As the dust settles on the Gobblers district season, the basketball team has finished in second place within the district and are gearing up as the top seed in the small school division to begin their playoff run.
The Gobblers faced to district opponents, San Antonio Memorial and LaVernia to finish out their regular season. Against Memorial, Cuero dominated right out of the gate, ending the first quarter with an impressive 18-3 lead. The Gobblers maintained momentum with a score of 37-13 by halftime. The Gobbler defense was working, holding Memorial to only 31 points for the entire game. On the offensive side the Gobblers were able to capitalize with a final score of Cuero 77, Memorial 31.
Leading the way for the Gobblers was Junior David Leinen, who made his presence known with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Chris Mathis also made a significant impact, ending the night with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, along with key defensive plays that included 3 steals. Contributing to the win were Connor Malina and Tony Perez, adding 13 and 9 points respectively, alongside their great defensive efforts.
The Gobblers, however, encountered a tougher challenge in their matchup against La Vernia. The game started evenly with both teams tied at 14 in the first quarter. Once the Bears got into their groove, they began to pull away in the second quarter, outscoring Cuero 21-7 to take the halftime score to 35-21. While Cuero fought to close the gap in the second half, they eventually fell, ending the game at Cuero 60, La Vernia 71. Leinen once again lead the offense with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Junior Walker Dietze had 9 points, 3 rebounds, and Mathis finished the night with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
With district play now completed, the focus turns toward the playoffs, where the Gobblers will face Carrizo Springs, on Tuesday, February 18, in Floresville. Game time is 6:30pm.
Cobra Invitational: Lady Gobblers Compete in Challenging Conditions
On February 12, the Riverside Golf Course in Victoria, became a battleground for the Lady Gobbler golfers during the Industrial Cobra Invitational. Despite the miserable weather characterized by persistent rain, chilly temperatures, and a muddy course, the Lady Gobblers held their own and competed.
The tournament had some tough competition including teams from Victoria East and West, Yoakum, Goliad, Shiner, Edna, Palacios, Rice Consolidated, Tidehaven, Hallettsville and Industrial. Catherine Chilek was the standout golfer for the Varsity Lady Gobblers, finishing with a score of 94, to guarantee a 3rd place medal. “My goal that tournament was to shoot for under 100, even though the weather was a challenge, I still pushed through and achieved my goal. I appreciate my coaches and how they were able to keep me focused and positive the whole tournament,” Chilek stated. Lady Gobbler JV standout was Julia Aleman for earning a 1st place medal in the Junior Varsity Division.
As for the team rankings, the Lady Gobblers secured an impressive fourth place overall, finishing with a team total of 440. Their score, while just shy of the winning team Victoria East's 405, demonstrated the collective effort and skill of their golfers—Lennie Demarce, Mackenzi Moncrief, Lilah Hardy, and Sarah Rodriguez. Each of these players contributed signifi cantly to the team's total. Chilek noted “I’m proud of my teammates and being able to push through this nasty weather. We weren’t sure if we were going to play, but we ended up doing our best.”
Next up for the Lady Gobblers is the Yoakum Tournament on February 26. Note: The Gobbler Golf team played a practice round last week in preparation for the boys Industrial Cobra Invitation on February 19.
JV Tennis Tournament Wrap-Up: Battling Conditions and Solid Performances On February 13, the Goliad JV Tennis Tournament served as an exciting yet challenging arena for the Cuero Gobbler and Lady Gobbler JV Tennis Teams, as they battled not only their opponents but also the elements. As temperatures hovered in the mid-40s and winds exceeded 20 mph at times, the Cuero athletes managed to pull out victories.
Freshman standout Lauren Leslie-Mees emerged from the tournament with an impressive record of 3-1, clinching 3rd place. Leslie-Mees continues to show her potential as a future leader on the tennis forefront. Alongside her, fellow teammates SK Root and Logan Garcia helping with the team total— both finishing in 4th place with records of 2-2. This marks the second consecutive tournament where both have shown strong performances, finishing in 4th.
Preston Savoie, William Wiesmiller, and Jason Wolter also participated, each carrying a tournament record of 1-1. Collectively, these results point to a team that, while still developing, is building a strong foundation for years to come. Overall, the team concluded the tournament with a solid record of 9-7, contributing to their season record of 23-15.
The tennis team faced other challenges besides opponents during the Goliad Tournament. “The weather was the big winner this week,” Coach Edgar Vander Stucken remarked, indicating that the team’s mindset shifted from just playing the game to strategizing under less than ideal circumstances. He emphasized the importance of adjusting to the weather conditions. “Our players, while enduring difficult playing conditions, learned a lot about the game and themselves.” This experience was particularly vital for the freshmen and sophomores, as Vander Stucken pointed out, stating, “We’re establishing some solid expectations to reach by these young players. Our freshmen and sophomores are stepping up each tournament.”
Looking ahead, the Varsity Gobblers and Lady Gobblers are set to take the court next week at the Goliad Tournament on February 18 and 19th. Fans can look forward to seeing how these athletes will apply their experiences in the next tournament, especially those learned in challenging conditions.
Lady Gobblers Dominate 13-2 Over Rice Consolidated, Going 4-1-1 at Tourney
In a thrilling matchup on Saturday, February 15, the Lady Gobblers extended their winning streak to 4 games, securing a decisive 13-2 win against the Rice Consolidated Raiders.
Freshman Natalie Taylor was aggressive on both the mound and at the plate. Taylor pitched 3 innings, allowing only 1 earned run, alongside an unearned run, and giving up four hits. Her pitching was complimented by her trips to the plate, where she scored 2 runs and got on base each time she stepped up to bat.
However, it was Junior Catcher Julianna Cox who stole the Lady Gobbler spotlight with a phenomenal performance at the plate, going a perfect 3-3 with a home run, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI’s. Alongside her was Junior Caroline Kubesch, who contributed to the Lady Gobblers offense by going 2-3 that included 4 RBI’s and a triple. Cox and Kubesch played a pivotal role in securing Cuero’s victory.
With a tournament record of 4-1-1, Cuero is not just looking good on the scoreboard. The Lady Gobblers have also established themselves as an opponent to keep an eye on. Other results from the tournament include wins over Shiner (7-6), Boling (15-5,) Brazos (14-5), a tie with Palacios (6-6) and a loss to Sealy JV (1-7.)
Looking ahead, the Lady Gobblers will face yet another challenge as they hit the road to take on St. Joseph, Tuesday at 7 in Victoria.
Tournament Highlights: Sr. Audrey Kremling went .846 for the weekend including 3 doubles and 7 RBIs Jr. Julianna Cox went .588 for the weekend including 2 home runs,3 doubles and 7 RBIs Fr. Natalie Taylor in her Varsity Softball debut pitched every game
Powerlifting Community Cheers on CHS at Clash of the Titans Meet CHS Athletes competed at the Clash of the Titans Powerlifting Meet held at Victoria East High School on February 15. Lifters from various divisions showcased their strength and determination. The event not only served as a platform for competitors to test their limits but also highlighted the talent of the Gobblers and Lady Gobblers.
In the boys division, the 165 category saw some impressive performances. Connor Serece placed 5th with a total lift of 1030 pounds, followed closely by Tucker Schley in 6th with 1015 pounds. Jace Patek and Hudson Zengerle also made their presence felt, finishing 8th and 9th respectively, totaling 840 and 810 pounds. The 132-class showcased Stran Gaitan, who secured 3rd place with a commendable 880 total. Zachary Maldonado earned 5th place in the 148-class, lifting 950 pounds, while Mayson Ybarra hit a respectable 1,005 pounds in the 181 division, finishing 7th. Korbin Flessner also made his mark with a total of 905 pounds in the 198 division.
The 220 class was packed with talent, with Jesus Flores taking 7th with a total of 1,150 pounds. His teammates Noah Weghorst and Hayden Leist also put up valiant efforts, finishing 10th with 1005 pounds and 11th with 860 pounds, respectively.
On the girls’ side, the Lady Gobblers shone brightly. Sarah Pedraza and Larenn Elizalde earned commendable medals at the Clash of the Titans meet, proving their hard work and dedication. Grace Becker and Aaliyah Farris contributed to the team’s success, finishing with totals of 590 and 620 pounds respectively while Faith Fric ended her day with a total of 455 pounds. Larenn Elizalde emerged 5th with an impressive 610 pounds, in addition to Avalynn Rodriguez and Kirra Rushing finishing 6th and 7th places with totals of 710 and 630 pounds. Sarah Pedraza capped the day with a strong performance, earning 4th place with 695 pounds.
Looking ahead, the Gobblers are gearing up for another tough competition. The team will return to Victoria East on February 22 for the final meet of the season before heading to regionals. The Lady Gobblers next meet will be Regionals in Edinburgh on February 25.
Fan opportunities this week:
2/17 Dickie Goebel Night, CHS Baseball 4:30,7:00 2/18 Gobbler Basketball Playoff @ Floresville, 6:30 2/18 Lady Gobbler Softball @ St.Joe 2/18-19 CHS Tennis @ Goliad 2/19 CHS Golf @ Riverside Golf Course Victoria 2/20 CHS Track @ Cowboy Relays in Edna 2/20-22 Lady Gobbler Softball@ Sweeny Tournament Gobbler Classic Baseball Tournament 2/22 CHS Gobbler Powerlifting @ Victoria East
