This year the school has had three separate sports teams advance to the playoffs. The football team became the state silver medalists, the volleyball team became the bi-district champions and the tennis team was named area champions.
“Definitely the most exciting for me this season was holding up that gold ball as the district champions,” senior football player, Jaret Allen, said. “Being around my brothers and seeing everyone so happy was the moment I knew it was worth it.”
The football team recently beat the Austin LBJ Jaguars in the last seconds of the state semi-final game and then played the Argyle Eagles in the state finals.
“It feels amazing to go to state,” senior Jordan Jenkins said. “After all of the hard work the team has put in for the past year we earned our chance to go win it all.”
The final football game was held in the AT&T stadium in Dallas. The team played a hard-fought game but fell to the Argyle Eagles 49-21.
“I know it sounds cliche, but as a senior it is like a last ride,” Allen said. “So, it means a lot to me going as far as I can trying to win this year.”
Volleyball played their final game against Community in area where they finished their season as the bi-district champions. Their final standing was 27-1 remaining undefeated until their last game.
“I was super excited to make it this far,” senior Skylar Wylie said. “This is like our last go around for our senior year.”
Players Shelbi Steen and Chelynn Palmer went on to sign and play volleyball at the collegiate level. Steen signed with Tyler Junior College and Palmer signed with Central Baptist College.
“Lindale volleyball has been such an integral part of my life,” Steen said. “To be a bi-district champion made me realize that I want to continue playing.”
The varsity tennis team lost their battle against Kilgore where they finished as area champions and made it to the region quarterfinals. This was their first time becoming district champions since 2011.
“I was so thrilled to make it,” senior Hope Nelms said. “I spent many long practices and worked long and hard to achieve this.”
