By Machele Pahl

El Ave News contributor

On Friday, the CHS Cross Country team traveled to Garner State Park to compete for something that was bigger than themselves - childhood cancer. What a blessed day it was of prayer, camaraderie, running, and post competition river recovery. In doing so the team also came up with some solid performances and came home with several plaques and medals.

Heart of Gold Team Award - Crane Cross Country!

HS Girls - 3rd Place Team!

2nd - Shae Coates

4th - Aubrey Torres

19th - Berkley McNeese

23rd - Adriana Bonachea

24th - Vida Flores

29th - Robyn Vega

31st - Kenya Valles

35th - Alondra Parades

24th - Arianna Inigues

54th - Amanda Gutierrez

60th - Amber Mendoza

70th - Marlene Rodriguez

73rd - Ava Hernandez

HS Boys - Meet Champions!

1st - Steven Lozano

2nd - Josh Morales

5th - Ivan Martinez

7th - Luciano Alvarez

14th - Sebastian Rizo

17th - Zayden Garza

18th - Phailon Flores

19th - Esteban Morales

22nd - Michael Sanchez

24th - Jiovani Murguia

26th - Jahyr Gonzalez

33rd - Gael Lupercio

41st - Luis Valles

48th - Daylen Hightower

50th - Luis Rodriguez

54th - Keyan Williams

62nd - Noah Garcia

65th - Valentin Velasco

67th - Alejandro Martin

70th - Jacob Esquivel

Alumni Jeysen Alvarez entered the Community Two Mile Race and came out in 1st!

Photo and Story by Nathaniell Lane

El Ave News staff writer

The Crane Golden Cranes are gearing up for their upcoming season, set to kick off this Friday against the Stanton Buffalos at El Ave Stadium.

It's no secret that athletes need fuel to perform well on the field. So to get ready this year, Crane Middle School and Crane High School players alike are very thankful that the Crane Sports Boosters have decided to feed every football athlete with super-delicious, super-amazing team dinners.

To get ready for the Buffalos, the football players need to carb up. And what better way to do that than to chow down on some amazing food! To celebrate team spirit, the Boosters hosted a special Italian-themed dinner at the Crane Field House Friday. The event brought together coaches, players, and other people of CHS and CMS, all eager to start the season strong and enjoy some good food in the process.

Mason Morgan, the varsity team's talented running back, was among those enjoying the evening, which featured classic Italian dishes like pasta, pizza, and garlic bread.

"I really liked the food," said Morgan. "Of course, I'm always hungry, and with food that good, it sure was easy to chow down."

The team shared laughs and stories, strengthening their bond before the season begins. With the field as a scenic backdrop, everyone looked forward to the challenges ahead.

The dinner not only highlighted the players' love for football but also their appreciation for teamwork and community. As the sun set, the Golden Cranes felt more united than ever, ready to soar to new heights in the season to come.

“After we got our food, we all sat down near each other and really just talked about how we think we’re gonna do against the Stanton Buffalos," said Kobe Walker, sophomore. “I truly think that these events are super important because they get all of us together and build our bond as a team. And by the way, I think we are going to win next Friday!”

When asked how he feels about the team dinners, Walker summed it up nicely when he said, “I think they inspire us to try and do better for our team by not being late to any events, learning how to lead, and showing respect to the people who support us."

When you see the Crane Sports Boosters, be sure to thank them and the community parents who do such a great job taking care of our student athletes!

Now, let's go wreck the Buffalos!

Photo and story by Lexi Dominguez

El Ave News staff writer

The Crane Ladybirds faced the Van Horn Lady Eagles on Tuesday night in the Van Horn High School gym, falling in four sets after a competitive match.

Over the weekend, the Ladybirds competed in the Van Horn Tournament, where they earned a runner-up finish. Freshman, Brinlee Hill, and sophomore, Ava Navarrete, were named to the All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play.

JV Coach, Cyndi Herrera, praised the team’s effort.

“I’m super proud of the girls for their effort this week. We’re continuing to improve and grow each time we step on the court, and I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of them.”

Assistant coach, Lauren Rubio, also noted the team’s progress.

“I’m proud of the girls’ effort to become better each and every day. They’ve worked hard and have shown so many improvements in just a month. I look forward to the rest of the season. Go Ladybirds.”

Navarette led Crane in Tuesday’s contest with three blocks, 12 passes, one dig, and nine serves. The Ladybirds continue to show steady growth early in the season as they build momentum for district play.

Come on out and support the Ladybirds in their next home game against the Marfa Short Horns in the CHS gym with JV beginning at 5 P.M. on Sept. 6. Varsity will play shortly after the completion of the JV game.