WAKE UP! ON ETBLITZ | Traylor into another hall; info you may need for upcoming events at schools in our area (W/ VIDEO)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wake Up! is presented each day by Cozy Coffee Station (Home | Cozy Coffee Station), where they serve the best coffee products in East Texas, but so much more. Go by and see Oscar and Ashley and their crew at either their Kilgore location (110 Midtown Plaza) or their Gilmer store (755 Highway 271 North). And heck, if you happen to be all the way over in Allen, they’re there, too (900 W. Bethany Drive). And check out their socials: on Facebook at Cozy Coffee Station-Kilgore, and Cozy Coffee Station-Gilmer. And on Instagram: @cozycoffeestation_kilgore, and @cozycoffeestation_gilmer.
Traylor inducted into another hall of fame
It’s good to be University of Texas-San Antonio coach Jeff Traylor these days.
The longtime Gilmer High School football coach and athletic director, who moved on to the college ranks a few years ago and has done quite well, was inducted last Saturday into the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Hall of Honor at a ceremony in San Antonio.
Traylor helped the Gilmer Buckeyes win three state football titles (2004, 2009 and 2014), and the school’s football stadium bears his name. Since he left, the Buckeyes have won another: the 2023 state title, under current head coach Alan Metzel.
The UTSA coach went 175-26 and won 12 district championships in 15 seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes, and also got to the state championship game on two other occasions when Gilmer came up just short.
The ceremony was held at the Henry B. Gonzlalez Convention Center in San Antonio, and was Traylor’s second hall of fame induction in three months: he was a part of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class in May.
Below: a portion of a newscast from KSAT Channel 12, a San Antonio-area TV station, reporting coach Traylor’s latest honor.
Congratulations to coach Traylor, and to Gilmer’s football program for being a huge part of his success.
Wake Up! Heads Up!
Here are some upcoming events of note from our ETBlitz.com coverage area. If you have an announcement that should be here, for no cost, email me (Mitch Lucas) at mlucas@etblitz.com.
TATUM
Tatum football camp July 29-30
This camp is for kids incoming first through fifth grade, and incoming sixth through ninth grade.
The camp is $30 per child, and they should bring a water bottle and wear clothing appropriate for running and playing ball.
The camp will be 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. both days, and a T-shirt is included.
Help offset costs of pregame meals for Eagles
Feeding Tatum High School football players isn’t cheap! And sponsors are being sought to help cover the team’s weekly pregame meal, about $500 a week. Those who sponsor will get a shout-out on the Eagle Stadium jumbotron during the game.
To find out more or contribute, visit Tatum High School Football on Facebook and send them a message through Facebook Messenger.
BECKVILLE
Beckville parent meeting
There will be a general parent meeting about Beckville High School sports a week from tomorrow on Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. at the school’s coliseum. Coaching staff will give parents what they can expect for sports at Beckville this year, as well as updates from the University Interscholastic League, ways to communicate with coaches, updated practice and game schedules, and expectations of students and parents.
ARP
AHS band camp registration
Registration for Arp High School’s Tiger Pride Band Camp is this Saturday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the band hall. All band students freshmen through seniors need to attend. A lot of things are happening at registration, including ordering shirts and shoes, signing necessary forms, checking out an instrument before the camp, joining the booster club and more.
The camp is next week, starting Monday.
For more, email Cody Sturdivant at Codys@arpisd.org, Christy Rodriguez at Christyr@arpisd.org, or Nathan Brazell at Nathanb@arpisd.org.
Arp Back to School giveaway
We just found out today that Dallas Cowboys linebacker Demarvion Overshown is going to start the season on the PUP list (physically unable to perform). But Agent Zero will once again host a school-supply give-away at Arp City Park on Saturday, August 9, beginning at 9 a.m. The backpacks with school supplies in them are first-come, first serve, while they last. And despite the PUP list designation, Overshown is rehabbing a knee injury, and has told members of the ETBlitz.com staff he still plans to be back in the Cowboys’ line-up this season. He’ll be wearing No. 0, though, on his jersey.
KILGORE
KHS football seeks student filmers
If you’re a Kilgore High School student (that’s a must) and you love football, there’s a pretty good deal floating around out there. This is your chance to get involved.
The Bulldogs’ coaching staff is seeking current KHS students to help them film practices and games, both on Thursday nights (freshmen and junior varsity) and Friday’s varsity games.
Students who accept will be a member of the team and travel with the Ragin’ Red. They’re also eligible to gain a letterman in the process.
If you’re interested, reach out to coach Mason McCormack at mmcormack@kisd.org.
PINE TREE
Meet the Pirates is July 31
Pine Tree fans can come out and Meet the Pirates (and it states varsity teams, so likely not just football, but at least volleyball, as well) on Thursday, July 31, at Pirate Center. The school district also plans to have fine arts performances that night. It all begins at 6:30 p.m.
OVERTON
Overton volleyball parent meeting
A meeting is set for Overton High School volleyball parents next Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the gym. This is for parents of players entering ninth through 12th grades that plan to play volleyball this school year. For questions, email coach Kolebi Spikes at kolebi.spikes@overtonisd.org.
Overton volleyball alumni game Aug. 1
For any of you former Lady Mustangs out there, if you feel the need to hit the court again, the current Overton High School Lady Mustangs are ready.
The annual alumni game – as in, the alumni vs. the current team – will be next Friday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the high school gym.
Sign up: OVB Alumni Game.
TROUP
Decals With Dads, Dinner With Moms at Troup
A couple of important dates to remember: The Troup Tigers’ varsity football annual dinner with moms is set for Saturday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. at the high school cafeteria, and dads, Decals with Dads (which I’m thinking involves the placement of helmet stickers) is on Wednesday, Aug. 27, also at the cafeteria.
CARTHAGE
Carthage ISD taking Hall of Honor nominees
One of our programs new to ETBlitz.com is Carthage High School, and Carthage is accepting nominations for its athletics Hall of Honor, right now.
Nominations should be submitted with a photo and a letter that states their credentials for potential induction, any awards they’ve won and citizenship and community involvement, or other information that the person submitting the nomination deems relevant. Nominations are due by Aug. 1, and need to be submitted online here: CHS Athletic Hall of Honor Nomination Form.
GILMER
Meet the Buckeyes August 9
Gilmer High School’s annual Meet the Buckeyes kickoff party is set for Saturday, August 9, a 6 p.m. start at Jeff Traylor Stadium. Come out, meet the 2025 Gilmer High School football team and coaches, have supper and all kinds of treats. Vendors will be on hand and there’s even face-painting, although I would encourage you to maybe not plan to get your face painted on Aug. 9 for the season opener. Maybe get it re-painted before then.
Coach Alan Metzel and the Buckeyes’ first preseason scrimmage is just a few days later, at home on Friday, Aug. 15, against Paris.
LEVERETT’S CHAPEL
Football lift-a-thon Aug. 8
Leverett’s Chapel’s football team will host a lift-a-thon on Friday afternoon, Aug. 8 at 5:30. This is to raise money to help offset the cost of athletic expenses.
Each participant will perform three core lifts: the squat, the bench and the deadlift, and their combined score will be their final weight. Each player needs a minimum of three donors to donate a monetary amount per pound (a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter or more).
The donor can also simply choose a flat donation.
And for example, if a lifter finishes with 750 pounds and a donor had agreed to a nickel per pound, that would be 750 multiplied by 5 cents, or a donation of $37.50.
To help, fill out this form and return it to coach Keith Hughes by next Thursday, July 31. If submitting a check, it should be made payable to Leverett’s Chapel ISD.
For more information, reach out to Hughes at khughes@leverettschapelisd.net.
KILGORE COLLEGE
Softball combine Thursday
Kilgore College softball is hosting a tryout / combine this Thursday.
The tryout is from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Rangers’ home field, The Ballpark at KC Commons, located just off Houston Street in Kilgore, not far from the KC campus.
There is a registration fee of $80 for players that are currently seniors through seventh graders. It’ll be a same-day sign-up.
Athletes should wear clothes suitable for softball play and bring their own tennis shoes, cleats, turf shoes, glove, helmet and bat. Also, bring a water bottle.
For more information, contact KC softball coach Amber Williams at (903) 983-8178, or at awilliams1@kilgore.edu.
Become a KC athletics sponsor
Here’s a great opportunity for your business to be promoted, and support Kilgore College athletics at the same time.
Kilgore College athletics has tiered sponsorship packages for the 2025-26 school year:
- A $1,500 package that includes mentions during broadcasts of KC sports, on either live-streaming or radio; placement of an ad for your business on the team’s schedule posters (football, men’s and women’s basketball teams and softball); a rotating banner ad on the college’s athletic site, kcrangernation.com (click here to be directed: Kilgore College), including your business’s logo and a link to its website; flag sponsorship at the KC Athletics Hall of Fame Golf Tournament in October; ads in the football program throughout the season; and two reserved tickets to all home football and basketball games, as well as passes to all softball games at home.
- A $750 package that includes the rotating banner ad on the KC athletics website; a hole sponsorship sign at the hall of fame golf tourney; and the passes to all KC games.
- A $300 banner ad sponsorship of the KC athletics website, with the business logo and link included.
To become a sponsor, fill out the sponsorship form here (KC Athletics Sponsorship-2025-2026.pdf), and return the form and payment for the package you choose to Kilgore College Athletic Department, c/o Courtney Pruitt, Athletic Director, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, TX 75662. To speak with public information director Chris Craddock about ads and logos, email him at ccraddock@kilgore.edu.