Melissa Farmer made history over the weekend. In her first season as a member of the Lady Tigers’ wrestling roster, the junior excelled, earning a berth at the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Wrestling State Championships, where she capitalized on the opportunity. Farmer finished fifth in the 235 weight class, marking the first time Belton has ever landed on the medal stand at state. Farmer suffered a pinfall loss in the opening round to eventual state champion Alyciana Rogers — a junior from Liberty Hill — but she responded with three consecutive wins before a defeat sent her to the fifth-place match. The final outcome against Canyon sophomore Josselin Large was decided by pinfall in 1 minute, 43 seconds. Along the way, Farmer defeated Midlothian Heritage junior Kendall Jones, who was the state runner-up last year. BOYS BASKETBALL The Tigers captured a share of the District 16-5A championship Tuesday with their 72-53 victory against visiting Waco University. Belton (28-6, 8-2) held an eight-point cushion, 33-25, at halftime and led 54-38 after three quarters. The Tigers split the title with Killeen Ellison (8-2) after the Eagles defeated Lake Belton 80-51 to conclude the Broncos’ season with a 20-14, 1-9 record. Belton and the Eagles, who have reached the Division II state semifinals in each of the last three seasons, will be joined by Killeen Chaparral (7-3) and the fourth-place Trojans (5-5). Lake Belton and Waco (1-9) rounded out the league standings. The Tigers will open their playoff run either Monday or Tuesday against either Ennis or Crandall. SOFTBALL The Lady Broncos and Lady Tigers will look to continue their strong starts to the season at weekend tournaments. Lake Belton will travel to Dripping Springs, while Belton will take part in the three-day Round Rock tournament. Both events begin today. Then, on Tuesday, the Lady Broncos travel to Hutto for a 7 p.m. start, and the Lady Tigers host Salado at 7 p.m. Both teams opened their tournament schedules at the three-day NFCA Leadoff Classic at College Station, where Belton finished with a 2-4 record, defeating Robinson 13-0 and Coppell 7-1. The Lady Tigers lost to Clear Springs (10-0), Humble Kingwood Park (5-3), Leander Rouse (6-4) and Lexington (6-3). The Lady Broncos won four of five games before inclement weather prevented them from concluding the tournament. Led by home runs from Addison Sims and Avery Park, Lake Belton defeated Lake Ridge to open the event before beating Willis 1-0 and Argyle 8-4. After falling to Montgomery 5-1, the Lady Broncos bounced back with a 3-1 win against Tomball, which ended early due to rain. Following the tournament, Lilliana Herrera helped Lake Belton defeat Fredericksburg 4-1 on Monday. Herrera allowed just three hits and struck out a dozen batters in seven innings. BASEBALL The Broncos return to action today, opening play at the Round Rock/Liberty Hill tournament. They are set to play Round Rock Cedar Ridge, San Antonio Churchill and Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch. Then, on Saturday, Lake Belton will host Rockwall-Heath and Liberty Hill at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Belton travels to Pflugerville Connally tonight after beating Leander Glenn 7-4 in their home opener Monday. Habt Childers allowed three hits and one run as the starting pitcher before being relieved by Billy Young and Pecos Smith. Offensively, Cason Morton went 2-for-3 with three RBIs as the team amassed nine hits. TRACK & FIELD The Lady Broncos opened their season at the Lake Travis Invitational, where they finished fifth behind a trio of first-place showings. In the sprint medley relay, the quartet of Aleya Russell, Moriah Rydberg, Bella Garcia and Lucy Loa delivered a gold-medal time of 4 minutes, 25.45 seconds, and the showing was complemented by wins in the 400-meter relay and Swedish relay. Kaleileana Cress, Nylah Berriar, Russell and Garcia combined for a winning time of 47.87 in the 400 relay, while Ty’anah Debose, Russell, Garcia and Berriar won the Swedish relay in 2:18.97. The Lady Broncos will look to build on the showing in Bastrop Saturday.Melissa Farmer made history over the weekend. In her first season as a member of the Lady Tigers’ wrestling roster, the junior excelled, earning a berth at the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Wrestling State Championships, where she capitalized on the opportunity. Farmer finished fifth in the 235 weight class, marking the first time Belton has ever landed on the medal stand at state. Farmer suffered a pinfall loss in the opening round to eventual state champion Alyciana Rogers — a junior from Liberty Hill — but she responded with three consecutive wins before a defeat sent her to the fifth-place match. The final outcome against Canyon sophomore Josselin Large was decided by pinfall in 1 minute, 43 seconds. Along the way, Farmer defeated Midlothian Heritage junior Kendall Jones, who was the state runner-up last year. BOYS BASKETBALL The Tigers captured a share of the District 16-5A championship Tuesday with their 72-53 victory against visiting Waco University. Belton (28-6, 8-2) held an eight-point cushion, 33-25, at halftime and led 54-38 after three quarters. The Tigers split the title with Killeen Ellison (8-2) after the Eagles defeated Lake Belton 80-51 to conclude the Broncos’ season with a 20-14, 1-9 record. Belton and the Eagles, who have reached the Division II state semifinals in each of the last three seasons, will be joined by Killeen Chaparral (7-3) and the fourth-place Trojans (5-5). Lake Belton and Waco (1-9) rounded out the league standings.  The Tigers will open their playoff run either Monday or Tuesday against either Ennis or Crandall.

Friday night felt like the postseason arrived early as Lake Belton and Belton met under the lights at Wilson-Kerzee Field with district positioning on the line. Both programs entered the matchup level in the standings, aware that the outcome would shape the race heading into the final stretch of the first round. Lake Belton generated several threatening moments, particularly as the match moved into its final stages. In the closing minutes, the Broncos pushed numbers forward and applied steady pressure in search of a breakthrough. However, Belton’s defensive shape held strong, disrupting runs and closing down shooting lanes before a decisive strike could develop. On the other end, Belton produced quality chances of its own, finding stretches of rhythm and controlling portions of play. The Lady Tigers controlled many possessions and remained organized defensively when Lake Belton increased the tempo. The midfield battle proved especially critical, with both teams fighting to dictate the pace and limit transition opportunities. A major factor in the stalemate was the defensive execution from both squads. Lake Belton’s back line worked together in front of their goalkeeper, who delivered a confident performance between the posts. Belton’s defense answered with tough defense, stepping up in key moments to prevent second-chance opportunities and maintain structure. As the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard reflected what the match had been from start to finish: evenly matched. The 0–0 result was less about missed opportunities and more about defensive discipline and competitive focus. For Lake Belton, the draw keeps them unbeaten in district competition, maintaining momentum as they prepare for their next road test. For Belton, the result secures a valuable point and keeps them firmly in contention as district play continues. With both teams still very much in the hunt, this rivalry meeting may prove to be a pivotal chapter in a tightly contested season. If Friday night was any indication, the district race is far from decided. Both programs showed they have the structure and the determination required for a deep postseason push. As the first round winds down, expect the intensity to only increase.

Mother Nature wrecked havoc on Belton ISD’s athletic schedule last week, forcing multiple events to be rescheduled. District 16-5A basketball games originally set for Tuesday will be played tonight after inclement weather created unsafe travel conditions. As a result, the Lady Tigers will travel to No. 4 Lake Belton to begin the second round of league play, while Belton hosts the Broncos. Both games begin at 7 p.m. The Tigers will then travel to Waco University on Friday and host Killeen Chaparral on Tuesday. Lake Belton will play against visiting Killeen Ellison and travel to Waco on Friday and Tuesday, respectively. In girls action, Lake Belton will travel to Ellison (Friday) and host Waco (Tuesday), while Belton plays University at home Friday and travels to Chaparral on Tuesday. In soccer, weather forced Belton and Gatesville to cancel their boys match, removing the Tigers’ nondistrict finale. They begin league play Friday at Waco University. The Lady Tigers host University to begin district Friday, when Lake Belton plays Ellison. The Broncos play at home, and the Lady Broncos will be on the road. SOFTBALL Practices and scrimmages for the upcoming season recently began for both Lake Belton and Belton, and games are allowed starting Feb. 9. The Lady Broncos will host three more scrimmages against Waco Midway (Friday), College Station (Monday) 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. Prior to the encounter, they will scrimmage at Round Rock Stony Point on Friday, Round Rock Cedar Ridge on Saturday, Temple on Tuesday, and Troy on Feb. 7. 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 recently begin for both Lake Belton and Belton with scrimmages permitted to begin Saturday. Games are allowed starting Feb. 16. The Broncos will take part in scrimmages against visiting China Spring (Saturday), Temple (Saturday) and Buda Johnson (Tuesday) 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 (Saturday), versus Georgetown East View (Tuesday), 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.

Anglers for years that if they’re casting for a 13-pound or heavier largemouth bass to enter in the forty-year-old TPWD/Toyota ShareLunker Program to not be discouraged if the first month of the entry period didn’t produce one for them. January traditionally doesn’t cough up many large fish. Our Januarys are mild enough, though, that a few big female bass might think it’s springtime and start thinking toward spawning. Some bass caught in January might not be as heavy as bass caught later in the three-month ShareLunker entry season. Sometimes egg sacks take more time to mature. The most qualifying entry bass and the heaviest come in February and March. When I hadn’t received a news release about any Sharelunkers having been caught by January 22, I called the efficient and helpful coordinator of the program at the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Natalie Goldstrohm, to see if any had been caught. Natalie, as always, gleefully announced that two bass had been entered! She apologized for the lack of notice but the two bass had just been caught. One of the two was caught at 5:30 p.m. the day before! The first one was boated two days earlier. Press releases were still making their way through the editing and approval stages. They’re coming. TPWD is careful and passes press releases before appropriate staff to read and approve. The first bass entered in 2026 weighed 13.75 pounds and was caught in – guess where? Of all waters in Texas, Lake O.H. Ivie would be the waterbody most would guess. And they would be right! Ivie has been the dominant lake for lunker bass for the past three years. It was caught by Charles Roberts and was the same bass Roberts caught and entered last year on Ivie, which is 55-miles east of San Angelo. No details of the catch or lure are available. The second bass entered this year came from Lake Alan Henry, a picturesque waterbody south of Lubbock. It’s pretty far north in Texas, and the water stays cold later into the ShareLunker season. Some bass chasers that frequent LAH have even requested that its season end later to give the lake more time to warm to the magical spawning temperature of 60-degrees. That would consequently give the bass later into the season to develop eggs, and weigh more. So far, TPWD has declined to make that exception. But it didn’t take Ross Gomez any later to catch a ShareLunker, there. He caught the second one of the season on January 22 and it weighed 14.74 pounds. He used a jerk bait, this time. Wait; did I just say “this time?” Indeed I did. Gomez caught the SAME BASS TWO OTHER TIMES. The first time he was crappie fishing. Does that sound familiar? (Think Barry St. Claire’s existing State Record bass.) Gomez was using artificial lures all three times, however. Like Barry’s record, catching the same ShareLunker three times is probably a record that will stand the time.

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