Cove winter sports have busy weekend
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Soccer teams kicked off their 2016 campaigns this weekend to join the wrestling, golf, swimming, bowling and basketball teams who been underway for some time.
The girls’ team also got their season underway with tournament action at the Killeen ISD CenTex Shootout.
The Lady Dawgs suffered a tough loss against Waco 5-1 and then lost Liberty Hill on penalty kicks after taking a 1-1 tie to overtime. Liberty Hill outscored the Lady Dawgs 3-1 on penalty kicks to secure the win.
The Lady Dawgs out-shot their opponents in both games but were unable to get the ball in the net enough times. They out-shot Waco 18-8 and Liberty Hill 14-8.
“In both games we dominated possession and out shot our opponent,” said Cove head coach Pat Rox. “We’ve got to learn to finish.”
The girls return to action in the San Marcos Rattler Roundup beginning Thursday.
Cove boys open season at Temple Tourney
The Cove boys’ soccer team began their season at the Temple tournament under first-year head coach Mitch Flores.
The team opened the tournament with a pair of close losses to Temple (2-0) and Bryan (1-0) before suffering a lopsided 5-1 loss to Corsicana to close out Friday’s action.
The boys return to the pitch with a home match against Liberty Hill at 5 p.m. for the JV and 7:30 for the varsity.
Cove girls’ basketball falls 41-36 to Heights
The Lady Dawgs basketball team also suffered a letdown. After downing the state-ranked Midway Pantherettes, they dropped their district contest at Harker Hights on Friday to fall back below .500 on the district slate at 2-3.
Senior Daisha Hunter led Cove’s effort with 11 points and 12 rebounds followed by junior Chyanne Chapman’s seven points and 10 boards and Keturah Taylor’s nine points.
The Lady Dawgs host Shoemaker tonight with the freshmen and JV tipping of at 5:30 p.m. and varsity to follow.
Cove wrestlers compete in Craig T. Grace Centex Tournament
Senior Lane Teeter suffered a 7-2 decision loss to Cibolo Steele’s Alex Saylor in the championship round of the 113-pound weight division. After receiving a bye in round one of the consolation, he defeated Maqueo Johnson of Pflugerville Connally by fall (1:31) and forfeited round three. Teeter earned six points for the team.
Tyler Teeter lost to Rudy DeAnda in a fall (2:56) in the championship round of the 120 division and fell to CJ Hernandez of Round Rock McNeil in the consolation round.
Damion Harmon was the high-point getter for Cove he earned seven points for the team in the 126 division. After receiving a bye in the championship first round, he lost by a 5-0 decision to Coppell’s Joseph Manotealagre. Harmon received a bye to start consolation before winning in sudden victory over Vandegrift’s Connor Logeman and winning by fall (:29) over Leander’s Colin Siegler. Harmon lost in the fifth round in an 8-4 decision to Austin Akins Fransisco Tejero.
Christian Schaefer also earned six points for the Dawgs in the 132 division. He earned a fall (2:45) over Georgetown East’s Landon Navarro. And won in sudden victory over Vandegrift’s Michael Ford. Schaefer’s run ended in a fall (1:14) to Converse Wagner’s Alexis Daniel Arau in the quarterfinals. He lost to Coppell’s Kyle Cloutier by fall (3:40) in the consolation round of four.
Johnathan Grabowskis received a bye in the first 145-pound championship round before falling (2:00) to Pete Perez of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln in the second round. He also lost by fall (:12) to Georgetown’s Michael McDonald.
Michael Vernardos lost in the 152-pound championship round two to Elec Hill of Austin McCallum in a 6-0 decision. He responded with a 7-5 decision over Dacrorion Turner of Killeen in the consolation round.
Closing out the boys results was Dalton Penick. He suffered a fall (2:56) in the 220 championship round. He responded with a 9-4 decision over Cesar Cedilo of Austin McCallum in his first consolation bout and suffered a fall (1:50) to Tony Sandler to end competition.
Kaylan Sullivan was the top point earned for the Cove girls in the 119 division. After losing in a decision to Steele’s Madison Angelito in the championship round opener, Sullivan earned three-straight wins by fall over Melanie Garcia Luna of Converse Wagner (1:32) Hailey DeLeon of San Antonio Madison ((3:43) and Regina Reina of San Antonio Highlands (4:37). Her run ended in a fall (3:44) to Converse Judson’s Valerie Pons.
Haley Petet added three points in the 215 division. She lost in a fall (:30 to Jesenia Gayten of La Joya-Juarez-Lincoln in the champion quarterfinals before defeating Julia Buchanan of Austin Anderson by fall (:53). She ended her run with a fall (:56) to Selena Cordell of Austin Lanier.
Also competing for Cove was Jordan Welsh in the 102 division. She lost in a fall (1:24) Against Austin Johnson’s Elixis Kalar in the championship round and lost by forfeit to McCallum’s Adrian Boortz.
Knights bowlers rally to edge Cove 9-8
The Harker Heights Knights spotted the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs a 6-1 lead after match play, then roared back during the team games, taking 3 of 4 and winning total by a scant 16 pins, to edge the Bulldawgs 9-8 last Tuesday.
Mark Styles and Micheal Williams averaged 232 and 218 respectively to lead the Knights while Dakota Stutz averaged a game high 247 to lead Cove. With the win, Harker Heights took undisputed first place in the district standings at 4-0 while Cove fell into a tie with Ellison at 3-1.
Cove was back in action last night against Ellison at Hallmark Lanes and will play against the bye next Monday.
AquaDawgs compete in Temple Wildcats Winter Classic
The Copperas Cove AquaDawgs competed in the Temple Wildcats Winter Classic in preparation for the District meet to be held Friday and Saturday, January 22-23 at Belton High School.
Results from the Winter Classic were unavailable as of press time. Look for more on the AquaDawgs to come in the Copperas Cove Leader-Press.