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Sports

Sokol hosts successful gymnastics competition

Sokol Gymnastics in Ennis is preparing for Fall class registration after hosting their “Slet” Competitions for the Southern District of the American Sokol Organization. Competing were 109 Texas gymnasts from Ennis, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and West. Ennis last hosted this event in 2014, making it a very special weekend for this local organization.

Italy, Avalon seek to contend in Class 2A, 1A

Ennis area teams Italy and Avalon, who are regulars in the UIL state playoffs, do not appear in the Top Ten in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.

Coverage by The Ennis News’ Big 5 includes the aforementioned Gladiators, who were 4-7, Avalon, 5-4, in Class 2A and Class 1A respectively. The latter plays six-man football.

Catching on in Kansas

As announced earlier in the year, former Ennis all-district football player Jonathan Taylor Mackey signed a scholarship with Emporia State University, an NCAA Division II school in Kansas.

Upon departing from Ennis this week, the 6'3, 205-pound wide receiver had nothing but high praise for his hometown. He spent the last two years at Kilgore College, Texas where he maintained a 3.4 GPA and exhibited more talent than he showed at Ennis.

Italy football has makings of post-season run

Winning football is no stranger to Italy, Texas. The town of 1,935 is also known as the I-35 and SH 34 exit for BBQ sandwiches and where a former veteran turned crooner entertains for donations.

But when it comes to the gridiron, the Gladiators can be a formidable foe.

Make the most of your stadium visit

Attending a sporting event or concert at an area stadium is a chance to have the time of one’s life. For those who have never before enjoyed such an experience or haven’t done so in awhile, the modern stadium might be something of a surprise. Fortunately, by being prepared and learning the ropes, your next day at the ballpark can be that much more enjoyable.

Bulldogs fall to eventual 7-on-7 champ

There is something about airing-it-out that brings out the best in Palmer. Long known as a power running team in the fall, in recent seasons the Bulldogs have enjoyed success

DCTF mag ranks Class 4A and 3A gridders

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine has hit the newsstands and their preseason Top Ten in both of the larger classes has few surprises, with perennial powers holding on to most of the top spots. Class 5A and 6A were listed in Wednesday’s July 4 edition.

Class 4A’s two divisions are much the same, as Waco La Vega (14-2) whipped Liberty Hill (13-2) in the Division I championship game, 35-21. The victorious Pirates, who also won the crown four years ago, led 28-7 through three quarters.

From Maroon Tide to Golden State Warrior

Making a difference with one's life often requires much more than Jiminy Cricket singing Wishing upon a Star. This is a feel-good tale of man from tiny Picaynue, Mississippi.

Picayune (pik-a-yoon) is a Cajun term for small or of little value. Ironic for the birthplace of Red Oak’s Scott Vaughan, whose path and example has been paradoxical. His life is not about wishing or hoping, instead it’s been about surrendering to God's plan.

Highland Park ranked No. 1 in Class 5A again

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, considered the Bible of football in the Lone Star State, is finally hitting newsstands this week. It focuses on every college team in Texas, the two pro teams and over 1,400 high school teams, including the Big 5 of Ennis, Ferris, Palmer, Italy and Avalon.

Making the headlines early are DCTF’s rankings, in which the largest schools in Class 6A are ranked with Galena Park North Shore, 16-0 a year ago, at No. 1. They defeated No. 2 Duncanville (14-1), 41-36, on a 45-yard Hail Mary TD on the final play of the game.

Avalon football makes big-time noise at home

Note: This is the third in a series on high school football stadiums. Ennis was featured in the June 30 report card. Back issues are available at The Ennis News office at 213 N. Dallas St.

Avalon High School has a good football program. Often ranked in the Top 10 in Class 1A, their stadium reflects a good facility for playing six-man football.