Belton bounced back in a big way Friday night, responding to a recent loss with a dominant 4–0 victory over Copperas Cove. Meanwhile, Lake Belton endured a challenging stretch of matches at the Mustang Cup, facing quality opponents as the Broncos look ahead to regrouping efforts. Belton entered Friday’s matchup determined to reset after a setback against Harker Heights, and the Tigers wasted little time asserting control. From the opening whistle, Belton played aggressively, dictating tempo and creating scoring chances through passing and strong off-ball movement. Jorge Hernandez led the charge offensively, scoring twice to power the Tigers’ attack. Hernandez pressured Copperas Cove’s back line and capitalized on scoring opportunities in the final third. Valentin Villanueva and Jonathan Jaimes also found the net, rounding out a balanced scoring effort that kept Cove on its heels throughout the match. Belton’s ability to convert chances was matched by disciplined play defensively, as the Tigers limited Copperas Cove’s looks on goal and controlled possession for extended stretches. Hernandez added an assist to his standout performance, while Sammy Clark also recorded an assist, helping facilitate Belton’s fluid attacking buildup. The result was a complete team performance and a confidence-boosting shutout win at home. Across town, Lake Belton faced a demanding slate at the Mustang Cup, opening the tournament against Palestine. The Broncos showed resilience early, responding to Palestine pressure with a goal from Kai Zuniga, assisted by Zane Fitzwater. Despite the response, Lake Belton trailed 4–1 late in the first half and eventually fell 6–1 as Palestine pulled away in the second half. Lake Belton returned to action against state-ranked Decatur, facing another tough test. The Broncos trailed 3–0 at halftime and were unable to close the gap, falling 5–0 in a match that highlighted the level of competition at the tournament. In their final contest, Lake Belton took on Walnut Grove in a closely contested match early on. Walnut Grove scored midway through the first half to take a 1–0 lead, which held through halftime. Lake Belton continued to battle but ultimately fell 2–0 as Walnut Grove added a second-half goal. Despite the results, the Mustang Cup provided valuable experience for the Broncos against high-level opponents. Lake Belton will look to apply those lessons moving forward, while Belton aims to build momentum after Friday’s emphatic victory as both programs continue their push through the season.

Hosting the Jim Grimm Memorial Tournament, the Broncos and Lady Broncos delivered a strong showing, collecting multiple medals while preparing for the upcoming district schedule.  In the boys division, Tanner Wentz (126 pounds), Carl Huffman (138), and Austin Carrillo (144) had impressive outings. Carrillo earned multiple pinfall victories en route to the championship match, where he was defeated. Wentz made a deep run through the consolation bracket, and Huffman opened with several wins to advance through the bracket. Additionally, Akshar Parikh, Jayden Alba, and Joseph Casmus each bounced back from early losses to gain pinfalls in the consolation rounds. Arionna Smith (115) advanced to the consolation finals in the girls division, and teammate Michelle Hoffman (135) also fell in the consolation finals. Akira Beck (140), Kameryn Vaden (190), and Lorelai Scallorn (235) each had deep runs in the consolation bracket as well. The District 6-5A tournament is set for Wednesday at Mary Hardin-Baylor. SOFTBALL Practices for the upcoming season recently began for both Lake Belton and Belton, with scrimmages permitted to begin Saturday. Games are allowed starting Feb. 9. The Lady Broncos will host four scrimmages against Georgetown (Tuesday), Waco Midway (Jan. 30), College Station (Feb. 2), and Salado (Feb. 6). Then, their season will begin Feb. 19 with a trip to Georgetown. The Lady Tigers’ first game is set for Feb. 10, when they play at Killeen Shoemaker. District 16-5A play begins March 17, when the Lady Broncos host Waco University and Belton plays at Waco. BASEBALL Practices for the upcoming season began last week for both Lake Belton and Belton, with scrimmages permitted to begin Jan. 31. Games are allowed starting Feb. 16. The Broncos will take part in scrimmages against visiting China Spring (Jan. 31), Temple (Jan. 31), and Buda Johnson (Feb. 3) before scrimmaging at Leander Rouse against the host Raiders and Round Rock McNeil on Feb. 7. Lake Belton closes its preseason with scrimmages at Round Rock Cedar Ridge (Feb. 10) and versus Austin Westwood (Feb. 13). Then, the Broncos’ season will begin Feb. 19 with another trip to Cedar Ridge. The Tigers have an intrasquad scrimmage set for Saturday before scrimmages at Bastrop (Jan. 31), versus Georgetown East View (Feb. 3), Troy and Little River Academy (Feb. 6), Hutto (Feb. 10), at Round Rock Stony Point (Feb. 13), and versus Leander Glenn (Feb. 16). Belton’s first game is set for Feb. 19, when it travels to compete in the three-day Pflugerville ISD tournament. District 16-5A play begins March 24, when the Broncos travel to Belton for the first game of the series, which moves to Lake Belton on March 27.

Wrestling Lake Belton’s wrestling team traveled to Comal Davenport on Saturday to take part in the Alpha Wolf Tournament, where both the Broncos and Lady Broncos delivered top-three finishes. Tanner Wentz was third in the 126-pound weight class, winning multiple matches by pinfall while advancing through the consolation bracket after a loss in the semifinals. At 144, Austin Carrillo was also third with three pinfalls. Carl Huffman (138), Cayden Allison (150), and Kameron Adams (132) were also responsible for collecting points. For the Lady Broncos, Lorelai Scallorn delivered the top showing, placing third at 235. She had two one-sided wins and earned 18 points. Additionally, Michelle Hoffman (140) was third, matching the outing from teammate Anna Huffman (170), who had three pinfalls. Alayna Royals and Kameryn Vaden also earned points. Lake Belton Girls Basketball The Lady Broncos will host Court Side Connections — a special skills clinic — on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Belton gymnasium. The event is intended to help young players grow on the court while also strengthening their bonds with parents. It is free for all girls in second through sixth grade and one adult. Led by members of the Lady Broncos’ coaching staff, the clinic will focus on simple and effective drills that can be done at home, proving development does not need to be expensive. There is also an emphasis on creativity and accessibility, allowing drills to be created using everyday items from around the house along with a parent. Spots are limited, so early enrollment is encouraged. For more information, visit LakeBeltonAthletics.com. Softball Practices for the upcoming season recently began for both Lake Belton and Belton, with scrimmages permitted to begin Jan. 24. Games are allowed starting Feb. 9. The Lady Broncos will host four scrimmages against Georgetown (Jan. 27), Waco Midway (Jan. 30), College Station (Feb. 2), and Salado (Feb. 6). Their season will begin Feb. 19 with a trip to Georgetown. The Lady Tigers’ first game is set for Feb. 10, when they play at Killeen Shoemaker. District 16-5A play begins March 17, when the Lady Broncos host Waco University and Belton plays at Waco. Baseball Practices for the upcoming season begin Friday for both Lake Belton and Belton, with scrimmages permitted to begin Jan. 31. Games are allowed starting Feb. 16. The Broncos will take part in scrimmages against visiting China Spring (Jan. 31), Temple (Jan. 31), and Buda Johnson (Feb. 3), before scrimmaging at Leander Rouse against the host Raiders and Round Rock McNeil on Feb. 7. Lake Belton closes its preseason with scrimmages at Round Rock Cedar Ridge (Feb. 10) and versus Austin Westwood (Feb. 13). The Broncos’ season will begin Feb. 19 with another trip to Cedar Ridge. The Tigers have an intrasquad scrimmage set for Jan. 24, before scrimmages at Bastrop (Jan. 31), versus Georgetown East View (Feb. 3), Troy and Little River Academy (Feb. 6), Hutto (Feb. 10), at Round Rock Stony Point (Feb. 13), and versus Leander Glenn (Feb. 16). Belton’s first game is set for Feb. 19, when it travels to compete in the three-day Pflugerville ISD tournament. District 16-5A play begins March 24, when the Broncos travel to Belton for the first game of the series, which moves to Lake Belton on March 27.

Following weeks of preparation, everything is now on the line. For the next month, Belton and Lake Belton will be battling to qualify for the playoffs, and every outcome will be critical, including the upcoming league openers. The Tigers and Broncos each begin navigating their 10-game District 16-5A schedules Friday, when Belton travels to Killeen Chaparral and Lake Belton hosts Waco. Based on nondistrict competition, the Tigers and Broncos are among the field’s favorites, with overall records of 20-4 and 19-5, respectively. Belton brings a three-game winning streak into district thanks in part to key contributors Ty Johnson, a junior forward; junior guards Abram Knight and Luke Munden; senior guard Jay’dn Loggins; and senior small forward Noah Childers. The Tigers are averaging 74.25 points per game. Lake Belton also has multiple weapons at its disposal, including junior guard Michael Lockett and senior guard Dezmin Ravizee, who combined to account for 55 of the Broncos’ 76 points in a five-point win at Gatesville on Friday to conclude nondistrict play. Junior guard Allen Muchunu, senior guard Ameer Williams, and junior center Jackson Striegler will also play instrumental roles as Lake Belton attempts to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022. Belton has not missed the playoffs since 2020. Although Belton ISD’s teams appear poised to contend for the district championship, a talented crop of opponents will not make it easy. KILLEEN ELLISON (13-10) The Eagles have been the area’s premier team for more than a decade now but have struggled this year following the departure of a dominant class. Regardless of its record, Ellison knows how to win when it matters, advancing to the state semifinals in each of the last three years with two appearances in the state title game. Senior point guard Sean Parks is the Eagles’ catalyst on both ends of the floor. KILLEEN CHAPARRAL (18-6) No squad enters district competition with more momentum than the Bobcats, who have won seven consecutive games since falling to Class 6A Killeen Harker Heights by a point, 65-64, in overtime on Dec. 19. Prior to the defeat, Chaparral won six of seven contests. Carlos Robinson, a forward, is one of only two seniors on the roster, but multiple juniors, including guards Curtis Watson-Davis and Demoni Mayes, are factors on the floor. The Bobcats defeated the Broncos in both encounters last year, but they also lost both games to Belton. WACO UNIVERSITY (13-6) Like Ellison, the Trojans, who have spent much of the past two seasons in the state rankings, are contending with the departure of talents responsible for much of their recent success. Nevertheless, University is finding its stride at the right time. The Trojans split their first eight games but have gone 9-2 since, suffering only a single loss since Dec. 19. However, their 55.4 points-per-game average will need to improve to contend with the league’s other high-scoring squads. WACO (8-14) District success has eluded the Lions since 2019, when they last made the playoffs with a fourth-place showing. In the years since, Waco has earned a total of seven league wins. Last season, the Lions’ lone district victory occurred against Lake Belton. While history is not on Waco’s side, the roster possesses five seniors who are not going to let their careers end without a fight, so teams cannot afford to let their guard down versus the Lions.

By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal

By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal

By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal Tigers underclassmen swimmers Micah Rodriguez, Brayden Ludwig and Luke Brunsting delivered impressive outings at last weekend’s Killeen ISD meet. The trio helped Belton place ninth in the final standings with nine points. Rodriguez, a sophomore, was third in the 200- yard freestyle with a time of 2 minutes, 9.14 seconds, and he was seventh (59.12) in the 100 freestyle. Brunsting was eighth (2:47.01) in the 200 individual medley and 19th (1:05.92) in 100 freestyle, while Ludwig was 10th (6:47.22) in the 500 freestyle and 32nd (29.93) in the 50 freestyle. Both are freshmen. Waco Midway emerged with the team title, producing 142 points. Lake Belton was seventh (12). B elton returns to action Jan. 5, when it hosts a competition against Lake Belton and New Tech. WRESTLING The Tigers and Lady Tigers return to action Saturday at Leander Vista Ridge. T he event is one of three remaining on Belton’s regular-season schedule. Lake Belton will also be in attendance at Vista Ridge after traveling to Burleson last week. The Lady Broncos were 1-2-1 at the meet as Anna Huffman, Kamryn Vaden and Lorelei Scallorn earned individual victories, while the Broncos were 2-2 thanks in part to wins from Joey Casmus, Carl Huffman, Jesse Whitmire and Kameron Adams . LAKE BELTON SOFTBALL The Lady Broncos will be holding an informative meeting regarding tryouts for the upcoming season Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Coaches will be on hand to share information with players and parents regarding guidelines for how the tryout process will work later in January. The meeting is for all potential players of any grade. For more information, contact Lady Broncos head coach Kelsie McEachern at Kelsie.McEachern@ BISD.net. BELTON SOFTBALL The Lady Tigers will conduct tryouts for the upcoming season on Jan. 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants must be academically eligible, have a current physical on file with the school and have submitted all other necessary paperwork.  Final cuts will be made Jan. 10, and practice begins Jan. 12, when there will be a mandatory parent meeting at 6 p.m. For any questions, contact Belton head coach Morgan Birkel at Morgan.Birkel@BISD.netBy Clay Whittington The Belton Journa

By Aries Ramos The Belton Journal The 2025 high school soccer season is beginning across Belton ISD, and all four varsity programs enter the year preparing for competitive schedules and the chance to improve on last season’s results. Each team brings a mix of returning experience and new contributors, and all have spent the offseason working to strengthen team identity and build momentum. The Belton High School girls team is coming off a solid season and will look to develop younger players stepping into larger roles after the graduation of several key seniors. Preseason training has focused heavily on possession, finishing, and improving on-field communication. The Belton boys team showed noticeable improvement last season, especially in defensive structure and overall cohesion. With several returning players in key positions, including the midfield and back line, the Tigers have a strong foundation heading into the year. The Belton boys will begin their preseason schedule with a scrimmage against Killeen High School on Friday, December 12th at Leo Buckley Stadium. JV-B will play at 4:30 p.m., JV-A at 5:30 p.m., and varsity at 7:15 p.m. The Lake Belton girls program enters the upcoming season with optimism after showing growth last year. Head coach Jamie Tibbetts said she is most excited about the maturity of this year’s roster and the commitment players showed throughout the offseason. She noted that the focus early in the season will be on improving technical sharpness, decision making, and maintaining a strong defensive shape. Tibbetts described the offseason as productive and energetic, with multiple players stepping up as leaders both on and off the field. The Lady Broncos will open their preseason with a home scrimmage against Hutto on December 12th at 7 p.m., giving coaches and players a first look at how offseason improvements translate to game situations. The Lake Belton boys team continues to develop as a program and enters the new season looking to build consistency after a mix of promising performances and challenges last year. The offseason centered around increasing physicality, improving ball control, and strengthening organization across all positions. Improved communication and fitness have also been areas of progress. With scrimmages this week and the regular season set to begin soon, both Belton High School and Lake Belton High School are focused on building momentum and competing strongly within their districts.

By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal Athletes were recently permitted to make their collegiate commitments official, and Lake Belton took advantage of the opportunity.  Four standouts signed letters of intent, including a pair of baseball players. D.J. Lavalle committed to Arlington Baptist, while teammate Maverick Maddux signed with TCU. The right-hander was named all-district pitcher of the year last season, when he was 5-0 with 51 strikeouts and set the school’s single-season record with 80 strikeouts. Davion Peters is bound for Baylor after amassing 1,837 receiving and 876 rushing yards in his three-year football career at Lake Belton. He scored a total of 34 touchdowns. Additionally, cheerleader Jazzell Jenkins signed with McPherson College. GOLF The Broncos Silver team placed sixth at last week’s tournament held at Bastrop’s Lost Pines Golf Course, where senior Miles Parker shot a team-low 82. The score was complemented by seniors Brayden Hoff and Gavin Kerr, who posted identical rounds of 87, while junior Kaiden Beaty (98) and freshman Jackson Dolotina (106) completed the team. At the Waco tournament, the Lady Tigers were third out of a dozen teams. Belton’s squad consisted of Annaleigh Holliday, Anya Jinadatha, Isha Jinadatha, Ella Hice and Mackenzie McGarry. The Lady Tigers are idle until beginning the spring schedule Jan. 28 at Lampasas. SWIMMING Belton and Lake Belton will both travel to Killeen for a meet versus multiple opponents on Dec. 13. The competition will serve as the final action for both programs until combining with New Tech to host a meet Jan. 5. The District 22-5A meet is set for Jan. 23. LAKE BELTON SOFTBALL The Lady Broncos will be holding an informative meeting regarding tryouts for the upcoming season Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Coaches will be on hand to share information with players and parents regarding guidelines for how the tryout process will work later in January. The meeting is for all potential players of any grade. For more information, contact Lady Broncos head coach Kelsie McEachern at Kelsie.McEachern@BISD.net . BELTON SOFTBALL The Lady Tigers will conduct tryouts for the upcoming season on Jan. 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants must be academically eligible, have a current physical on file with the school and have submitted all other necessary paperwork. Final cuts will be made Jan. 10, and practice begins Jan. 12, when there will be a mandatory parent meeting at 6 p.m. For any questions, contact Morgan.Birkel@BISD.net .