Year in review: Strong May salvages rough start for Yoe athletics

With Cameron’s last sporting event for 2017-2018 ending on Tuesday, I now want to go back and look over all the the sports from this past calendar year.  Collectively, it was a down year for the program, which saw four team sports make the playoffs, but had no squads advance past the first round of the playoffs.  The high note came at the very end of the year with the track, golf and tennis programs sending members to their respective state tournaments.

Fall Sports

Football (4-7/3-3)

Preseason State Ranking: First

District Finish: Fourth

Playoff Finish: Bi-District

Lone Star Cup Points: Two

It was a year where things simply did not pan out as planned, as the Yoemen struggled out of the gate, and simply could never recover with a blowout loss to the Teague Lions in the opening round of the playoffs.  Cameron was the preseason number one team in the state based on tradition and the amount of returning talent, but simply could not progress as you traditionally see Yoe teams do down the stretch of the season. Cameron will have plenty of question marks mixed in with quality, young talent for the 2018 season.  

Volleyball (12-28/3-11)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Tied for sixth

Playoff Finish: None

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

The volleyball program was looking for improvement in their overall play in 2017, and there was progression with one more district win compared to the previous year.  Cameron simply struggled with the big dogs in the district race, dropping five matches in a row without taking a set. The big positives were gained the second half of district with back-to-back wins over Franklin (3-0) and Hearne (3-0), and a tight loss to Lexington (3-2) to end the season.  The good news is that a majority of this team is back, so a push for the playoffs should be expected in 2018.

Cross Country

Girls District Finish: Fourth

Boys District Finish: N/A

Regional Qualifiers: None

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

The numbers in the cross country program are down as the boys were not able to field a team in 2017.  Additionally, for the first time since Dale Keen created and has led the program, no runners were able to qualify for the regional meet.  

Winter Sports

Boys Basketball (19-14/9-5)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Third

Playoff Finish: Bi-District

Lone Star Cup Points: Two

In terms of the big three sports, boys basketball will have to go down as achieving the most success.  The Yoemen fell just one game short of their 20-win mark from 2017, but did improve to third place in the district standings and were the only team sport in the entire program to finish with a winning overall record.  Coach Burns and his players had aspirations of making an extended playoff run, but McGregor had other plans, halting the Yoemen in the opening round. This team was young, so improvements should be on the horizon.

Girls Basketball (15-19/3-11)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Tied for sixth

Playoff Finish: None

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

The Lady Yoe had hopes of making a push for the playoffs this year, but were out of the conversation after the first half of district play.  Unlike some other sports, this team had some reliable seniors that have graduated. This program will also be looking for a new coach as Corey Cunningham is moving on to Bastrop.

Yoe Powerlifting

Powerlifting would have to be considered a success, as two girls and one boy advanced on to the state tournament.  Selene Vargas and Daejanay Bell both competed at the state level for the girls, while DJ Fripp finished in the top 10 for the boys.  

Boys Soccer (5-10-2/2-6)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Fourth

Playoff Finish: Bi-District

Lone Star Cup Points: Two

Moving into a new district with only five teams, the chances of making the playoffs for the first time were high for this team.  The Yoemen did just enough to get in, falling to Liberty Hill (8-0) in the bi-district round.

Girls Soccer (11-13/3-7)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Fourth

Playoff Finish: Bi-District

Lone Star Cup Points: Two

Much like the boys, the girls were placed in a more favorable district for this season, and needed to edge out just two teams to get into the playoffs.  That was accomplished with a fourth place finish, first-ever playoff appearance, and bi-district loss to Liberty Hill (15-0).

Spring Sports

Baseball (10-11-2/5-7)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Fifth

Playoff Finish: None

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

Much like the football team, this team was pegged to win a district championship in 2018, but it was simply not to be.  The Yoemen fell just short of the playoffs, finishing one back of Jarrell for fifth place. The Yoemen are losing quality bats to graduation, but arguably have their two best arms returning.  

Softball (10-15/5-9)

Preseason State Ranking: None

District Finish: Sixth

Playoff Finish: None

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

The Lady Yoe’s top highlight from this past season came in the second half of district, with three wins in a row over Hearne (19-2), Jarrell (3-0) and Franklin (6-5).  However, Cameron could not manage a win over a team in the top four of the district standings and missed out on the playoffs. This team was young, losing just one starter to graduation.  Lady Yoe softball is currently looking for their next head coach.

Yoe Track

Members to State: Five

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

It appears that the Yoe track program could be back on the rise after a strong 2018 campaign.  On the girls’ side, senior Za’Kara Bryson earned points in two events at the state meet. The boys competed in three events, but fell short of their regional times and missed out on recording points.  

Tennis

Members to State: One

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

Cameron’s Houston Harris had been close to getting to state the past two years, and got over the hump in 2018 with a trip to the final eight.  Harris lost to eventual state champion Sara Humpal of Corpus Christi London in the quarterfinals.

Yoe Golf

District Finish: Second (boys and girls)

Regional Finish: Second (girls), Third (boys)

State Finish: 10th (boys), seventh (girls)

Lone Star Cup Points: Zero

The tradition was protected for the golf programs as the girls extended their run to the state tournament to eight straight years, while the boys have advanced for the second straight time.  The boys finished in 10th place while the girls managed seventh.