10 SSHS Strings Students Earn High Marks, 1 Advances To State Solo & Ensemble Competition
Sulphur springs High School Strings students competed in and earned high marks at Solo and Ensemble competition, one ranking high enough to qualify to compete at the state level.
Students entered a room and were judged individually for their performance on a Class 2 performance or Class 1 solo performance. The Class 1 solo is the hardest, requiring students to memorize their music, the Strings students noted.
As if the latter weren’t difficult enough, the students had a last minute change that required on the spot adjustment. Typically, the students spend weeks to months practicing with an accompanist. The SSHS students worked with one in preparation for the contest. However, the accompanist got sick and was unable to attend. So, they had to perform their part to an accompanist they were not familiar with, the Strings students reported.
Eight students earned first division or superior ratings for their performances, the highest a musician can receive.
Senior Natalya Allen earned a first division rating with the Class 1 solo performance of Mozart In G Minor. The violinist had to memorize four pages of music, the first time she played at that level from memory. She said she spent the last 6-8 months getting ready, working on one page of memory work at a time.
Also earning first division ratings at the Solo and Ensemble contest were freshman Juliet Olivo, sophomore Saul Mireles-Yanez, juniors Gavin Patrick and Aaliyah Valles, on violin; senior Ethan Rowell on viola; and junior Abel Chavarria and senior Gisselle Garcia on cello. Many of these students reported they have been working on their music for the biggest part of the year.
Freshmen cellist Ricardo Chavarria and violist Johnathan Gloar received second division or excellent ratings for their performances.
Allen said she didn’t expect to get a first division rating on it, so learning she’d earned top marks was “pretty cool.” She’s very excited to qualify to compete in the state contest in early June.
She said she hopes the successes of this year’s students will motivate others enrolled in the class to continue striving for excellence.
Garcia said she stayed after school working on her Class 1 solo, Elgar Concerto in E Minor. She doesn’t have a private instructor like some students, but was very appreciative to teacher Hannah Kirby who stayed after school to help with solo. The music required a lot of treble clef instead of bass clef, so having Kerby play the music so she could hear how it was supposed to sound was very beneficial. She said she was pretty nervous, especially after the accompanist got sick, but feels overall that all of the SSHS Strings students did well at contest.
Patrick, a sixth year Strings student, practiced his Class 1 piece for at least six months.
Valles performed Dvorak’s Sonatina Movement 1, a Class 2 piece. She worked on it for 6 months. Although she has competed before, she said the contest was different this time for her. She played louder than she usually does. She was fortunate to have a private teacher.
Ricardo Chavarria, whose been in the Strings program since sixth grade, earned a 2 for his cello Class 2 solo. He played Sonata III RV 42, which features a tenor clef in stead of bass cleft, which required some transposing. He practiced for a few weeks prior to the performance.
Rowell performed Concerto in D, a Class 1 piece. He says he’s had a lot of fun in Strings and will miss the experiences he’s been able to share with his fellow students.
Gloar also received a 2 for his viola solo. He said he was nervous entering the contest, his first at this level, but pushed through it and achieved an excellent rating. He hopes to one day have a career using his instrument.
These competitors have been juggling a lot. Some have been preparing for UIL competition, participating in a youth orchestra and gigs associated with their private instruction as well. The students are enjoying the fun of the program, which they say is bigger than they’ve ever seen it, with more younger musicians in the program at the high school level.
Erdmier Headed to Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting State Championship
SSISD Powerlifter Sable Erdmier, who lifts in the 165# class, has qualified to compete in the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting State Championship in Waco, Tx. The State meet will be held at:
EXTRACO EVENTS CENTER
4601 BOSQUE BLVD.
WACO, TEXAS 76710
Weight in’s begin on Thursday night march 19th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
Photo provided by Jessica Erdmier
Sable earned a silver at regionals to solidify her spot.
At Regonals Sable preformed:
- 340# squat
- 135# bench
- 350# dead lift
Construction Of Building At Houston-Rosemont Street Corner In Progress
Framing began Thursday on the new county building being constructed at the corner of Rosemont and Houston Streets. Construction is projected to take 2-3 weeks to complete.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court in the fall of 2019 considered the cost to renovate an old building at the corner of Rosemont and Houston Streets versus the cost to tear it down and put a new building on the site. An examination of the structure showed a large hole in the roof. Rotting oak framing on one side of the building had also fallen onto items stored there. The cost to replace the existing structure with a new building was determined by county officials to be the more financially sound option.
In mid-November, the Commissioners Court accepted Mark Baird’s bid of $73,300 to construct the new building on the pad site of the former structure. The county then had the task of removing everything out of the deteriorating building on the site by Thanksgiving. The building was razed in December, with bundles of salvaged lumber, metal and materials offloaded to be used elsewhere throughout the county.
The initial goal in December was for construction to start in January, or as close to that as possible, but construction for the project was pushed back a few months.
Framing began Thursday and is expected to take 2-3 weeks to complete, which could see it finished by the end of the month, weather permitting, according to Mark Baird.
The building, once completed, will be used primarily by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office by inmates skilled in mechanics or who are interested in learning certain shop skills, for work on county vehicles and equipment. Commissioners will be able to drive or send over county apparatus to be worked on in the facility, officials said when approving the project.
KSST Visits Bowie Primary During Career Day
KSST was invited to participate in Bowie Primary Campus Career Day Friday morning. Eager students listened to how news is distributed throught the radio station, and some wanted to take a turn recording on the microphone.
HCSO Invites Businesses To March 19 Luncheon To Learn About New Reintegration Grant Program
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a luncheon on March 19, from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center “to talk about the new grant program made with the Workforce Solutions to assist with salaries when hiring former inmates.”
“We hope our community businesses will consider this as a new opportunity that will not only benefit them and their company but their new employee and the community,” stated Angela Price, HCSO Administrative Secretary.
The reintegration program at HCSO is designed to offer more tools to better equip individuals to successfully transition from Hopkins County jail into the community. Several programs are offered at the jail for inmates, including the Trustee Work Program and Trustees Farm, GED classes and various ministries.
The reintegration grant program is designed to help individuals transition to the work force after being released from Hopkins County jail.
HCSO staff encourage business representatives who are interested in learning more about the reintegration grant program, how hiring an ex-offenders through Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas could potentially benefit their organization, to attend the noon business luncheon March 19 at the Civic Center.
For additional information, contact HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump at 903-438-4040.
Strong Pitching Continues For Wildcats Baseball Team As They Get Tournament Tie And Win Thursday
The early season success of the Wildcats Baseball Team is being fueled by solid pitching performances. Thursday, March 5, on the first day of the 2020 Raider Classic at Wylie East High School, the Wildcats got a 0-0 tie with Frisco Liberty and, then, edged past Dallas Lake Highlands, 3-2. On Friday, the Wildcats will play North Forney at 12:30 p.m. If the Wildcats win, they will play Frisco Liberty at 5:30 p.m. All games are at Wylie East High School.
In the Wildcats first game Thursday, both pitchers dominated. The Wildcats managed only 3 hits and Liberty had only 2. The Wildcats made the game’s only error. Wildcat Jaxon Chaney, a Ouachita Baptist commit, only required 79 pitches to go 7 innings, allowing 2 hits and no runs, with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Chaney, Will Sims and Kolson Hale all got a hit for the Wildcats. Chaney, Jace Evans and Aidan Walker all drew a walk. Jake Davis was hit by a pitch. After 7 scoreless innings, the game was declared a tie to keep the tournament schedule on time.
In their second game of the day, the Wildcats used one good inning to squeeze by Lake Highlands. Lake Highlands scored first in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats scored 3 runs in the bottom of the third to go up, 3-1. Lake Highlands got a single run in the top of the fifth, but the Wildcats shut them down the rest of the way, for the 3-2 win.
Will Sims only needed 91 pitches to go 7 innings and get the complete game win. Sims allowed only 5 hits an 1 earned run with 2 strikeouts and no walks.
The Wildcats won despite being outhit 5 to 3. In the big Wildcats third inning, Hale had the big hit, a double, that drove home two runs. Davis and Blake Vice also had hits for the Wildcats. Third inning runs were scored by Davis, Matthew Singleton and Brenden Lynn. Lynn also drew a walk. Chaney was hit by a pitch.
The Wildcats season record is now 5-2-1.
North Hopkins Baseball Team Struggles Against S&S Consolidated In Bland Tournament Thursday
Things started out poorly and then got worse for the North Hopkins Panthers in the Bland Tournament against S&S Consolidated Thursday, March 5.
S&S scored two runs in the first, seven more in the second and 5 runs in the third to open up a 14-0 lead after 3 innings. The Panthers got a single run in the top of the fourth but that was all in the 14-1 S&S win. The Rams outhit the Panthers 7 to 3. The Panthers committed 5 costly errors while S&S had 2.
For the Panthers, Jessie Rivera, Brycen Gillespie and Karson Jenkins all had a hit. Rivera scored the run and Gillespie drove him in.
Dakota Smith got the start for North Hopkins and took the loss. Smith went 2 innings, allowing 7 hits but, only 4 earned runs, with 5 strikeouts and a walk. Tate Myers went 1 inning allowing 0 hits and 4 unearned runs with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. Both pitchers hit two batters.
Lady Cats Softball Team Pounds Out 22 Hits And Splits Pair Of Games In Wylie Tourney Thursday
The Lady Cats Softball Team is beginning to feel more comfortable at the plate. Thursday, March 5, on the first day of the three day Wylie Tournament, the Lady Cats Softball Team got 22 hits while splitting a pair of games. The Lady Cats slugged their way past McKinney Boyd, 13-4 and then lost a slug fest to Allen, 10-7.
Against Boyd, the Lady Cats trailed after the first inning, 2-1. The Lady Cats scored 4 runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-3 lead. With 6 runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Cats stretched their lead to 11-4. They added 2 more runs in the fifth to win, 13-4.
The Lady Cats outhit the Lady Broncos, 12-4. Senior Kate Womack led the offensive fireworks with three hits, three runs scored, three RBIs and a triple. Grace Magnuson also had three hits, a run scored and three RBIs with a double. Senior Colbria Harrison had two hits, three runs scored and three RBIs with a triple. Heather Bowen had a hit, a run scored and a walk. Paris Pickett had a hit, a run scored, an RBI and a walk. Nylah Lindley had a hit and 2 RBIs. Sailan Adair had a hit, 2 runs scored, a walk and a double. Aliyah Abron, and Jadyn Harper both scored a run. Braylea Brewer got a walk. Abron, Adair and Harper stole bases.
Addison Caddell got the pitching win working 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs, with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks. The Lady Cats did not make an error.
The win was #300 for veteran softball Coach David Carrillo at Sulphur Springs. Coach Carrillo is in his 14th year here.
Against Allen, the Lady Cats fell behind early and just could not catch up. Allen was up 4-1 after one inning and 9-2 after three innings. After scoring 2 runs in the top of the fifth, the Lady Cats cut the deficit to 9-5. Two more runs in the top of the sixth made the score 10-7, and that’s the way it ended.
The Lady Cats actually outhit Allen, 11-10. Both teams played terrible defense, with the Lady Cats making 6 errors and Allen 5.
Jadyn Harper was 3 for 3 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Heather Bowen was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a double. Addison deSmet was 1 for 1 with an RBI. Paris Pickett was 1 for 2 with a run scored. Grace Magnuson was 1 for 2. Aliyah Abron was 1 for 2 with a run scored. Matti Smith was 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs with a triple and a walk. Nylah Lindley was 1 for 4 with a run scored. Sailan Adair was 1 for 4 with an RBI and a double. Colbria Harrison got an RBI and walked twice. Braylea Brewer scored a run.
Denver Wyatt got the pitching loss, pitching the entire 5 2/3 innings, allowing 10 hits but just 2 earned runs with 3 strikeouts and 6 walks.
Both games were played at Wylie High School. The Lady Cats season record is now 5-7. Friday the Lady Cats play Burleson Centennial at 1 p.m. and Mesquite Horn at 3 p.m. with both games at Field B.
(Photo by Sheri Looney)
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Sulphur Springs ISD Regular Board Of Trustees Meeting To Be Held Friday
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees will meet a few days early this month. SSISD trustees’ regular meeting has been moved from the usual second Monday at 6 p.m. to Friday, March 6, at noon.
Trustees will be asked to approve a letter of engagement for the annual outside audit of district finances and for the Head Start director to apply for continuation and refunding of the Head Start program.
Superintendent Michael Lamb is scheduled to present for discussion and trustees’ consideration a proposed 2020-2021 school calendar.
They also are expected to cancel the May 2 trustees election as incumbents Robert Cody and Robbin Vaughn were the only candidates to file for the two school board seats up for election.
The trustees too will be asked to consider renewing the agreement with Powell, Youngblood & Taylor LLP to to handle annual reporting and maintenance for existing Chapter 313 agreements.
Carmen Hammack and Karen Phillips, curriculum specialists, are slated to present highlights of math and science programs at the meeting, which begin at 12 p.m. March 6, in the board room at SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
Wildcats Jesse Carrillo and George Greenway Qualify For State Powerlifting Meet
Wildcats’ powerlifters Jesse Carrillo and George Greenway qualfied for the State Powerlifting Meet in Abilene on March 28 at the Regional Meet held Wednesday (March 4) in Pine Tree. Carrillo, competing in the 148 pound weight class finished in second place Wednesday. Wildcats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter said Carrillo had personal bests in squat and bench press and had to lift 460 pounds in dead lift to reach the 1200 pound state qualifying total. So Carrillo made the State Meet in two ways, since top two Regional finishers also qualify. Greenway, a senior, lifted in the 198 pound weight class and finished third. However Greenway lifted enough weight, 1535 pounds, to qualify 135 pounds over the state qualifying total of 1400 pounds. Showing the toughness of the region, Greenway finished third in the region but he is also #3 in the state. Coach Jeter said tough regional judges required lifters to get down exceptionally low on squats. Greenway, at previous meets had squatted 700 pounds. Wednesday he got 620 pounds. A 700 pound squat at the regional meet would have tied the state record. Coach Jeter took nine lifters to the Regonal Meet Wednesday. Austin McCain, in the 114 pound weight class, matched his top totals done at other meets. Sophomore Juan Hernandez, in the 148-pound weight class, finished eighth and had personal bests in all three lifts. Freshman Matthew Mitchell, in the 181 pound weight class, finished tenth in the region and had personal bests in all three lifts. Junior Ryan Carrillo, in the 181-pound weight class, finished third. He needed a 520 pound dead lift to achieve the state qualifying total. Coach Jeter said he just missed making the lift. In the 220-pound weight class, sophomore Chad Menard finished eighth in the region.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
