WAKE UP! ON ETBLITZ | Thompson, Priest, Bynum are track Super Elite; 7-on-7 reminder; will the balloons fly?

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re off to another week, and thanks to Cozy Coffee Station for presenting Wake Up! here on ETBlitz. We’ve been talking about the Great Texas Balloon Race, which was supposed to have practice runs today – not sure if the weather will allow it – but I guess you’ll know around 6:30 a.m. And if you’re out and about, stop by CCS in Kilgore (at 110 Midtown Plaza) or in Gilmer (at 755 Highway 271 North) and grab something great to eat or drink. Order in advance at Home | Cozy Coffee Station.

The Elite

Now, truth be told, I’ve been looking for an excuse to use that clip from Top Gun for years.

But the Texas High School Coaches Association has made it easy for me, because they’ve added these THSCA Super Elite Teams after each sport is complete, and they’ve finally released track and field.

Of course, several athletes from the East Texas region made it, and we do have three from the ETBlitz area to do so.

That’s Gladewater’s Paytin Thompson from the girls ranks, and then Kilgore’s Carsyn Bynum and White Oak’s Kyler Priest.

Thompson ran a leg of Gladewater’s 3A girls 400 meter relay at the UIL Track & Field State Championships at the University of Texas in Austin in May, along with Ki’zyah Miles, Peyton Hunter and Adyson Evans in 47.66 seconds, winning gold in that event for the Lady Bears, and also won bronze that week in the 3A girls 200 meter dash.

Priest took gold in the 3A boys pole vault at the state meet, with a 16 feet, 6-inch leap.

And Bynum was a member of Kilgore’s 4A boys 800 meter relay team.

To make the THSCA Super Elite Team, an athlete had to be nominated by a head coach that was a member of the THSCA, and meet the deadlines; the student athlete must be on varsity (duh) and be a member of the team in good standing at the time of the nomination; they must be of good character, it states; and they must have exceled at their sport.

I don’t see some names on here that I thought I would see – but I congratulate those that are! Congratulations to Paytin, Kyler and Carsyn on this cool honor.

Camp Central

Again, I’ll call attention to the youth camp story that we’ve got running right here, CAMP CENTRAL, presented by ENERGY WELDFAB | Upcoming youth sports camps, updated on June 8, in case anyone has kids that want to be in camp of various sports coming up. It’s pretty thorough.

I forgot to mention this yesterday, but coaches, if you’d like to take a group photo of your camp at some point before the kids leave, and send me a photo, I’ll run it here on the site and on our socials for free. Send it to me, Mitch, here at mlucas@etblitz.com.

Oh, and if you have a camp coming up that you’d like to get in the round-up, send the information to that email address, as well, and we’ll get it in Camp Central.

Great Texas Balloon Race

Just in case the weather allows them to have the balloon race, here are the particulars once again.

For the public, the race culminates next weekend on Friday and Saturday at the Longview Convention Complex at 1123 Jaycee Drive.

Technically, it’s the BFA U.S. Nationals Hot Air Balloon Championship Practice Flight (whew, a mouthful) over Longview, and it begins at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

On Tuesday, now, it also starts at 6:30 a.m., but it obviously counts; it’s listed as a competition flight.

Wednesday through Friday, June 13, same thing, same time, and on Friday, the special events for the public begin. Gates will open at the Longview convention complex at 4 p.m., and there’ll be a concert at 6:30.

The public is free to walk around and see the balloons and visit until 8:30, and that also includes the tethered balloon rides (those are $25 per person, and can only be cash payments).

Opening ceremonies are at 8:45 p.m., and then the Bill Bussey Balloon Glow starts just after that. Gates close up at midnight.

It kicks back up again at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, and then the public activities at the same times, with the tethered rides also starting at 7the balloon glow at 8:50, and gates closing at midnight.

Here’s a link to the Great Texas Balloon Race site, and you can purchase tickets to the concerts at the bottom of this page: Schedule of Events – The Great Texas Balloon Race

Tickets to get into the event, though, should be purchased at the gate, or right here at this link: Buy Tickets – The Great Texas Balloon Race. Tickets are $20 Friday night, $25 on Saturday night, or $40 for both nights. Kids 12 and under are admitted free.

Here’s their “frequently asked questions” page: Frequently Asked Questions – The Great Texas Balloon Race.