Category: Sports

Local Sports coverage of your Warhorse and Arabians, Colts, Fillys, Lytle Pirates, Lady Pirates, Mustangs and Lady Mustangs

Local Athletes headed to Nike Nationals in New York!

The team includes Twister Kluth (Hondo, sophomore), Rowdy Esparza (Devine, junior), Ryan Weinkam (Devine, senior), and Sebastian Garcia (Lytle, junior). Photo courtesy of JVail Photography..

A talented group of track athletes from Devine, Hondo, and Lytle are preparing to compete on one of the biggest stages in high school track and field the Nike National Track Meet in New York City.
The four athletes have qualified as a 4×400 relay team, an impressive accomplishment that brings together runners from multiple schools and showcases the strength of small-town athletics across the area. The team includes Twister Kluth (Hondo, sophomore), Rowdy Esparza (Devine, junior), Ryan Weinkam (Devine, senior), and Sebastian Garcia (Lytle, junior).
Rowdy and Ryan both run with Devine Speed, and later joined forces with Twister and Sebastian who run with Tri-County Track & Field Club to form the 4×400 relay team, a collaboration that has proven successful at the national-qualifying level.
In addition to qualifying with the relay team, Rowdy has also earned individual qualifications in the triple jump, long jump, and the 400-meter dash, giving him the opportunity to compete in multiple events at the national meet.
As the boys prepare for the trip to New York, they have been overwhelmed by the support from their communities. Local businesses, families, and supporters from Devine, Hondo, and Lytle have stepped up by sponsoring, donating drawing items, purchasing tickets, and helping spread the word to help cover travel expenses.
The team is currently holding a drawing featuring over $2,000 in prizes, and tickets are still available. The athletes will be selling tickets at Market Place in Devine all day on Saturday, March 7th. The drawing will take place on Sunday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m., and winners do not need to be present to win.
As these young athletes get ready to represent their hometowns on a national stage, they do so with pride and with the support of an entire community behind them.

Lytle ISD 2026-2027 School Calendar Now Available

The Lytle ISD 2026-2027 School Calendar is now available, and it features some small adjustments that provide big benefits for students. An additional 15 minutes have been added to the school day allowing for a 175-day student calendar that still meets all required instructional minutes under Texas law. It also includes built-in bad weather days that will help avoid make-up days.
Daily Schedule Adjustments
To gain the extra 15 minutes, the Primary and Elementary school day will end a little later and the Junior High and High School day will start a little earlier.
Primary and Elementary Schedule – 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Junior High and High School Schedule – 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Our transportation area has confirmed that these adjustments can be accommodated within our current bus routes.
Deeper Learning
For our students, this small adjustment allows for deeper learning and more time for acceleration and intervention.
Days Off
The calendar also features two extra days off and a change to the October days off:
Nov. 4 – This day off will allow our entire community to support our band WHEN they return to state competition.
April 23 – As a result of Easter falling in March in 2027, the April 23 day off was added to provide a needed break during the month and happens to align with the Battle of Flowers Parade in San Antonio. This is consistent with our effort to provide at least one day off a month.
Oct. 2 and 5 – This past year, the October break included the Columbus Day holiday. Based on feedback we moved the October break to Oct 2-5 (football bye week) which allows more staff and students to enjoy the break as well.
The 2026-2027 School Calendar can be viewed on the district website at this link https://www.lytleisd.org/page/academic-calendar.

District play on the horizon for Arabians

Varsity Arabian Olivia Taylor swings for the base hit during a recent tournament in Jourdanton. Taylor has been a threat at the plate and in the circle for Devine so far this season. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports Editor
The Arabians have officially wrapped up the tournament season and are set to begin district play Tuesday against Pearsall then host Floresville on Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Devine is currently 10-8-1 after their tournament in Seguin. Head coach Micheal Sotello is confident that these regular season and tournament games have prepared the team for district grind before them.
“The district will continue to be tough and our young ladies will compete for a chance at that district championship,” Sotello said.
Vs Cornerstone Christian 2/24
In a grueling, grind it out game, the Arabians were barely edged out by Cornerstone Christian falling 1-2. Sotello…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Warhorse baseball on 3-game streak; Dilley Tourney on deck

Varsity Warhorse Aiden Martinez slides to second after a single from the previous batter. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine posted a solid 3-1 record in the competitive South Texas Slugfest held last weekend at Warhorse Field. After a tough loss in their opening game on Thursday, the team bounced back impressively with three consecutive victories, including an exciting walk-off win in their final contest.
Game One vs Boerne Geneva
Boerne Geneva handed the Warhorses a 10-1 defeat in the opening round of the tournament. Devine was within striking distance early, trailing just 2-1 after two innings.
However, Geneva broke the game open with four runs in both the third and fifth innings, making a comeback out of reach for Devine.
Game Two vs Antonian Prep
Devine responded with a 7-2 win over Antonian Prep, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first inning and adding four more in the bottom of the fourth to secure the victory. The Warhorses outhit…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Warhorses roll through playoffs ends in Area with 75-74 loss to Manor New Tech

Varsity Warhorse Tanner Davis barrels through the paint for the contested layup during Devine’s Area championship game against New Manor Tech. Davis was the second leading scorer for Devine with 12 points. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
One point short. The 2025-2026 season for the Devine Warhorses ended in dramatic fashion, but not without leaving a mark on the program’s proud history. Devine finished the year with an impressive 25-13 overall record and claimed the District 27-4A crown with a strong 10-3 mark in league play.
From the opening tip in November to the final buzzer in the postseason, the Warhorses proved themselves as one of the most resilient and competitive teams in the entire San Antonio area.
Their playoff run embodied the grit that defined their season. After blasting Navarro 59-24 in the first round of the UIL State playoffs, Devine came within a single point of advancing to the regional semifinals.
One possession…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Four Pirates medal at Powerfest

The Pirate Powerlifting team at their meet in Crystal City! Photo by Melissa Gomez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Four seniors medaled in Crystal City on February 21 as Jaden Araujo, Thomas Rubal, Noah Smoot, and Evan Syma all took some hardware back to Lytle.
Araujo won 1st place in the 123 weight class with a total of 895 pounds.
Rubal took 2nd place in the 165 weight class with a total of 1205 pounds.
Smoot earned 2nd place in the 181 weight class with a total of 1275 pounds.
Syma netted 3rd place in the 114 weight class with a total of 580 pounds.
Head Coach Melissa Gomez was happy with what she got from all of her lifters.
“We took eight lifters…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

14 Arabian lifters qualify for Region, 3 qualify for State

Arabians Emma Kate placed 5th in the 114 lb class, Glorianna Jimenez placed 1st in the 198 lb class and Emma Gonzalez placed second at the regional lift meet in Edinburg. All three will be advancing to state!

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Thirteen of the strongest ladies in Devine qualified for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Region V Championships that were held Tuesday, March 3 inside Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. Results were not available at press time.
Emma Gonalez entered the Class 4A DII South Region bracket as its number one in the 114-pound weight class.
Fellow 114lb participants and teammates Emma Kate Caballero and Emerie Ruiz are also in the hunt for that division’s championship. Caballero was ranked 6th and Ruiz was next in the 7th spot.
Two Arabians…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Arabian track claims Bandera championship

Arabian Calleigh Schneider leaps to the sand during the long jump event at St. Mary’s Hall. Photh by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The Arabian track team won yet another invitational as they took top honors in Bandera on February 26. Devine scored 137 points to top the host Lady Bulldogs who put up 107 points.
Scoring for the Arabians were Kylie Monreal, Rylie Wells, Calleigh Schneider, Caroline Suhr, Margarita Vizcarra, Glorianna Jimenez, Peyton Dixon-Davis, Camila Sierra, Kenzi Schott, Allison Canada, and Ivy Stricker.
Congratulations to all Arabians and coaches on your team championship…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Warhorse track bangs out a championship, two school records in Bandera

Warhorse Rowdy Esparza soars through the sky during a track and field meet at St. Mary’s Hall. Enoch Hall, Esparza, Mikey Rodriguez and Ryan Weinkam broke the school record for fastest 4×100 not once but twice in a span of three weeks! Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Just another meet for the Warhorse track team as they were the top dawgs in Bandera on February 26 giving them yet another championship as they outdid Kerrville Tivy 117-101.
There have definitely been some rather fast foursomes in Devine over the years, but never in the annals of the high school history books has a 4x100m Relay team finished as quickly as Enoch Hall, Rowdy Esparza, Mikey Rodriguez, and Ryan Weinkam did at the Bulldog Invitational.
The foursome banged out a 42.77 to eclipse the “old mark” of 42.99 set just a couple of weeks ago by…the same team!
In a span of three weeks, Hall, Esparza, Rodriguez, and Weinkam have broken the school record twice and with still a month and a half to go in the season, there is a chance that the new record could go down once again…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!