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 .
Special to the Journal Joseph L. Inman has been elected to the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame, Class of 2026. Inman graduated from Belton High School in 1964, where he was voted its most outstanding student. After graduation, he left Belton to pursue a formal education in music, specifically a double major in piano and percussion. Music later became his profession as a member of the U.S. Army Band (retired) and a teacher in the Washington, DC area. During college, Inman took up figure skating seriously, competing as a pair skater. After injury forced his retirement from competitive skating, he decided to judge, working his way up to become one of the most respected officials in the world of figure skating. After the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic judging scandal, the International Olympic Committee requested that a new system of judging be developed to replace the 6.0 system. Inman was chosen as a member of a small ad hoc group of top figure skating experts charged with designing a system that would be more objective, fairer and less prone to bias. Combining his expertise in music performance and theory with his elite level of knowledge and experience as an Olympic-level judge, Joseph Inman brought an unique perspective to evaluating artistry in a figure skating program more objectively. In 2017, Inman was awarded the International Skating Union's Gold Award of Merit, the highest award that the international governing body can bestow on a judge. He is one of only 22 recipients ever to have been so honored. With his election to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, Joseph Inman will now receive the United States Figure Skating Association's highest honor when he is inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame on January 9, 2026, at the National Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal The Tigers and Lady Tigers will host the B-Town Beatdown on Saturday at Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB). Following the meet, Belton returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Pflugerville Weiss. Lake Belton will also be in attendance at UMHB on Saturday before competing at the Waco Midway meet Wednesday. BELTON BOYS SOCCER The Tigers will be holding a preseason parent meeting today inside the Belton High School library from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. During the session, program rules and guidelines will be discussed, practice and game schedules will be revealed, and holiday procedures will be outlined. Any additional questions will also be addressed. If you are unable to attend, a recap of the meeting will be emailed. For more information, visit BeltonTigers.com. 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 they combine with New Tech to host a meet on Jan. 5. The District 22-5A meet is scheduled for Jan. 23. LAKE BELTON SOFTBALL The Lady Broncos will be holding an informational meeting regarding tryouts for the upcoming season on 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 open to all potential players of any grade. For more information, contact Lady Broncos head coach Kelsie McEachern at Kelsie.McEachern@BISD.net
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal The Broncos and Lady Broncos' wrestling schedules resume Wednesday, when the teams travel to Leander for a pair of matches. Lake Belton will compete against the Lions and Lady Lions at 6 p.m. before taking part in a match against Liberty Hill at 7:30 p.m.. Then, on Saturday, the Broncos and Lady Broncos make the short trip to Mary Hardin-Baylor for a match, and they travel to Waco Midway on Wednesday to conclude a busy week. Belton's schedule is equally hectic. The Tigers and Lady Tigers have competitions set for Wednesday at Georgetown, Friday and Saturday at home and at Pflugerville Weiss on Wednesday. BELTON BOYS SOCCER The Tigers will be conducting try-outs for the upcoming season Monday and Tuesday from 7-8 a.m. each day. Participants must have a current physical on file with the school and all necessary paperwork submitted along with being academically eligible. LAKE BELTON GIRLS SOCCER The Lady Broncos will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:30-8:30 a.m. each day. Participants must have a current physical on file with the school and all necessary paperwork submitted along with being academically eligible. First round of cuts will be made following Tuesday's session, and final cuts will be made Wednesday after school. Cleats are required to try out. For more information, visit https://www.google.com/search?q=Belton-Tigers.com. 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.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal The undefeated Lake Belton Lady Broncos will look to continue their strong start Friday when they host Killeen Harker Heights at 7 p.m. They’ll then travel to Burnet on Monday (2 p.m.) and Waco Midway on Tuesday (1:30 p.m.). Following those matchups—and due to the Thanksgiving break—Lake Belton will be idle until Nov. 29, when Killeen Shoemaker visits. The Lady Broncos improved to 7-0 on Tuesday after a dominant 101–19 road win over Rogers. Lake Belton opened the game with a 24–8 first quarter, fueled by six points from Alexa King, before taking complete control defensively. Rogers was held to no more than four points in any quarter the rest of the way and made only four field goals total. Olivia Dann led all scorers with 18 points, Aniya Taylor added 17 points with three 3-pointers, and King finished with 10 points. The rout followed a perfect showing at last weekend’s Leander Rouse Tournament, where Lake Belton won all five games convincingly. The Lady Broncos opened the event with a 66–36 win over Austin Anderson behind Dann’s 15 points. She was joined by Layla King (12 points), Taylor (11 points, 5 assists), Alexa King (7 points) and Gemma Pierce (8 points, 5 offensive rebounds). In their next outing, Lake Belton used a strong finish to defeat Stratford 51–27. Leading 22–15 at halftime, the Lady Broncos scored 23 points in the fourth quarter to pull away. Dann recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Taylor (14 points, 5 steals) and King (11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) also delivered big performances. Eight players scored in the team’s 69–30 win over Boerne Champion, led by Taylor’s 16 points. Ariella Polley added 13 points and Erica Taylor had 12. To close out the tournament title, Lake Belton defeated host Rouse 55–39 and Round Rock 43–32. After trailing Rouse 15–13 early, the Lady Broncos held the Lady Raiders to just five points in the fourth quarter. In the championship game, they held Round Rock to single digits in two quarters. Taylor was the leading scorer in both contests, posting 17 points against Rouse and 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals in the final. Erica Taylor and King each scored 13 points against Rouse, and King contributed 11 points and two steals against Round Rock. Dann added 8 points and 15 rebounds in the title game. LADY TIGERS After winning their first two games, the Belton Lady Tigers fell back to .500 with Tuesday’s loss. Facing last year’s state finalist Liberty Hill, Belton struggled to keep pace as the Lady Panthers rolled to an 80–25 win, powered by a 26-point first quarter. Liberty Hill’s early surge created a 19-point cushion, and Belton trailed 46–11 at halftime before the gap widened to 61–19 entering the fourth. Isabella Warner, senior Ke’Ara Shanks and senior Emma Flory each scored six points to pace Belton. The Lady Tigers (2–2) suffered their first loss Friday against Killeen, falling 51–38. Belton led by one at halftime but surrendered 19 points in the third quarter and couldn’t recover. Warner scored 19 points, while Dylan Waldrep and Shanks added six apiece. Belton will look to halt its skid Thursday when it opens play in the three-day San Antonio Cornerstone Christian Warrior Classic. After the tournament, the Lady Tigers are off until their Dec. 2 road game at Leander Rouse.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal The Tigers and Lady Tigers hosted the fifth annual Roy and Jean Potts Invitational last week. More than 350 athletes from 22 teams were in attendance, and Belton placed among the top 10 in each division. The Tigers were fourth, and the Lady Tigers were sixth. Kiera Martin, Adrien Oros, Michael Reeves, Erna Whitzel and Wyatt Nelson helped guide Belton with top times. Oros was second (5 minutes, 13.49 seconds) in the boys 500 yard freestyle, while Nelson was third (5:17.10) in the event, and Oros was third (1:02.08) in the 100 backstroke. Martin was second (1:03.19) in the girls 100 backstroke and third (2:22.01) in the 200 yard individual medley. Reeves was third (24.01) in the boys 50 freestyle and third (53.95) in the 100 freestyle and Whitzel was fourth (1:05.17) in the girls 100 butterfly. Collectively, the boys 400 freestyle relay team was second (3:52.53), the girls 400 freestyle relay team was third (4:14.65) and the girls 200 freestyle relay team was fourth (1:59.28). In the girls division, Conroe The Woodlands College Park won with 376 points, beating out Lake Belton (2nd, 263) and Austin McCallum (3rd, 258). The same three teams — College Park (1st, 398), Lake Belton (2nd, 253) and McCallum (3rd, 220) — occupied the top three spots in the boys standings. Belton is off until Dec. 13, when it travels to compete at Killeen. Kelsie McEachem at Kelsie.McEachem@BISD.net. BELTON BOYS SOCCER The Tigers will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season Dec. 1-2 from 7-8 a.m. each day. Participants must have a current physical on file with the school and all necessary paperwork submitted along with being academically eligible. Cleats are required to try out. For more information, visit BeltonTigers.com. 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. LAKE BELTON GIRLS SOCCER The Lady Broncos will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season Dec. 1-3 from 7:30-8:30 a.m. each day. Participants must have a current physical on file with the school and all necessary paperwork submitted along with being academically eligible. First round of cuts will be made following the session on Dec. 2. Final cuts will be made Dec. 3 after school.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal The University Interscholastic League permits boys basketball teams to begin playing regular-season games Friday, and the Tigers and Broncos are taking full advantage. Lake Belton opens its schedule at home against Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch with the tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. The Broncos follow with a break until Tuesday, when they host Marble Falls at 6:30 p.m. Belton waits until Saturday, when it starts its schedule with a trip to play Georgetown at noon. The Tigers then play at Burnet on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. LAKE BELTON BOYS GOLF The Broncos’ “Red” team recently competed at its home tournament, tying for fifth place with a team score of 385. Competing at Temple’s Wildflower Country Club, Lake Belton freshman Heston Seideman posted an 88, while sophomore teammate Weston Minzak finished one stroke behind with an 89. The total was rounded out by junior Liam Leon, who shot a personal best 101; freshman Acelin Wycoff, who had a personal-low round of 107; and freshman Jackson Dolotina (109). Furthermore, junior Levi Tarrance-Crotty (88), senior Eric Gulley (112), and junior Tyrsten Reese (120) represented the Broncos. Lake Belton is idle until Wednesday, when it travels to play at Waco’s Cottonwood Creek Golf Course. The Broncos then play at Cedar Creek’s Lost Pines Golf Club on Dec. 2. BELTON GOLF The Lady Tigers recently placed fifth out of 21 teams at the annual Hutto Invitational. The event was held at Star Ranch Golf Course, where Issa Jinadatha guided Belton by recording a personal-best score of 92. The outing was complemented by teammates Abby Beck (93), Anya Jinadatha (94), and Ella Hice (109). The Lady Tigers return to action Nov. 20 at Waco’s Cottonwood Creek Golf Course. The Tigers traveled to Temple’s Wildflower Country Club last week, where they placed fourth among the 16-team field at the Lake Belton Fall Invitational. Owen Babcock, a senior, carded Belton’s best score. Additionally, senior Bryson Necessary; juniors Zane Trusky, Wyatt McLean, and Reid Erskine; sophomores Cooper McDonald and Josiah Rodriguez; and freshman Bennet Boland competed. BELTON BOYS SOCCER The Tigers will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season Dec. 1–2 from 7–8 a.m. each day. Participants must have a current physical on file with the school and all necessary paperwork submitted, along with being academically eligible. Cleats are required to try out. For more information, visit BeltonTigers.com. LAKE BELTON GIRLS SOCCER The Lady Broncos will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season Dec. 1–3 from 7:30–8:30 a.m. each day. Participants must have a current physical on file with the school and all necessary paperwork submitted, along with being academically eligible. First round of cuts will be made following the session on Dec. 2. Final cuts will be made Dec. 3 after school.
By Clay Whittington The Belton Journal The Lady Broncos open their latest playoff run tonight, facing Red Oak in the bi-district round of the Class 5A, Division I bracket. The match will be played at Waco Midway and begins at 6 p.m. Lake Belton (29-12) enters as the undefeated District 16 champion, having won 18 of its last 19 matches overall, while the Lady Hawks stand at 30-11 after finishing second in District 15. Should the Lady Broncos advance, they will face either Dallas Adams or Molina in the area round. Belton (30-13) also qualified for the playoffs, landing in the Class 5A, Division II bracket after finishing second in league play, though first-round details were not available. A victory for the Lady Tigers would set up a matchup against either Dallas Wilson or Dallas South Oak Cliff. The match would be held at a neutral site on Monday or Tuesday. CROSS COUNTRY Lake Belton freshman Keira Dzenowski will compete at the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Cross Country State Championship on Friday. The five-kilometer race begins at 9:30 a.m. Dzenowski makes her debut at the prestigious event after winning the District 16 title with a time of 19:31.09 and placing 26th (19:52.07) at last week’s Region II meet. This marks the first-ever appearance by any Lake Belton athlete at the state meet. BRONCOS BASKETBALL Tryouts for the upcoming season begin Friday, running from noon to 2 p.m., and will resume Nov. 1 with another two-hour session starting at 9 a.m. Athletes can sign up at LakeBeltonAthletics.com. Players currently enrolled in first- or eighth-period basketball must still try out. Varsity football players may try out once their season concludes. Individual meetings will take place following the second session. To participate, athletes must: Have a current physical on file Submit all required paperwork Be academically eligible Wear proper athletic clothes and shoes For more information, contact head coach Zane Johnston at Zane.Johnston@BISD.net . LADY BRONCOS GOLF Lake Belton hosted its third-annual tournament last week at Temple’s Sammons Golf Course, where the Silver team placed fifth (439) and the Red team finished seventh (463). The Silver team was led by senior Suellen Tillis, who placed eighth with a personal-best 103 — three strokes below her previous record. Other Silver scores: Hayleigh McConnell (Fr.) – 111 Lillie Mikes (Jr.) – 112 Kaylee Carubelli (So.) – 113 Aurora Nane (So.) – 116 For the Red team: Whitley Truett – 107 Emory Jolivet – 114 Kaylee Holler – 119 Emily McMillon – 123 Chloe Adkinson – 124 (All Red team members are freshmen.) The Silver team returns to play Nov. 5 at Hutto’s Star Ranch Golf Course, and both teams will compete at the Waco ISD Fall Invitational on Nov. 20 at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course. YOUTH BASKETBALL Registration is now open for the Belton Christian Youth Center 2025 Basketball League. Open to boys and girls in kindergarten through eighth grade Registration deadline: Friday Season begins: Nov. 22 Spots are limited Forms are available at BCYCsports.com. For sponsorship information, call 254-939-5759. Additional details can be found at BeltonYouth.com. ATHLETIC PASSES Belton ISD Family Passes are now on sale for $75 and can be purchased at the Belton High School field house or the Belton ISD administration office. The pass grants entry for the holder and all immediate family members to any Belton ISD home athletic event, excluding football games.