2025-2026 Sports Schedules
Cross Country - Center (JH), Center (HS), Joaquin, Timpson
Football - Center, Joaquin (V), Joaquin (JH,JV), Shelbyville, Tenaha, Timpson,
Tennis - Center,
Volleyball - Center, Center Christian Academy, Shelbyville (JV,V), Shelbyville (JH), Timpson (HS), Timpson (JH),
Center High School on Friday, August 15, 2025 -
After a brief lightning delay the Center Roughriders held their first scrimmage with Pine Tree High School on Friday. The teams held their first contact practices last week and the Roughriders will have another scrimmage next week at Kilgore Bulldogs Stadium on Thursday, August 21.
Yearly state and district high school varsity football projections are never entirely correct but are a sign that the 2025 school year and football season are within reach as summer break closes near to an end.
The Center Roughriders are picked third in District 8-4A DII with last years state champion Carthage Bulldogs, with a 15-1 win-loss record, returning as the top seed of the conference. Athens is picked second, Bullard fourth, Rusk fifth and Brownsboro is picked as the sixth and final seed. Center will have a new Head Coach Nick Brown at the helm after the departure of Ricky Meeks. The Roughriders went 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference last season. They were bi-district finalist. The Roughriders will have 6 offensive and 6 defensive starters returning.
The Joaquin Rams are projected as the second seed of District 11-2A DI. The Rams went 10-5 overall last season and were state semi-finalist after going 3-2 in district play. Head Coach Jared Jones is in his second year as head coach of the team. They have six returning starters on both offense and defense. The Garrison Bulldogs are the number one seed for District 11. The Shelbyville Dragons are picked as the third seed and they went 10-3 overall in 2024. They are coached by Jarred Wallace. The Dragons were 4-1 in the conference but lost to Joaquin in a Region III title game. The Dragons have 7 returning starters offensively and 10 returning defensive starters.
The Timpson Bears went 5-5 overall last year and they were 3-2 in District 11 action. The Bears are coached by second year Head Coach Patrick Gandy. They return 6 starters on offense and 8 on defense. Rounding out the conference is San Augustine at the fifth seed and Hemphill is the sixth and final seed.
The Tenaha Tigers are seeded as the sixth seed for District 11-2A DII. The Tigers went 2-8 last season and 1-5 in the conference. Head Coach Marlon Birdsong and the team return 5 starting offensive players and 6 starters on defense. Lovelady is projected as the district’s top seed, Grapeland second, Mount Enterprise third, Overton fourth, Alto fifth and Cushing is picked at the final, seventh seed.
Next month will see public schools and their extracurricular activities restart after summer break begins to wind down. UIL Football season will be among the earliest to start as the first day of scheduled conditioning and non-contact drills, will start on August 4th. Voluntary non-mandatory conditioning activities were allowed throughout summer break. August 9th will be the first day that full contact drills will be allowed. Teams first scrimmages will begin on August 14th. And second scrimmages will take place the week of August 21st.
Girl’s volleyball season starts regular season activities around August 1st. Band, cheerleading, twirling and other extracurricular school activities will fire back up as well.
Joaquin Rams Campus Gymnasiums on Monday, July 7, 2025 –
Joaquin Summer Basketball Camp was seen kicking off activities on Monday at three campus gymnasiums. Several dozen youth basketball enthusiast, as well as, about ten instructors including JHS Head Coach Mindy Bragg and coaches Katelyn Martinez Harris and Riley Nelson were giving instruction on drills, fundamentals and teamwork.
On Monday several girl’s and boy’s Dixie Tournaments were still in progress at Center ballparks. Around 85 softball and baseball teams from various divisions are competing in regional playoff elimination games. Teams participating are Joaquin, Center, Shelbyville, Shelby County, EMC, Pineland, Livingston, Paris, Grapeland, Central, Anahuac, Tri-Cities, Cleveland, Huntington, Diboll, Dayton, Corsicana, Huntsville, Bullard, Panola, Splendora, Palestine, Coldspring, Llano, W. Rusk, Rio Vista, Kemp, Troup, Brady, Onalaska, Huffman, Corrigan, Chandler, Burnet, Alto, Liberty, Hemphill, Tarkington, Mason and Rusk.
Center Dixie League Softball and Baseball Parks on Saturday, June 28, 2025 –
(Baseball Photo Album) (Softball Photo Album)
On Saturday several girl’s and boy’s Dixie Tournaments kicked off at Center ballparks. Around 85 softball and baseball team from various divisions are competing in regional playoff elimination games. Teams participating are Joaquin, Center, Shelbyville, Shelby County, EMC, Pineland, Livingston, Paris, Grapeland, Central, Anahuac, Tri-Cities, Cleveland, Huntington, Diboll, Dayton, Corsicana, Huntsville, Bullard, Panola, Splendora, Palestine, Coldspring, Llano, W. Rusk, Rio Vista, Kemp, Troup, Brady, Onalaska, Huffman, Corrigan, Chandler, Burnet, Alto, Liberty, Hemphill, Tarkington, Mason and Rusk.
June 24, 2025 - 5 Star Track Team will be hosting a jump Clinic on Monday, June 30, 2025.
The clinic will be held at Center High School Stadium.
Contact Kevin Smith to reserve your spot/more information (903)424-1636
Vincent Johnson brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. He is currently the jumps coach at University of Nebraska. Johnson has coached several conference champions from Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska.
His current coaching accomplishments for the University of Nebraska are 3 Big Ten Long Jump/Triple Jump Champions, 6 Long Jump/Triple Jump All-Americans, and 13 Nebraska Top 10 Long Jump/High Jump Marks.
Center Lions Softball and Baseball Parks on Saturday, June 21, 2025 –
Around 60 Dixie League softball and baseball teams are in Center this weekend to play regional ball tournaments. Action started as early as 8 a.m. this morning and will be in full swing tomorrow and Monday as well. Teams participating included Center, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Troup, EMC, Palestine, Henderson, Rusk, Arp, Alto, Jacksonville, Chandler, Diboll, Dayton, Liberty, Brady, Tri-Cities, Shelby County, Malakoff, Trinity, Livingston, Burnett, Tarkington, Huffman, Central, Athens, Willis, Hudson, Nacogdoches, Bullard, Huntsville, Coldspring and Central.
June 12, 2025 - The 5 S.T.A.A.R track meet has been rescheduled to June 28 in stead of ths weekend due to the weather.
June 5, 2025 - 5 S.T.A.A.R. Champions Track and Field Invitational on June 14, 2025 at Center High School Roughrider Stadium.
Events: Shot Plus, Discus, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, 3200, 4x1, 800, hurdles, 100, 400,200, 1600, 4x4 and Adult 4x1 Relay
Information: Each athlete registered will be $10 each, ages 6-18. Spectator gate fee will be $10. (Pay at the gate). East Texas area track clubs and unattached athletes welcome. Contact Kevin Smith for information, 903-424-1636.
Schedule: Gate will open at 8am . Field events and 3200 will begin at 9am, Running events will begin at 12 noon.
Champions Order of Events:
8am Gates Open/Warm Ups
8:30am Coaches Meeting
9am Field Events Begin
Discus G18U-B18U, G16U-B16U, G14U-B14U
Shot Put B10U-G10U, B12U-G12U. B14U-G14U, B16U-G16U, B18U-G18U
Long Jump ( 8U-10U on West Pit) ( 12U-18U on the East Pit)
*Triple Jump ( 14U-18U at West Pit)
High Jump ( Start with 8U and roll)
Pole Vault ( 14U and Up ALL)
(Will roll in other divisions as appropriate heights)
3200 M Run ( Will Combine a s appropriate)
10am Hurdles and Young Sprinters
80 M Hurdles ( G12U-B12U, 30 inches)
100 M Hurdles ( G14U, 30 inches; G16U-G18U, 33 inches)
110 Hurdles ( B14U, 36 inches; B16U-B 18U, 39 inches)
50 Dash G6U-B6U, G8U-B8U
100 M Dash G/B10U, G/B 8U, G/B 6U
12 noon Running Events- ***Rolling Schedule***
4 x1 Relay ( Start G8U and roll)
800 M ( Start G8U and roll)
100 M ( Start G12U and roll)
(Will use both sides o f the track as needed)
400 M ( Start G8U and roll)
300 H ( Start G14U/B14U, G16U/G18U; 30 inches)
300 H ( B16U/B18U; 36 inches)
200 M ( Start G8U and roll)
1600 M ( Start G10U and roll; combined a s appropriate)
4 x4 ( Start G10U and roll; combined a s appropriate)
**The dome will be available for WARM UP ONLY! NO TENTS/NO FOOD, WATER ONLY
**Tents will be allowed on the top half of the stands, the east side of the track, and around the gates.
Center Roughriders Basketball Coliseum on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 –
On Wednesday, June 11 Center High School was the site of a 3-day basketball camp for local girls in grades 5th -12 who were interested in improving their skills. Coach Trenia Hoard, from Tyler Junior College, was spotted among others supervising the activities on Wednesday, the final day of the camp. Coach Hoard and the Tyler Junior College Lady Apaches won the NJCAA D1 National Title in 2022 and are looking to do the needed work and recruiting to make next year’s team a very competitive team as well.
