Sports

The Buckaroos baseball team rallied in support of each other and injured teammate Jaxon Escalon. The team wore stickers with his initials after Escalon was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash Sunday, March 3. Archive photo

Looking back at the 2024 Buckaroos baseball season

Although two-a-days began this week for the 2025 seasons in football and basketball, the Breckenridge American have two sports to review from the 2023-2024 school year. This edition of the American will review the 2024 Buckaroos baseball season while next week’s edition will complete the review series with a look back at the 2024 track season.

The 2024 Buckaroos baseball team entered the season with high hopes and a large core of senior players.

The Buckaroos will look to avenge last year’s three-point loss to Childress when they host the Bobcats Friday, Sept. 6 at Buckaroo Stadium. The Bobcats defeated the Bucks 24-21 Sept. 1, 2023 when the teams last played. Archive photo

Previewing Buckaroo football’s non-district opponents

Football practice officially begins next week for the Buckaroos as they prepare for the 2024 season. This year’s non-district schedule will feature a mix of some new teams and familiar foes.

The following is a brief review of what last season looked like for the Buckaroos’ non-district opponents mixed with what they have to look forward to when they meet this season.

Holliday
The Eagles will look to continue their dominate stretch of football.

The Lady Bucks will travel to City View for the final pre-season scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 10 following team pictures and Media Day. The two teams previously met August 22, 2023 where the Lady Bucks defeated the Lady Mustangs 3-1. Archive photo

Buckaroos, Lady Bucks prepare for official practices

As July fades away in favor of August, the fall sports season is quickly approaching. Breckenridge High School athletes are preparing for the start of official practices for the 2024 fall athletic season.

Season previews will be released in mid-August in the annual Breckenridge American Fall Sports Preview.

While athletes have had the opportunity to participate a summer strength and conditioning program at BHS, the work officially began this week for Buckaroos and Lady Bucks cross country with the first practice of the season taking place Monday, June 29. 

The Lady Buckaroos earned their first district championship after finishing 12-2 in District 8-3A. The season came to an end with a 2-0 loss in a best-of-three bi-district playoff series against Iowa Park. Archive photo

Looking back at 2024 Lady Buckaroos softball

A 20-plus year drought came to an end this year for Lady Buckaroos softball.

With a senior-heavy team, the Lady Bucks earned a district championship in the best season it had experienced in decades.

Non-district
After opening the season with a high-scoring win, Tuesday, Feb. 13 at Springtown, the Lady Bucks had a roller coaster experience as it navigated the pre-district tournaments.

Breckenridge Buckaroo Owen Woodward recently signed a contract with the New York Mets after being selected in the 15th round of last week's MLB draft. Contributed photo/Brad Woodward

Woodward drafted in 15th round by Mets

One Buckaroo is getting his shot at Major League Baseball.

The MLB draft took place last week in Arlington with the New York Mets selecting a BHS graduate.

Owen Woodward, a right-handed pitcher, was selected by the Mets in the 15th round as the 433rd pick in the draft.
Although he was selected by the Mets, the family was preparing for his name to be called by the Boston Red Sox.

The Buckaroos will take on district rival Jim Ned at home Friday, Oct. 15. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football predicts the Bucks to finish fifth. Archive photo

DCTF previews upcoming high school football season

Football season is quickly approaching and the annual edition of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is reaching the mailboxes of its subscribers.

Each year the publication previews each high school football team and district in Texas.

Following the UIL’s 2024-2026 Reclassification and Realignment, the Buckaroos will competed in District 3-3A Division I with Sweetwater, Jim Ned, Clyde, Comanche, and San Angelo TLCA.

DCTF predicts that Breckenridge will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin in November with a fifth place finish in district.

Kaysi Wilcox was one of two Lady Buckaroos basketball players to earn First-Team All-District. The team struggled throughout the season with a pair of injuries and a coaching change. Archive photo

Looking back at 2023 Lady Bucks basketball

The Lady Bucks basketball team faced struggles both on and off the court during the 2023-2024 basketball season.

The team played much of the season without junior guard Destiny Jamison who was injured early in the volleyball season and suffered a second injury on the roster with Zaea Ragle getting hurt late in the season.

Those injuries were compounded with a sudden coaching change during the district schedule.

Pictured left to right: Coach Rachel Buse, Janet Sullivan, Coach Karen Martinson, Ella Sullivan, Woodson High School Athletic Director Melissa Vickers, and Coach Lisa Jo Jones. Contributed photo

Woodson athlete honored with TGCA awards

One Woodson High School trackster was recognized last month by the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association.

Ella Sullivan was recognized as a member of the 1A All-State team in track during the annual TGCA Summer Clinic, which took place June 24-27 in Arlington.

Sullivan is a distance runner in track and field, competing in the 800, 1600 and 3200-meter runs. She was a regional qualifier in all three events in 2022 and 2023.

Buckaroos seniors Jackson Curtis (1), Karter Smalley (12), Camden Escalon (2) and Alexis Franco (5) led the Buckaroos into the 2023-2024 basketball season. Curtis, Smalley and Franco earned First-Team All-District honors. File photo

Looking back at the 2023 Bucks basketball season

Buckaroos basketball faced a difficult but successful 2023-2024 season. Although the team finished with a losing record at 16-19, the Bucks finished strong with a 9-5 district record and a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.

Head coach Brent Lucas led a senior-heavy team that was poised to make noise last school year.

Alexis Franco beats a tag at home plate to score a run during the third inning of the Bucks’ 5-1 district win Friday, March 22 at home over Early. File photo

Buckaroos baseball earns district, academic accolades

Buckaroos baseball have announced its all-district honorees. Ten Buckaroos represent the team in the District 8-3A All-District Honors with four Bucks earned Academic All-State recognition.

Aaron Moore was honored as the district’s Utility Player of the Year. Moore played all over the field defensively for the Buckaroos in the 2024 season. In addition to playing positions in both infield and outfield, Moore threw eight innings in relief during the district schedule. 

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