judges begin to call out scores. A hush falls across the expanse of Moody Coliseum. There are three categories of evaluation: white means that the team needs improvement, red means that it is standard, and blue is reserved for the very highest scores deemed near perfection. White and red scores are prevalent and often.

The remainder of the team stands erect and aligned: Bella Romero, Zoe Reed, Danica Wiggins, Faith Gilbreath, Marcie Hernandez and Kimber Thomas. Big E flanks the line as Justiss Larkin adds that final

touch to the cheer line. Momentary halts in the placing exacerbate the tension. Finally, ComoPickton was called out. Even though they did not move, they were center stage in that moment.

The judges scores came with an easily fluidity. “Cheer – Blue Ribbon. Band Chant – Blue Ribbon. Band Chant – Blue Ribbon.”

Those long days at camp, those longer days all summer, all met in that moment. Hours spent mastering cheers, routines, steps, and turns. Bruises from tumbling passes, slips from stunts, fatigue and injury, all of it came to one moment of preparation and success.

Yet, this was only step one. As fall begins, so

does cheer. Those long languid days of summer pass into memory and the daily grind of contest cheer begins. Only now, every Friday night, is there an opportunity and an audience. There are performances to give and crowds to awe.

Cheer is not just for the sidelines anymore, that much is very clear. However, it does provide a great opportunity for the community to witness the difficult work that these athletes pour themselves into. Friday night lights are about cheer, too!

Como-Pickton cheerleaders will be performing and leading the cheer at every Como-Pickton football game this fall.

COMO-PICKTON CHEERLEADERS

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Band adapts,

Band

By Faith Huffman

The Como-Pickton War Eagle Band has been working for about a month, working on fundamentals to have each section ready to perform their halftime show when the 2023 football season begins.

“We feel a large part of our job is supporting the community and the football team as they play their games,” said CP Band Director Craig Ingram, who is excited to continue building the band program during his second year with the district. “We’ve been working on marching fundamentals, playing things. We have a great group of leaders this year so I’m excited to see where this new group takes us.”

This year’s halftime show will be a bit different this year. “Romeo and Juliet, Les Segunda Parte” will start at the point in Shakespeare’s play where the two star-crossed sweethearts” swallow the poison, forward, but will a Latin twist to things.

“We don’t want to tell the same thing that somebody else has told. So we wanted to find our unique story that I thought the students would get behind, something they’d want to do,” Ingram said.

“We even had some students actually pick out some songs for us to actually play,” CP Drum Major Boston Peeks said.

“They helped me choose the title of the show and we actually even had a couple of meetings to plan the things, because I want my students to be invested. As I tell them and as I told Boston before he got here, this isn’t my band. This is their band. I’m just here to help lead them in the right direction,” Ingram said.

Fans can expect a few surprises, opportunities for a few student solos or spotlight moments, and props to enhance the marching arts show, making it a visual as well as audio performance, to give the “perfect impact of the visual and sound.”

At the beginning of the month, the CP band had yet to practice in their band hall, due to the construction work ongoing on CPCISD campuses to repairs damages from the June 16 storm.

That, Peeks noted, meant the band had been pretty much dancing around, using whatever space was available to practice. The color guard and percussionists had yet to practice in the same place two days in a row regularly as final school updates

overcomes with determination, assistance and a lot of hard work.

and repairs were being made to ready the campus for the start of classes on August 15. They’d been practicing in the school cafeteria, where books an other classroom materials were still be stored. They stored instruments in the Spanish classroom, where Ingram and Assistant Band Director Seth Rambo have been working. They’ve utilized hallways when floors weren’t being waxed and whatever area was available.

But, the drum major said, the band had pretty much taken it all in stride. After all, what’s life without a wrench thrown in once in a while.

Another exciting thing about this year’s band is its composition. Earlier in the spring, the band had about six seniors graduate. Otherwise, the CP War Eagle Band maintained its members, aside from two of the students that were enrolled in band. Several other high school students signed up, however, joined to fill their places and then some. The marching band this year will once again include a few eighth graders, although the group is relatively small due to athletic conflicts.

“We have a great group of kids and, with most of them returning, we are really able to build on some of the successes we had last year, and will be able to push it even farther this year,” Ingram said. “Last year we received excellent ratings at UIL marching contest, so this year we are hoping to receive superior ratings, which would mean we are able to advance to the area marching contest and hopefully, even on to the state marching contest. You’re not going to achieve it unless you can conceive it, so we

do talk about those thing as being one of our long term goals, but we do focus on the good of the day.”

The drum major said the main focus is to improve dayby-day individually as musicians and as a band, starting with the band leadership in late July and gradually scheduling practice for the various sections of the band.

Peeks said as drum major, during the summer, he hasn’t had the opportunity to play as much as in some years. He’s been busy assisting the band directors in whatever way he can, including running off copies of certain paperwork, leading students where they need to go, or leading by himself if needed.

“He’s also the primary conductor of the band,” Ingram noted of the the drum major. “He doesn’t get to do those duties as much until we get to games, half-time shows. Since we’re still kind of learning everything over the summer, that’s his main duty.”

Ingram said the students’ attitudes and willingness to show up and get the job done however, that needs to happen, are factors that make the job worth it.

“Their attitude is already so much better than last year. we were struggling to get kids in for summer band rehearsals. This year, we still have a few of those issues, but it’s so much better than last year. Students are coming to practice and ready to work,” Ingram said.

“We showed them what to expect,” Boston said.

To the Eagle fans, Boston quoted Jack Lengyel in We Are Marshall, “We are hoping to rise from the ashes and reach for glory.’ We’re wanting to really put on a good Courtesy photos

show this year, despite all of the problems.”

“You can’t guaranty what happens in life, you can only guaranty how you react to things. I was worried the kids would be really down and depressed the first day, like, ‘Oh, no our school’s is in shambles.’ But, our kids have got a good head on their shoulders and everyone reacting very well,” Ingram said of the first summer practice following the storm that caused significant damage to the CPCISD campus.

Ingram said one of the things the CP Band program enjoys is having a very supportive administration and a band booster program that not only provides snacks for all practices, but meals for all away games. They help with uniform needs. Earlier this month, the CPCISD Band Booster Club hosted a car wash fundraiser, with band students washing and shining up vehicles to raise the funds needed to purchase a new band trailer.

“I have a great group of kids, but I have a great group of parents also,” Ingram said. “Last year, they were the ones one the field holding props down for us through the windy games.”

“With every single one of our games being away games, it will definitely be good, having that support,” the drum major noted.

This year, the CP Marching band is looking to compete at UIL in Mount Pleasant, a contest in Chism and one in Mount Pleasant, then see how each goes.

“A year ago, no one knew what to expect. I’m kind of a little weird in my own right, like every band director though. People knew what they signed up for this year when they signed up for band. I was just inspired that so many did want to sign up again.”

“I’ve been in marching band for five years now, this is my fifth years. I marched in eighth grade. I’ve seen two other band directors, and I’ve got

to say having Mr. Ingram and Mr. Rambo, they are definitely the best in the business. We are very, very lucky to have them,” Peeks said.

“I personally feel lucky I work with such great coaches and cheerleading sponsors. They notice us. We’re definitely taken care of Friday nights. Our cheerleading sponsor came up here on Tuesday when she didn’t have a practice scheduled to let us in. The football coach and I work really well together. We schedule our practices so we wouldn’t conflict this summer. It takes all of us on Friday night to make that hometown advantage happen,” Ingram said.

They added that “just because it’ll be red on the field doesn’t mean it won’t be bleeding Blue in the stands.”

“We’ve been lucky enough to have been able to use our football field, to have one to use. We used to use the parking lot. It puts it more in perspective when we actually practice on the field we’re going to perform on,” Peeks said.

EAGLES

Eagles looking to take flight again as new era begins

Seeking first playoff win in school history

By DJ Spencer

The Como-Pickton Eagles have endured tough times on the gridiron lately, and the 2022 season was no different. Last season, the Eagles struggled on both sides of the ball, averaging just 10 points per game on offense and giving up 31.9 points per game on defense. This led to the Eagles finishing 1-9 overall and 0-6 in district, ending the season on an eight-game losing streak.

After the season, head coach Ronnie Green retired after four seasons as the Eagles’ leader, and Jeremy Phillips was hired as the new head coach to help the program reach new heights. Phillips, who previously worked at Como-Pickton, returns. He most recently served as the offensive coordinator at Hughes Springs High School. He has noted that the transition back to ComoPickton has been great.

“I had previously worked here for four years under Charles Swann, before spending the

past four years at Hughes Springs under Chris Edwards,” Phillips said. “When I took this job, I was welcomed back with open arms. The people in this community are wonderful, and the people we work with are also wonderful.”

During the summer, the Eagles’ workout facilities were damaged during a storm, forcing them to move their workouts to Winnsboro High School. Even with the workouts being relocated, Phillips noted that the buy-in from the players has still been steady.

“We started out averaging 30 athletes per workout before the storms,” Phillips said. “Even after the storms, we’re still averaging 20-25 athletes.”

Phillips also noted the addition of several new assistants on the staff this season.

“Our offensive coordinator will be Jeremy Griffin, who previously worked at Pittsburg, and

Robert Dane, who comes from Hawkins, will serve as our defensive coordinator,” Phillips said.

Also joining the staff this season is Casey Riddle, who comes to Como-Pickton from Saltillo.

In addition to the new coaches, Darrell Franklin, Payton Turner, and Landon Wallace return this season.

“Franklin, Turner and Wallace took a big leap of faith staying here,” Phillips said. “They genuinely love being here and have bought into our system. They are excited about where our program is headed.”

Due to storm damage at Ron Heflin Field, the Eagles will play all of their designated “home” games this season at Red Raider Stadium in Winnsboro.

“I hate that our seniors don’t get to play on the home field, and I hate it for the fans as well,” Phillips said. “Despite that, I’m confident that we’ll have a good turnout, and we’re thankful for Josh Finney, the head coach at Winnsboro, for allowing us to use their stadium.”

During the preseason, the Eagles were picked to finish seventh in their district by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Despite this, Phillips believes his team

has a chance to outperform that projection.

“I’ve told our players that we’re gonna face adversity in every game,” Phillips said. “We’re in a tough district with many great teams. We’re also gonna push to win our first playoff game in school history.”

The Eagles will feature new schemes on both sides of the ball, running a Slot-T offense, along with a 4-2-5 defense.

Como-Pickton will have a lot of youth on this season’s team, but Phillips feels they have a great mixture of players.

“We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and a lot of kids will have to play up this season,” Phillips said. “Hopefully,two or three years down the line they will be great varsity athletes.”

The team will be led by Kevin Hernandez, who will be returning to the quarterback position after spending last season as a running back. He will be joined by a group of versatile players.

“Kevin has really bought into our offense,” Phillips said. “He’s been here 90% of the summer and has really taken command of the quarterback role.”

Photos provided by Dinh Tran

“Julian Rodriguez and Ian Rodgers will be featured in the running back and fullback as well,” Phillips added.

Other notable returning offensive weapons include Alex Estrada and Giovanni Munoz. Another notable weapon on the radar is Manuel Salgeuro.

“Salgeuro has done a great job this summer,” Phillips said. “He’s matured a lot in the last six months, and has shown he’s committed to our offense.”

On the offensive and defensive line, Sean Carpenter and Adrian Chambly will be notable presences.

“Carpenter has worked his tail off this offseason,” Phillips said. “He’s a quiet kid, but works hard and does what is asked of him. Chambly will also be a strong presence on the line for us.”

Other players Phillips said to look out for include Ethan Brooks, Brayden Gillis, and Manny Martinez. In addition to winning a playoff game, Philips also

noted the team’s main goals for this season.

“I want our players to become physically and mentally stronger,” Phillips said. “We also want our players to fly around the field on both sides of the ball. We also wanna return to the level of play we were at under Swann.”

Even though this season will be a learning year for the Eagles, Phillips believes it has the potential to be a great first season under his leadership.

“I believe that we are stronger than we were last season, and we’ll be able to sustain consistent play better than we did last year,” Phillips said. “We should be much better this season.”

The 2023 season marks the beginning of the new era for the Como-Pickton Eagles, as they will look to take flight once again and outperform their low expectations.

COMO-PICKTON

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