The Howard Payne University softball team was pre-season picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference West Division; it was announced by the league office on Wednesday after a vote of each division's head coaches, sports information directors and media members. Howard Payne's Katie Poerner (pictured left) earned top preseason individual honors.

Howard Payne, who finished 19-21 overall and 13-11 in the ASC last season, and Texas Lutheran (19-19, 13-11 ASC) tied for the third-place position with 90 points and one first-place vote each to conclude what would be the division's four ASC tournament teams.

HPU's Katie Poerner, a senior outfielder, was named ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year. She won player of the year honors last season with a .397 batting average and a conference-high eight triples. Poerner also had seven doubles and was 16-for-16 on stolen bases.

The 2013 ASC season – the 15th in league history – begins as early as Feb. 12. The ASC First Pitch Tournament, which features all 14 league teams in cross-divisional, non-conference action, is set for March 1-2 at Oran Good Park in Farmers Branch, Texas. The eight-team, double elimination conference tournament is on tap for April 25-27 also at Oran Good Park with an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship on the line.

Howard Payne baseball was pre-season picked to finish fifth in the American Southwest Conference West Division standings; it was announced by the ASC office on Tuesday (Jan. 29) after a vote of each division's head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

Howard Payne, who finished 14-24 overall and 7-14 in the ASC West Division (6th) last season, was predicted to finish fifth in the West with 60 points. Senior Yellow Jacket outfielder Carlton Brown and junior right handed pitcher Corey Howie were both named to the 14 players to watch in the ASC West Division.

The 2013 ASC season – the 17th in league history – begins as early as February 1st. The eight-team conference tournament's first round, which is played in a best-of-three series format at sites of the top two seeds from each division, is set for April 26-27. The four victorious teams will advance to the double-elimination championship round, set for May 3-5 at the home field of the top remaining seed from the East Division. The ASC champion receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

The Texas High School Football Hall of Fame has announced the banquet date for the class of 2013, which includes Brownwood Football Coach Sam Harrell and his son Graham Harrell.

The banquet which is presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance will be held on Saturday May 4, 2013 at 6:00 pm at Baylor University's Ferrell Center. A news conference will be held prior to the induction banquet at 3:00 pm at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

The banquet will also include presentations to the 2012 state championship coaches.  The 2013 Tom Landry Award will be presented to a high school coach and the 2012 Gordon Wood Award will be presented to a high school for their accomplishments this past season during the banquet.

Tickets to the banquet are $45 for adults and $15 for students. To order tickets contact Tiffany Wilkins by emailing  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 210-290-8570.

The Bangs High School Lady Dragons powerlifting team placed first at the Dublin meet.  The team won the meet with a total of 37 points.

The Lady Dragons will compete in their next meet on Thursday, February 7th in San Saba. 

Numerous student-athletes from 14 institutions have been recognized by the American Southwest Conference on its 2012 Fall All-Academic honor roll. The teams were announced by the ASC office on Monday (Jan. 28) and include the sports of cross country, football, soccer and volleyball.

36 Howard Payne student-athletes made the 2012 American Southwest Conference Fall All-Academic honor roll. Six Yellow Jacket sports had representatives on the list – Women's Cross Country, Men's Cross Country, Football, Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer and Volleyball. The remaining sports are recognized at the end of the spring semester.

To be eligible for ASC All-Academic honors, student-athletes must be classified academically as a sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student during the competition season and have been in attendance and completed at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters) at their institution. They must also have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as certified at the conclusion of the academic semester in which the ASC sport championship is held.

Howard Payne's Tresta Donahoo led the Lady Jackets with a game high 22 points in an 84-74 conference win over the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday afternoon in the Brownwood Coliseum.

Howard Payne shot 46% from the field while forcing 16 first half turnovers to gain a 44-27 halftime lead.  Tresta Donahoo scored 12 of her game high 22 points and had seven of her eight assists in the opening half.

The Lady Jackets let off the throttle in the second half and cruised to the 84-74 conference win. HPU led 31-18 in points off turnovers but was out-rebounded in the game 58-38 by Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Dana Marrs and Kayla Scott each had 13 points for HPU. Both also had five steals in the game. Senae Dillard added nine points and six rebounds.

Local athletes from Seal Gymnastics competed at the USA Gymnastics Trampoline & Tumbling Dallas Cup Meet in Allen, Texas this past weekend.  The meet took place at the Allen Event Center with 610 athletes from three states.

Their first meet of the season, the Seal gymnasts had a lot to be proud of with 7 gold medals, 2 silver and 3 bronze being earned.  The ultimate goal which these athletes are competing for is a spot at Nationals which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri in July of this year.

"We have some very talented athletes in this area.  It's really amazing," said Seal Gym owner and coach Kristin Wade.  "There's talent here that can rival athletes in much larger areas."

Wade explained that two of the younger members, her own children Cale and Faith Wade, made it to the finals and competed against high school students, placing 2nd and 4th respectively.  Cale was able to bring home two gold medals.

The Seal Gymnastics 2012-2013 team includes:  Ibis Alvarado, Trinity Buitron, Makenna Carr, Kennedy Coffee, Skylar Croft, Darby Chrysler, Audrey Fitzgerald, Shelby Grooms, Colton Kidd, Jack Robinson, Haley Spieckerman, Sage Thompson, Libby Underwood, Ashtin Wade, Cale Wade, and Faith Wade.

Howard Payne's Tresta Donahoo hit a jumper as time expired in overtime to give the Lady Jackets a 79-77 victory over visiting Concordia University Texas Thursday evening in the Brownwood Coliseum.

After the Lady Jackets found themselves down by as much as 13 points midway through the first half, they would battle back slowly to tie the game up at 49-49 with 9:38 to play in the second half.

It was Tresta Donahoo who hit 15 foot jumper as time expired in overtime to give Howard Payne the 79-77 conference win. The video made ESPN's Top Ten Plays of the Week (#10).

The Lady Jackets reserves played a huge role in the HPU comeback outscoring Concordia's bench 36-26. HPU's Danyel Bradley scored 20 points with five steals followed by Kayla Scott with 11, both a part of the Lady Jacket the bench.

HPU was led by Senae Dillard with 22 points and nine rebounds. Dana Marrs also added 11 points.

CTX was led by Madison Kramr with 15 points and followed by Domonique Liddell with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Howard Payne improves to 15-3 overall and 10-2 in conference. The Lady Jackets remain in first place with a two game lead in the ASC West Division standings. Concordia falls 11-7 overall and 8-4 in ASC play.

An Olympian, a former major league pitcher and a Lombardi Trophy winner as the nation's top lineman are among the Class of 2013 announced today for the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.

The 12th annual Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame induction banquet will be held May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center. Tickets are $40 each and tables of 10 can be purchased for $750. For tickets or sponsorship information, call (325) 668-3685 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Selected to this year's class are former Abilene High and Texas Tech track star Jonathan Johnson, Snyder and University of Texas all-American football player Tony DeGrate, former Brownwood and University of Texas all-American pitcher Jerry Don Gleaton, former Breckenridge and University of Oklahoma running back Jakie Sandefer, and former Abilene Cooper and current McMurry track coach Barbara Crousen.

Former Abilene High baseball player Jim Mallon, who won more than 1,000 games as the baseball coach at Southwestern University, will be inducted posthumously. Also going into the Hall of Fame will be Abilene veterinarian Dr. Lynn Lawhon, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement for Officiating, and former Abilene High basketball stars Richard, David and Mike Little, who will receive the Legacy Award from the Hall of Fame.

All Yellow Jackets basketball fans are encourage to wear white at this Thursday's (January 24th) home women's and men's basketball games versus Concordia University Texas. The women's game will begin at 5:30 pm with the men's to follow at 7:30 pm.

“We want to invite everyone to wear a white t-shirt to our game Thursday and help us white out the coliseum,” said head women's coach Joshua Prock. “We know we have the best fans in the country and we greatly appreciate your support.”

The Lady Jackets, who currently sit in first place in the ASC West Division standings, will be playing the second place Concordia Tornados.

“What makes college basketball so great is the fans,” said head men's coach Troy Drummond. “Come be a part of our team and cheer the Jackets on to victory.”