LOCAL SPORTS IN BRIEF
BY SPORTS EDITOR MITCH LUCAS
TENNIS

Regionals over for Bulldogs

Members of the Kilgore High School tennis team that qualified for the UIL Class 4A Region II tennis tournament found that what KHS coach Jason Maroney said about it being the toughest region in the state was true.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, only one entry got into the second round, and that was the boys doubles team of Josh Bailey and Jody Madding. Bailey and Madding beat Dallas Lincoln's Keelan Boyland and Rodney Agee, 6-1, 6-0, in the first round, but lost to Frisco's Blake Wiggins and Brian Bunyard, 6- 0, 6-1.

Also for Kilgore, Haley Smith, competing in girls singles play, lost to Camara Davis of Arlington Seguin, 6-3, 7-6 (2); and Trevar Compton and Callie Cunyus lost in mixed doubles play to Waco Midway's Hunter Harrell and Lindsay North, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

The regionals were played at the University of North Texas in Denton.

In spite of the losses, the Kilgore tennis team really had a fantastic year, winning the District 12-4A team trophy in the fall and putting together a very good spring season in which they qualified five for regionals, and almost more. There's even better news: most of the team returns for Maroney in the fall.

Junior program begins next week

KHS tennis coach Jason Maroney is starting anew boys junior program on Tuesday. The program is for boys in grades five, six and seven, and will run from Tuesday until May 22, twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the courts at Maude Laird Middle School.

There is no fee, and racquets will be provided if needed.

To sign someone up, call Maroney at (903) 235-3958, or write him an e-mail at jmaroney@kisd.org.

GOLF

Kilgore's Hodgkins finishes regionals

Kilgore High School golfer Courtney Hodgkins, representing the Bulldogs' golf team in the UIL Class 4A Region II Golf Tournament at Robson Ranch earlier this week, finished with a 93 on the second day of the tournament (Tuesday). She finished in the middle of the field, coach Jimmy Williams said.

"She played really solid on the front nine... but struggled on the back," Williams said.

Hodgkins was the only KHS golfer to qualify for regionals out of a very tough District 12-4A.

SOCCER

Banquet Monday; book spot now

The annual Kilgore High School soccer banquet will be Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church's fellowship hall. Tickets are on sale at the athletic department office at the high school, and are $9 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.

The deadline to purchase tickets is today in order to provide a head count to the caterer. Please contact the athletic office at (903) 984- 6009 or Bobby Bustin at (903) 984-2840 for additional information.

FOOTBALL

KC camp in June

For youngsters with dreams of playing competitive football, the Kilgore College Rangers will host a football skills camp for ages 7-15 from June 9-13. Run by the KC coaching staff, the camp is "non-contact" and participants will be taught the fundamentals of the game and given instruction in all phases of football.

Players will be divided into groups according to age and position, allowing individual skills to be taught. Each camper will receive a camp certificate and awards will be given out daily. Emphasis for younger campers is basic skills development and intermediate skills for older campers to prepare them for competition.

Cost is $100 and will include instruction, all-you can eat meals, a souvenir KC football and camp certificate. Camp will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and will be held on the KC campus.

To register for the camp, go to kilgore.edu/rangerfb.asp and download the camp flyer. Fill out the bottom portion and mail to: Kilgore College c/o J.J. Eckert, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, TX; 75662. A deposit of $50 is required to reserve a spot and is non-refundable after June 1. The remaining $50 must be paid at time of registration. Registration is from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. the first day of the camp (June 9) in the Masters Gym lobby. Limited spaces are available.

For more information, call Chris Craddock, KC's sports information coordinator, at (903) 983-8181.