Category: Sports

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

Recounting our blessings

This young lady, Gwyn Mia DeLeon has overcome a lot in her young life, and it is evident that she has touched and will continue to touch many lives along the way with her uplifting attitude, grateful heart, and her touching story. Photo by KK Calame.

By Kayleen Holder
Editor
Look at her go! Everyone smiled as Devine High School Class President Gwyn Mia DeLeon gave her speech at Warhorse Stadium Friday night. Due to time constraints, she wasn’t able to give the full speech she had written, so we are proud to present more of this bright young lady’s thoughts, born from a very grateful heart.
This young lady has overcome so much, and it is evident that she has touched many lives along the way with her story.
DeLeon thanked everyone who “made it possible for us to stand here today in our maroon caps and gowns.” And for Gwyn, these words carry more weight than they might for the average teen. Just a few years ago, as she was beginning her high school career, DeLeon’s family received devastating and completely unexpected news–her kidneys were failing.
At the age of 14, DeLeon, who was a freshman at Devine High School at the time, quickly began dialysis, while her family prayed for a donor.
The bright young woman has always been very active in school and church, and it was not long before the community rallied around her, with more than 100 people stepping forward to register to be tested to be on the living donor list on her behalf. Soon, Gwyn’s biological mother learned she was a match and donated her kidney in a successful transplant in November of 2023.
DeLeon will be attending St Phillips College in San Antonio where she will study radiology. When she was awarded Student of the Month this past November, she stated,” I have always had a passion for the medical field and I plan to live that out helping those in need,” DeLeon said.
In her address, DeLeon thanked everyone from parents and teachers and coaches, to those working behind the scenes such as staff, administrators, school board…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!

DHS well-represented at STCA All Star Game

Devine had an astounding 14 student athletes make the South Texas Coaches Association All-Star game. Devine had multiple representatives across basketball, volleyball and football. The Warhorses who hit the field were Tyler Hinnant, Nate Martinez, Riley Gutierrez, Jackson Hagdorn, Trystan LaFond, Ty Sadler, Jeremy Steinbrunner, Mario Vicente and Derek Taylor. Photo from Devine Athletic booster club.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
For many high school athletes, the final game or meet of their senior season marks the end of a journey years in the making. But for 14 Devine High School seniors, the opportunity to compete one more time became a reality after earning selection to one of the prestigious South Texas Coaches Association All-Star Game in Floresville on May 14.
The honor serves as both a celebration of their accomplishments and recognition from opposing coaches who witnessed firsthand the impact these athletes made throughout their careers.
Selections to an all-star event are never handed out lightly. Coaches across South Texas evaluate athletes not only for statistics and performances, but also for leadership, consistency, sportsmanship, and the ability to compete at a high level against strong competition.
For Devine, having 14 seniors chosen speaks volumes about the caliber of athletes the Warhorses and Arabians placed on the field and court for their final taste of glory during the 2025-26 school year.
The selections also reflect the respect these seniors earned from rival programs throughout the region. Week after week, Devine athletes competed with determination and pride, often elevating the level of play around them.
Whether through clutch performances, relentless effort, or simply being dependable teammates, these seniors left lasting impressions on their own coaches as well who now have the privilege of watching them compete one final time, but this time, as fans…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!

Devine had two Arabian seniors participate in the South Texas Coaches Association All-Star game. Bella Flores and Cami Carroll got to hit the hardwood one final time in Floresville. Photo from Devine Athletic booster club.

COLLEGE SIGNING DAY!!

Arabian Abriella Kayl will be attending Bryant & Stratton College. In her senior season Kayl had 13 plate appearances, nine at bats, one run and one RBI. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Congratulations to all the students furthering their athletic careers!

Warhorse Jackson Hagdorn signed to the United States Coast Guard. Hagdorn earned All-District honors in his last season at Devine. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Warhorse Riley Gutierrez signed to Schreiner University. In his final season in Devine, Gutierrez led his team in total runs at 17 and earned an honorable mention on the All-District team this year. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Warhorse Rudy Castillo signed to Arlington Baptist University. In his senior season, Castillo earned All-District first team honors with a .333 batting average, 13 hits and 27 K’s. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Warhorse Ryan Weinkam will be attending Texas A&M University- San Antonio. Weinkam was a force on the track this season. He and his relay team broke multiple school records and punctuated his senior with a trip to the State track and field meet in Austin. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Warhorse Tanner Davis will be attending Texas A&M- Kingsville. During a meet in Kerrvile this season, Davis won three gold medals and contributed 30 points to Devine’s 73 total. He took first place in High Jump, Pole Vault and the 400m dash. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Warhorse Trystan LaFond will be attending Wayland Baptist University. In his senior season at Devine, LaFond had 124 rushing yards while leading his team in total conversion points. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Warhorse Ty Sadler will be attending Bethel College. In his final season on the diamond, Sadler made the Academic All-District team. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Pirates sets sail forfinal time this season

Lytle Pirate Toby Davila led the team in the following categories in his senior season: Stolen bases (20), runs (58), and triples (6). Photo by Moose Lopez.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports Editor
The Lytle Pirates’ historic season comes to an end in Kenedy after falling to the Orange Grove Bulldogs in two games. Despite the series only lasting two games, the fight and effort put on by both teams is undeniable.
Game one was where all the drama took center stage. Head coach Bryan Bippert said the first game had everything you could ask for as a baseball fan.
“We saw a great pitching performances from both teams, especially Devin Cordova. We turned in two double plays.  Weston Jackson’s catch in centerfield was one of the best catches I have ever seen,” Bippert said. “We had a ton of quality at-bats including clutch hits from Devin and Seth Pierce. Good bunting from both teams. Controversial calls and the crowd jeering.”
The pinnacle of the game came from the clutch three-run homerun from Mason Hill to put the Pirates ahead going into the last inning.
However, the Bulldogs miraculously rallied and scored five runs in the final frame to take the lead and game 8-9.
Bippert lamented the team’s missed opportunity, having been three outs away from a win.
“It makes me sick to my stomach,” Bippert admitted. “It was difficult to deal with…we had won all our previous 18 games.”
Game two was a much more straight forward victory for the Bulldogs. Bippert gave credit to Orange Grove’s pitcher Leelan Rodriguez for his performance, coupled with clutch and timely hitting, Lytle found themselves playing from behind all game. The Pirates would fall 6-1.
This Pirates squad will be forever etched as one of the most successful teams in the program’s history, finishing the season with an overall record of 27-8-1 and undefeated in district play at 10-0. The 27 wins are the most ever in the history of the school since starting the program in 1981. This Pirates squad also set a record for most consecutive wins at 18 in a row.
To be able to execute at high level like this requires not just skill, but consistency, grit and experience. This dugout consisted of seven seniors, five(Devin Cordova, Toby Davila, Damien Barco, Juan Patlan and Travis Norton) of which have been with the program since their freshmen year. Along with juniors Mason Hill and Weston Jackson, who have also been playing since their freshman year, Bippert described this mix of seasoned veterans as a “recipe for success.”
“These guys know each other well.  They know the importance of the little things in this game.  We have leaders by example and we have vocal leaders,” Bippert said. “Both held everyone accountable all season long and helped us to compete at a very high level for a long time.”
Looking ahead, Bippert assured that this 2026 team has raised the bar for all the young players in the program. They have proven what is possible for Lytle and the legacy they leave behind will continue to propel the Pirates’ baseball program for years to come.
The departing seniors consist of Devin Cordova, Toby Davila, Damien Barco, Juan Patlan, Travis Norton, Lee Mills and Chase Guevara. This group earned four District championships, four Bi-District championships and two Area championships throughout their careers.  No other baseball class has accomplished this.
Devin Cordova, Toby Davila, Damien Barco, Juan Patlan and Travis Norton are four-year lettermen that started at their positions for their entire high school careers.
“Thank you to all of our fans for your tremendous support throughout this season,” Bippert said.  “We are extremely proud of our accomplishments. We know that we are not perfect, but we hope that we have represented our school with pride and class.”…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!

Pirates have strong showing at State Track and Field Meet in Austin

Pirates Jewell Hicks (left) and Sebastian Garcia (right) competed at the State Track and Field meet. Hicks took home fourth place in 400m dash with a time of 49.90. Garcia ranked eighth in the 800m run with a time of 1:57.86. Photo by Jewell Hicks Sr.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Lytle Pirate runners Jewell Hicks, Jacob Cantu, and Sebastian Garcia earned the right to compete at the UIL State Track and Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin after their outstanding performances at Regional just a couple of weeks ago. As hundreds of athletes hit the track over the weekend showcasing some of the best athletes in Texas, the Lytle Pirates proved they belonged among the elite.
Competing against the top runners in the state, the Pirates delivered memorable performances and represented their school and community with determination, toughness, and honor on the biggest stage high school track has to offer.
Together, Cantu, Hicks, and Garcia gave Pirate fans plenty to celebrate and added another memorable chapter to Lytle’s proud track and field tradition which has now made numerous State appearances over the last few decades…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!

DHS puts the wraps on’26 at UIL State Track Meet

Warhorses Ryan Weinkam, Mikey Rodriguez, Rowdy Esparza, Zach Guerra and alternate Alex Garcia competed at the State Track and Field meet in Austin. They participated in the 4×400 relay race and came in 9th place with a time of 3:21.71. Photo from Diana Ruiz.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
For a small town, moments like these carry a little extra meaning. On May 14 at the UIL State Track and Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium, Devine was represented proudly as Rowdy Esparza, Karter Brown, Bo Wheeler, Rylie Wells, Zach Guerra, Ryan Weinkam, Mikey Rodriguez, and alternate Alex Garcia-Castillo achieved something many high school athletes only dream about as they competed on the biggest stage Texas high school track and field has to offer.
Earning a trip to Austin is never accidental. It takes months of early mornings or late evenings training on their own, long practices, sore muscles, and unwavering commitment. For these Warhorses and Arabian, the journey reflected not only athletic ability, but also resilience, teamwork, and belief in themselves. From district competition all the way through the regional meet, Devine’s athletes continued to rise to the challenge and proved they belonged among the state’s best as many set school records along the way.
While medals and times are often what people remember most, the experience of reaching the state meet is something far greater. Walking into the atmosphere of the UIL State Championships and competing against elite athletes from across Texas is a memory that will stay with these young student-athletes forever as just earning the right to step onto that track places them in rare company.
The performances in Austin also reflected the strength of an entire community. Behind every athlete stood supportive families, dedicated coaches, teammates, teachers, and fans who helped make the journey possible. Devine has long taken pride in athletes who compete with heart and represent their town the right way, and this group did exactly that throughout the season.
Rowdy, Karter, Bo, Riley, Zach, Ryan, Mikey, and Alex represented Devine with class, determination, and pride and poured their heart and souls into giving Warhorse and Arabian fans a reason to cheer all the way through the final race of 2026…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 Karter Brown participated in the State Track and Field meet last week in Austin. Brown competed in the Shot Put event and placed eighth overall. Photo from Alison Brown.

Arabian Riley Wells participated at the State Track and Field meet in Austin last week. Wells competed in the Triple Jump event where she placed 9th overall. Photo by Pamela Wells.

THANK YOU: What a season for Devine Soccer Club!

Devine SC U12/U13 Fierce Wolves 1st Place Gold Champions. Top row (left to right) Coach Jose Garcia, Alonso Lopez, Nicholas Garcia, Avriana DeLaO, Lennox Weaver, Joshua Gutierrez, Victoria Granados Garcia. Bottom row: Pierce Limon, Darrion Kendrick, Ezra Hernandez, Francisco Limon, Samuel Marquez, Shaun Guardiola, Michael Morales.

From growth and development to medals and trophies, our players showed what hard work, heart, and dedication can accomplish.
6 Teams
5 Medals
2 First Place Trophies
A huge congratulations to our champions:
U12/U13 Fierce Wolves – 1st Place
U8/U9 Timberwolves – 1st Place
And congratulations to the U8/U9 Fighting Wolves for battling hard and earning 3rd Place!
Every team this season represented Devine Soccer Club with pride, passion, and determination. The growth we saw on the field—from teamwork and communication to confidence and effort—was incredible to watch.
To our players: thank you for giving it your all every single game and training session. Your hard work paid off.
To our coaches and volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, and commitment to helping these players grow.
And to our parents and families: THANK YOU for the endless support, trust, sacrifices, and encouragement throughout the season. None of this happens without you.
This club continues to grow because of the commitment, character, confidence, and community that each of you bring to Devine Soccer Club. The future is bright for DSC!
Thank you,
Pablo Carmona 
Devine Soccer Club 
210-885-1451
admin@devinesc.org 

Devine SC U8/U9 Timber Wolves 1st Place Gold Champions. Pictured Top row (left to right): Coach Nathan Jimenez, Gael Santiago Valenzuela, Bryan Camacho Ramos, Noah Flores, Sophia Flores and Coach Enrique Flores. Bottom row: Ella Jimenez, Jaime Beltran, Demi Kendrick.