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Aaron Padilla, senior, speaks with the coaches in the press box during Friday’s game against the Kermit Yellowjackets.

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Photo by Brad Pettit

Story by Gary Ray Gutierrez

El Ave News Staff

The Crane Golden Cranes put on a dominant performance Friday night, rolling past the Kermit Yellowjackets in a 42-6 victory. Both sides of the ball delivered as Crane’s defense forced turnovers and the offense piled up points behind a powerful ground game.

The Golden Crane defense set the tone early, limiting Kermit to just six points the entire night. Izayah Saucedo came up big with two interceptions to stall the Yellowjacket offense. Markis Campos executed his plays precisely and successfully, while Aaron Padilla and Guillermo Partida delivered key tackles to keep Kermit’s attack in check.

On offense, it was the Gracin Huertas show. The standout rusher exploded for close to 300 yards on the ground and in the air, finding the end zone three times. Sammy Sanchez chipped in with a 2-yard touchdown run, Hudson Willis broke free for a 17-yard score, and Kobe Walker electrified the crowd with a 65-yard punt return touchdown.

When Huertas was asked how he felt about his game performance, he turned the topic of conversation back towards the team.

“I feel good about our team,” he said. “I think we are going to be a tough team to go against.”

When the line of questioning was turned back to his game performance, Huertas finally relented and talked about his key role in the win. However, he was quick to give credit to his teammates for their awesome job.

“I did my best at running the ball thanks to our amazing offensive line and my wide receivers who blocked really well,” Huertas said. “They did their job so I could do mine, and I'm really thankful for them. They deserve the spotlight, and I'm ready to continue this season and see what we can do.”

Head Coach Robert Ontiveroz echoed these sentiments, praising the play on both sides of the ball.

“I felt really good about our offense because I knew that not everything was riding on them,” he said. “Our defense was playing so well that it took some of the pressure off of the offense. If we can keep that up, we will be a tough team to meet out there on the field.”

With the win, the Golden Cranes improved their record to 2-0 and will now turn their focus to next Friday, when they travel to Iraan to face the Braves in what promises to be another tough match-up.

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Mariana Garza and Rianne Tagum, sophomores, listen while their fellow peers rehearse for the Theater play "Wild Strawberries" Tuesday afternoon in the CHS Auditorium.

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Dayanna Velasco, junior, participates in a cooking competition in culinary class Wednesday afternoon.

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Tegan Rodriguez, senior, helps carry a fellow band member's instrument during Friday's football game.

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Paola Partida, freshman, takes a break to be silly at Friday night's game against the Yellowjackets.

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The Crane varsity boys huddle up during halftime while they play against Kermit at El Ave Stadium Friday night.

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Jasmine Munoz, sophomore, helps out on Tuesday to straighten up the auditorium’s prop room and was later found donning a banana suit.

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Coach Priscilla Serrano calls a timeout during the third set of the varsity volleyball game against the Sonora Broncos Tuesday in the Tommy C. Jones Jr. Memorial Gymnasium.

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Putting her school spirit on full display, Dianna Velasco, junior, helps deck out a tree for CHS's spirit week.

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In celebration of the end of the week, both Patty Rizo and Laura Rizo, Spanish teachers, are having a blast as they dance along to the rhythm of popular Mexican music Thursday in rooms 207 and 208.

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Ivan Moreno, senior, gets ready to make a play against the Kermit Yellowjackets at El Ave Stadium.

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Jordyn Orozco, senior, makes football cut-outs Wednesday for the senior boys to staple on the board during the office aid period.

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Emily Carrasco, senior, makes crepes during the crepe lab Wednesday afternoon for culinary at Bethune.

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Ladybirds Top Marfa in Four Sets

Photos and story by Lexi Dominguez

El Ave News staff writer

The Crane Ladybirds earned a hard-fought win on Saturday, defeating the Marfa Lady Shorthorns 3–1 in front of a home crowd. The victory improved Crane’s record to 9–7 on the season.

Crane jumped out strong, taking the opening set 25–21 before edging Marfa again in the second, 25–22. The Lady Shorthorns rallied in the third, capitalizing on Crane’s errors to force a 25–22 decision. But the Ladybirds regrouped and closed the match with a decisive 25–16 fourth-set win.

Senior hitter Ivory Velasco powered the offense with 12 kills, while Ava Navarette added 8 and Charlee Lee chipped in 7. Freshman Lexi Rodriguez was nearly unstoppable, connecting on 4 kills in just 5 swings for an .800 hitting percentage. Setter Maddie Abalos turned in a strong all-around effort, dishing out 29 assists and delivering 5 service aces.

Defensively, libero Alondra Moreno anchored the back row with 22 digs. Velasco and Lee also shined on defense, tallying 17 and 15 digs, respectively. Crane’s net play proved timely as well, with Rodriguez and Brinlee Hill contributing key blocks.

The Ladybirds overcame a difficult third set, where they hit -.216, by stepping up their serving game and finishing with 13 aces on the night. Their balance and resilience proved the difference down the stretch.

Head Coach Priscilla Serrano previously coached in Marfa, and the experience was unique for her.

"Today was special- stepping onto the court against my previous school reminded me of where I started," she said. "But the true highlight was watching the Ladybirds rise to the occasion with confidence, determination and coming out on top. I am so proud of the growth this team has achieved together and excited to see the end result."

Assistant coach Lauren Rubio echoed these sentiments.

"I am so proud of the Ladybirds volleyball teams on their victories against Marfa," she said. "The girls were really in sync this past weekend. Now we need the support and energy from the fans to lead us into district. The Lady Birds feed off that support and we want Crane to get just as excited as we are."

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Dwight Bowman, culinary teacher, dices some fresh strawberries for the crepe lab Wednesday afternoon at the Bethune Building for culinary class.

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Noah Garcia, senior, disassembles his instrument and places the pieces in his case after morning band practice.

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Student council holds a meeting after school Wednesday to plan an unforgettable prom, voting for the prom court, and other future student activities. Don't miss out on being a part of the fun!

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The varsity Crane football team, cheerleaders, coaches, and trainers enjoy the game Friday night at El Ave Stadium.

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Hudson Willis, sophmore, and a couple of friends watch the 8th grade football team Thursday night at El Ave Stadium.

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The JV Gold volleyball team huddles up before playing against Sonora.

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Elena Payan, freshman, and Briza Barrera, sophomore, get ready for the volleyball game against the Sonora Broncos Tuesday night in the CHS gym.

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During her free period Wednesday, junior Melenie Villasana turned a handful of sticky notes into a heartfelt tribute to the graduating class of 2026–2027 with 6–7 referenced messages.

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The Ladybird varsity team huddles up before the game Tuesday against the Sonora Broncos in Crane.

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Ivory Velasco, senior, and Maddie Abalos, junior, prepare for the next point against the Sonora Broncos Tuesday in Crane.

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Steven Lozano, junior, supports his friends after finishing his race at the Crane Invitational XC meet.

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Tristan Cavazos, junior, finishes his cutout for his floral design class this past week at Crane High School.

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Alondra Moreno, freshman, and Ivory Velasco, senior, show what it means to work together at the varsity volleyball game Tuesday in the Crane High School gym.

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Alondra Moreno, sophomore, gets ready during the varsity volleyball game Tuesday night against the Sonora Broncos.

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Miguel Lozano, eighth grader, is ready for his first game against Monahans Thursday at El Ave Stadium.

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Steven Lozano, junior on the varsity cross country team, gets ready to run his race Saturday morning at Port Aransas.

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Jeremiah Clark-Martinez delivers a gift to Brad Pettit Tuesday morning at CHS after noticing his door represents the Air Force where Mr. Pettit served for four years.

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JJ Rodriguez, senior, works at the concession stand during the volleyball game at CHS Tuesday afternoon.

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Aaron Padilla, senior, thinks about the upcoming game against the Kermit Yellowjackets while showing school pride at the pep rally.

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A "blood moon" is the informal name for a total lunar eclipse. This occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that completely covers the Moon. This Sunday, the blood moon could be seen very clearly.

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Lexi Rodriguez, junior, comes out strong with an amazing jump serve at the varsity volleyball game against the Marfa Lady Shorthorns Saturday in the Crane High School gym.

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Coach Jesse Rizo points to his bell ringer on Monday afternoon, wishing that he had better handwriting so that his students can read the notes he puts on the board.

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The Color Guard dresses to impress for the beach-themed pep rally at the CHS gym Thursday.

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Syanna Lopez, senior, hypes up the crowd during the pep rally in the CHS gym Thursday.

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Recognized for their outstanding performance, the week's top players flashed victorious smiles as they posed for a picture in the CHS gym.

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The cross country boys get ready to show their school spirit at Thurday's pep rally in the CHS gym.

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Jordyn Orozco, senior, performs at the pep rally Thursday in the Crane High School gym.

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Samantha Lomeli, sophomore, stands at the ready during Thursday's pep rally in the CHS gym.

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Taysia Ford, senior, cheers during the pep rally Thursday in the Crane High School gym.

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Steven Lozano and Juan de Leon, juniors, raise the U.S. Flag for the National Anthem during Friday's game.

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Hudson Willis, sophomore, takes the snap Friday at El Ave Stadium during the game against the Kermit Yellowjackets.

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Mariana Garza, freshman, performs for the CHS band during the halftime performance Friday night at El Ave Stadium.

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Crane Elementary School students show their school spirit during the pep rally in the CHS gym Thursday.

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Andree Velez, freshman, cheers at the pep rally Thursday in the CHS gym.

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Paola Partida, freshman, gets ready for the halftime show at Friday's varsity football game against the Kermit Yellowjackets at El Ave Stadium.

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Fraiser Julian, senior, performs with the band during halftime at El Ave Stadium Friday night.

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The Crane Golden Cranes varsity football team meets up in the center of the field for the coin toss Friday at El Ave Stadium.

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Ava Navarette, sophomore, jump serves over the net during the Marfa Shorthorns game Saturday morning in Crane.

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Charlee Lee, freshman, is ready for anything that might come her way at the varsity volleyball game against the Marfa Lady Shorthorns Saturday in the Crane High School gym.

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The Crane High School cheerleaders form a pyramid Friday night at El Ave Stadium.

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The varsity Ladybirds cheer on their teammates during the volleyball game against the Marfa Lady Shorthorns at the Crane High school gym Saturday.

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Maddie Abalos, junior, jump serves with power during the varsity volleyball game against the Marfa Lady Shorthorns Saturday night in the Crane High School gym.

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Ava Navarrete, sophomore, stares down the Marfa Lady Shorthorns Saturday in Crane.

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Elisa Murguia, sophomore, performs during halftime Friday against the Kermit Yellowjackets at El Ave Stadium.

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Jacob Bejarano and Baldemar Aguirre, both seniors, walk through the energy filled high school gym during Thursday's pep rally.

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Camila Velasco, freshman, performs during the marching show Friday night at El Ave Stadium.

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Henry Anderson, CHS coach, fires off the shot starting the first race at the Crane Invitational XC meet.

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Denise Martinez, freshman, tootsie rolls into action Friday night at El Ave Stadium during the halftime show.

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Lexi Rodriguez, junior on the varsity volleyball team, jump serves against the Marfa Lady Shorthorns Saturday in the Crane High School gym.

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Evoleth Iniguez-Reyes, sophomore, performs this year's marching show during Friday night's halftime at El Ave Stadium.

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Joaquin Leyva, senior, performs the halftime show during Friday night´s game at El Ave Stadium.

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Alina Santos, sophomore, pops her baton off her knee while performing the marching show Friday night.

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Steven Lozano, junior, shares a special moment with his mom after racing at the Crane Invitational XC meet.

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The Crane High School band was in rare form during Friday's home game against the Kermit Yellowjackets.

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Maddie Abalos, junior, serves and starts a rally Saturday against the Marfa Lady Shorthorns in the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gym.

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Crane Hosts XC Invitational with 25 Teams, 700 Runners

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Crane Hosts XC Invitational with 25 Teams, 700 Runners

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By Brad Pettit

El Ave News editor

The Crane Golden Cranes hosted the annual Crane XC Invitational this week at the Crane Golf Course, welcoming approximately 25 teams and more than 700 runners for a day of competition and celebration.

Coach Machele Pahl expressed her gratitude for the turnout and community support.

“We had a great turnout thanks to all teams and vendors that came, as well as an afternoon of celebrating our XC Seniors,” Pahl said. “We are very thankful for the hard work of many people who volunteered their time to make this a successful event.”

Varsity Boys – 2nd Place, Division I

The Golden Cranes varsity boys earned runner-up honors with strong individual finishes.

5th – Steven Lozano

9th – Josh Morales

18th – Ivan Martinez

28th – Luciano Alvarez

41st – Sebastian Rizo

44th – Phailon Flores

48th – Damian Gallegos

52nd – Zayden Garza

54th – Esteban Morales

69th – Michael Esparza

Varsity Girls – 3rd Place, Division I 5K

The varsity girls also shined with a top-three team finish.

5th – Aubrey Torres

6th – Shae Coates

17th – Adriana Bonachea

21st – Vida Flores

25th – Berkeley McNeese

26th – Kenya Valles

27th – Robyn Vega

JV Boys – 5th Place, Division II

12th – Jahyr Gonzales

14th – Jiovani Murguia

25th – Gael Lupercio

32nd – Noah Garcia

36th – Luis Valles

37th – Keyan Williams

39th – Daylen Hightower

40th – Elijah Hargrove

49th – Luiz Rodriguez

50th – Valentin Velasco

51st – Alejandro Martin

52nd – Jacob Esquivel

JV Girls – Division II

51st – Alondra Parades

67th – Amanda Gutierrez

70th – Amber Mendoza

71st – Arianna Iniguez

79th – Marlene Rodriguez

89th – Briza Hernandez

Middle School Boys

19th – Miguel Lozano

25th – Stetson Vargas

30th – Adrian Reynoso

32nd – Juaquin Perez

55th – Gabriel Solis

60th – David Padilla

61st – Kevin Rizo

65th – Adrian Hernandez

74th – Adrian Reynoso

91st – Kevin Garcia

93rd – Antonio Rizo

95th – Bernardo Aparcio

Middle School Girls

18th – Analise Garza

37th – Scarlett Fuentes

44th – Alessandra Perez

49th – Tenley McNeese

57th – Kaila Salazar

58th – Kassidy Hargrove

71st – Galleria Chavez

78th – Baylee Pahl

81st – Alenae Mendoza

85th – Wendy Mendoza

87th – Edyn Vega

94th – D’Layni Hernandez

108th – Gema Tapia

Additional runners who participated but whose bibs did not scan included Yaritza Alvarez, Landri Aguilar, Alexandria Hernandez, and Savannah Rizo.

The invitational not only showcased Crane’s competitive spirit but also honored the dedication of its athletes, families, and volunteers who make cross country a highlight of the fall sports season.

Pahl, who helped build the program into what it is today, is please with the success of the program.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way it’s gone,” she said. “The program has grown so much over the years, and I’d love to see it continue to grow even more in the years to come.”

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Tyson Brents and Brayson Newberry, seniors, share a moment during last week’s Stanton game.

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Cash Pettit, CMS 8th grader, prepares to go into the game Thursday at El Ave Stadium.

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Sammy Sanchez, CMS 8th grade quarterback, takes one to the house during Thursday’s game at El Ave Stadium in Crane. The boys won 24-20.

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The varsity volleyball team celebrates following a win in four sets over the Marfa Lady Shorthorns Saturday in Crane.

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Stephanie Santos, sophomore, does an amazing job during the halftime show at Friday’s varsity football game against the Kermit Yellowjackets.

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Angel Barroso, senior, makes a great tackle during Friday’s route against the Kermit Yellowjackets at El Ave Stadium in Crane.

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Gracin Huertas, senior, scores his third touchdown on the night during Friday’s game against the Kermit Yellowjackets. Huertas has close to 300 yards of rushing and receiving!

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Nico Escobedo, senior, is too cool for the pep rally Thursday in the Crane gym.

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Gracin Huertas, senior, puts on a running clinic during Friday’s varsity football game against the Kermit Yellowjackets at El Ave Stadium in Crane, scoring three touchdowns on the night.

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Sammy Sanchez, senior, takes it into the end zone during Friday’s varsity football game against the Kermit Yellowjackets.

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Jacob Bejarano, senior, makes an amazing catch during Friday’s game against the Kermit Yellowjackets in Crane. Unfortunately, the ruling on the field said differently, but the video doesn’t lie! Good catch, Jacob!