Sports

Lady Cubs softball surges into playoff race

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After getting a tough taste of what it will take to battle the best competition the state has to offer in Class 3A softball, the Clifton Lady Cubs began making some noise of their own in the race for playoff spots in District 17-3A. Opening district against the top-ranked Grandview Lady Zebras (6-0 in district, 26-1 overall), the Lady Cubs were handed back-to-back demoralizing defeats, losing the first game, 20-0, in three innings before dropping the second contest, 16-1.

Cubs battle in district

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After posting first district win over Keene, Cubs drop two against arch-rival Whitney Facing tough competition from top to bottom District 17-3A, the Clifton Cub baseball team finds itself in an uphill battle following the first two weeks of league play. After opening district with a hard-fought two-game split with the Keene Chargers, the Cubs dropped a pair against the arch-rival Whitney Wildcats last week.

Meridian tennis tunes up for district

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Continuing to build momentum for the upcoming district meet, the Meridian boys and girls tennis team brought home a wealth of medals for their efforts. Traveling to Corsicana to compete in the Frost Tennis Invitational last Wednesday, Meridian carried 15 competitors to the tournament with 10 capturing medals.

Lifting With The State’s Best

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Rising to the occasion under the brightest spotlight, Meridian senior Dustan Bowers put on a power display last Saturday and brought home the hardware to prove it. Competing at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association State Championships in the Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene, Bowers set personal records in all three disciplines -- squat, bench press and deadlift -- for a total of 1,275 pounds in the 165-pound weight class to finish in a three-way tie for fifth with Brayden May of Kerens and Kaleb Flake of Alvord.

Sprinting Toward District

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Behind strong performances by their relay teams, the Clifton boys and girls track teams held their own as they hosted the Cub Relays last Thursday at Cub Stadium. The Clifton boys placed third in the team standings with 126 points behind meet champion Troy (151) and runner-up West (143.9), while the Lady Cubs finished fourth with 101.5 points behind first place Hamilton (144), followed by Troy (121) and West (115).

Lifting among elite at state

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Earning a spot among the Texas High School Powerlifting Association’s elite, Clifton junior Riley Finney made the most of his opportunity at the THSPA’s Division 3 State Championships held last Friday at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene. Awarded the Outstanding Bench Presser at the state meet with a lift of 455 pounds, Finney placed third overall in the 198-pound weight class behind state champion Mario Diaz of Lytle and silver medalist Amar Love of DeKalb.

Eyes On Pennant Chase

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Looking to earn a trip to the Class 3A playoffs for the first time since 2019, the Clifton Cubs have found the right balance of experience and youth as the club continues to improve in the midst of the 2023 Texas high school baseball season. Despite embarking on the pennant chase riding a three-game losing streak, the Cubs (3-12-1) have been facing a gauntlet of quality opponents during the non-district and tournament schedule.

Putting up best efforts at state

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After the triumphant trio earned trips to the state powerlifting championship, Clifton’s iron-pumping ladies Kambrie Kettler, Cameron Ritz as well as Cub junior Riley Finney were continuing to improve and appeared far from done. Competing in the Texas High School Women Powerlifting Association’s Small 3A State Championship Thursday at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Kettler claimed the fifth place medal in the 132-pound weight class, while Ritz set three personal records in the 123-pound weight class.

Powerlifting To State

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Competing in the Texas High School Powerlifting Association’s Region 2, Division 4 Championships last Saturday at West High School, Meridian senior Dustan Bowers captured the silver medal in the 165-pound weight class to earn a trip the THSPA State Powerlifting Meet to be held March 25 at the Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene. Entering the regional meet ranked third in his weight class, Bowers tied for the best squat with a lift of 480 pounds and finished with a three-discipline total of 1,230 pounds as Roscoe Collegiate’s Michael Fulton claimed the gold medal with a total of 1,265 pounds.