WAKE UP! | Gilmer’s Camara is CRAZY strong; ticket notes for Henderson & Tatum fans this week; Longview’s John King, PT cross and more
EDITOR’S NOTE: For the best in coffees, teas, sodas, and all kinds of snacks, go see Oscar and Ashley and their staff at Cozy Coffee Station, with locations in both Gilmer (755 Highway 217 North) and Kilgore (110 Midtown Plaza). Seriously, they’re great, their products are great, and if you haven’t tried them, correct that TODAY! Visit them online at Cozy Coffee Station and check out their menu, order online, in fact, and then go check out and pick up something fantastic.
John King
As we get started, I just want to say our prayers are with Longview High School head football coach and athletic director John King, who has revealed that he is in a battle with mouth cancer. We don’t cover Longview High School sports — yet — but I’ve spoken with coach King on a handful of occasions. He’s also the dad of Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. Coach King is always personable, a family man, loves football, and loves his players. And by all accounts, he’s very well-loved, in return. We’re praying for you, coach King, and if your fight against mouth cancer goes like your record against Lufkin has gone (13 of the last 15 have been Lobo wins, including eight straight), that cancer has no chance.
Longview hosts Lufkin this Friday, by the way.
Gilmer’s French strongman
There’s a video circulating on social media (imagine that) of Gilmer offensive lineman Ismael Camara weightlifting during the spring, during the end of the 2024-25 school year. In the video (which I’ve placed below), “all” Camara does is squat 705 POUNDS three times.
Just a regular day for the young man from Le Mans, France.
The Buckeyes open their season at Pine Tree this Friday night, the ol’ 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Pirate Stadium.
KHS band needs help
The Kilgore High School band boosters need help in the concession stand for what’s sure to be a tremendously-busy night this Friday night, with defending 4A-DII state champion and rival Carthage coming to town. If you’re a band parent, a member of the band boosters or just want to volunteer, their Facebook page is Kilgore Bulldog Band Boosters; send them a message.
Garcia killing it for TJC
Former Kilgore High girls soccer goalkeeper Esperanza Garcia is doing very well for the Tyler Junior College soccer program.
Esperanza helped the Apache Ladies get a 5-0 shutout of visiting Rose State (Oklahoma). She had two saves in the win, and of course, allowed no goals.
TJC is ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA, and they’re 1-0-1 on the season. They visit Blinn on Thursday at 7, and then go to Brownsville on Saturday to play Texas Southmost College — and we don’t doubt that it’s “southmost” in Brownsville.
Great job, Esperanza!
Henderson fans, attention
If you’re headed to Athens High School for the Henderson-Athens football game Friday night, we’re told that Athens ISD will be aggressively enforcing their clear bag policy.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students at the gate, and either cash or card is accepted.
PT cross country, and cross country period
Congratulations to Pine Tree High School’s cross country teams, who did pretty well in the Kaufman Invitation last weekend. The Pirates’ varsity boys team won the invitational. The junior varsity boys finished first, the JV girls second, and the varsity girls sixth. (Varsity boys are pictured here). And we’ll have more on all things cross country in the coming days here on ETBlitz.
Tatum fans, listen up
If you’re planning on going to the Eagles’ first football game of the season in Winnsboro on Thursday night, you’re going to need this link: Tatum-Winnsboro Football Ticket Link. That’s the way you’ll have to purchase tickets for the game.
Rangers Report
Haven’t done this in a few days in Wake Up!, but let’s take a look at how the Texas Rangers are doing.
They beat the Los Angeles Angels, 7-3, Tuesday night at Globe Life Park. Texas got a home run from Corey Seager, his 20th of the season, in the seventh.
Texas is now 67-67 overall, and chasing both the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the American League West Division. Houston leads with a 72-60 record; the Rangers are six games back from that. Seattle is in second (71-62), and Texas is 4 1/2 games behind them.
The Rangers have one more home game in the series against the Angels (tonight at 7:05 p.m.), and are off on Thursday. They’ll hit the road to see the Athletics on Friday at 9:05 p.m. our time, a game on Major League Baseball Network, the first of the weekend series.
