Sports

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The Canton Eaglettes set the standard for county volleyball programs during the 2022 season, reaching the Regional Tournament where they fell just short against an Aubrey program that would ultimately finish as the runner-up in Class 4A this season.

The Canton Eagles, who enter the 2022-23 season with lofty goals after returning seven contributors from last year’s district champion team, kicked off their season in impressive fashion, notching victories against West Mesquite, Grand Saline, and Eustace this past week.

The Canton Eaglettes entered the year with high expectations, hoping to surpass last season’s brief playoff run with a longer playoff stay. Canton more than accomplished that feat, following up a scorching hot regular season that saw the team climb as high as fifth overall in the weekly 4A rankings with bi-district, Area and Regional Quarterfinal round titles.

The Mighty Canton Band covered familiar ground last week, traveling to the Alamodome in San Antonio to compete against some of the top programs in the state at this year’s Class 4A UIL State Marching Contest.

In what would be their final game of the 2022 season, Canton stunned Rusk in a battle of the Eagles this past Thursday. Canton, entering the game at 3-6, with a 1-3 mark in district play, was eliminated from playoff contention but had hopes to play spoiler in the final game for their senior class.

Van Zandt County was well represented at the UIL State Cross Country Meet last week with a 11 runners, including representatives from Canton, Martins Mill, Van and Wills Point, competing against the state’s best.

As the calendar flips to November and the regular season comes to a halting close, Canton will be on the outside looking in on the playoffs, after an up-and-down season has resulted in a 3-6 record with one game remaining.

Coach Autumn Loyd and the Canton Eaglette volleyball team made history last week, following up a district clinching win over Brownsboro by completing the program’s first-ever perfect run through district with a win over rival Van Oct. 24.

The Canton Eagles placed themselves back in the winning column for the first time since Sept. 16, with a resounding 3015 win over district foe Brownsboro last Friday night.