COMMERCE —
Colby Carthel, head coach of the Texas A&M University-Commerce football team, said he lives and breathes recruiting.
Wednesday, Carthel signed 37 players on National Signing Day, all high school recruits, and all from Texas.
“It’s been non-stop, we’ve hit 106 schools in three days,” he said. “These are our foundation.”
When finding the players for his team, Carthel said there were three categories he looks for: athletic ability, good character and high academic scores.
“Those high school coaches know who the best are,” he said.
Carthel said these players, mostly local talent with 64.9 percent being within 150 miles from Commerce, signed with A&M-Commerce because they believe in the program.
“They put a lot of trust in us and believe in us,” he said. “They appreciate what we’re doing here. These are our cornerstone players.”
According to Carthel, a few of the names stood out as great high school players, but added that there are no guarantees when it comes to transitioning to college football.
“They’re all very good high school players,” he said. “But some turn out to be flops while some turn out to be all American.”
Carthel said the two quarterbacks he signed, Draze Lawliss, from Justin, and Luke Walters, hailing from Pleasanton, show promise.
Even though Carthel signed 37 in one day, he said he’s not finished yet.
“We’re going to keep recruiting and try to sign 15 or 20 more,” he said. “We will evaluate what we have here, see what we have this spring and go from there.”
College football is a big leap from high school, and Carthel said he will “trim the fat” when it comes to who he thinks is cut out to play at Memorial Stadium.
Carthel said the city and university were the key selling points in bringing so many players to Commerce.
“We sold them a vision,” he said. “We have a great campus and a great city, this place sells itself.”
Sports
Carthel signs 37 during National Signing Day
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White team outscores Red in Lions' spring game
T.J. Hughes kicked field goals of 37 and 30 yards to give the White team a 20-14 victory over the Red in the Greenville Lions’ spring football game on Thursday night at T.A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium.
Hughes put the White team ahead for good with the 37-yarder with 8:06 remaining and then added the 30-yarder after Jeremy Myers-Wise’s 7-yard touchdown run was called back because of a holding penalty. -
Quarterback battle to highlight Red-White game
Three quarterbacks competing for the starting job will show their skills tonight at the Greenville Lions’ Red-White spring football game.
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Bobby Holley shoots 720 series
Bobby Holley led all league bowlers for the past week at DB's Sports Grill & Bowling in Greenville with a 720 series in the Guys Night Out league. Holley's high game was a 268.
Kerry Sheehan led the women with a 552 series in the Monday Summer Mix.
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A&M-Commerce adds softball to athletic program
Coming soon, Texas A&M University-Commerce will no longer be the only school in the Lone Star Conference to not have a softball program.
A&M-Commerce President Dan Jones made the announcement during a press conference held inside the Alumni Center on Monday.
“I am thrilled about the addition of this program,” he said, mentioning that A&M-Commerce is one of the oldest universities in Texas and the only charter member left of the original LSC. “As long as we’ve been here, we’ve never had a womens softball program.” -
No. 1 Pilot Point stops Commerce
Pilot Point’s Skylar Cagle showed why she’s one of the state’s top pitchers while leading the Lady Bearcats to a sweep over Commerce in a Class 2A regional semifinal softball series on Friday night.
Cagle struck out 22 batters in 14 innings as No. 1 state-ranked Pilot Point won 1-0 and 3-2 to advance to the regional finals. Cagle improved her season record to 23-0 as Pilot Point upped its team mark to 36-2.
Commerce finished the season with a 27-7 record after advancing the farthest in the playoffs in school history.
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Commerce Lady Tigers to face No. 1 ranked team
Tonight the Commerce Lady Tigers will play Pilot Point, the No. 1 ranked softball team in the state.
But to Commerce Jeff Davidson, it’ll be just another game.
“It’s still another game,” he said. “It’s their best against our best.”
The Lady Tigers will face Pilot Point at 6 p.m. in Mount Pleasant at Northeast Texas Community College in the first game of a best-of-three Class 2A regional semifinal playoff series. Game two is set for 8:30 p.m. and if need be, game three is at 10 a.m. on Saturday. -
Northeast Texas Trail ride planned
The organizers of the new Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) have scheduled its inaugural event to introduce the multi-use trail to potential users.
On Saturday at 7 am, teams of cyclists and equestrians will begin separate relays from trailheads in New Boston and Farmersville. The meeting point will be Love Civic Center in Paris (2025 S. Collegiate Dr.). Estimated time of arrival is at 2:30 p.m. Golden spikes will be driven into the ground at various points along the route which was originally a railroad corridor. -
Wilson wins gold, silver at state track meet
Buck Wilson of Commerce won gold and silver medals this weekend at the state meet while Rains pole vaulter Charlotte Brown won over a lot of hearts.
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GHS athletics hands out awards
The Greenville Lions held their Athletic Banquet at the Greenville High School Auditorium Saturday evening.
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Storms test area athletes' patience
Patience was a necessity for local athletes competing on Friday at the University Interscholastic League State Track and Field Championships in Austin.
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