Marble Falls athletes returns to participate in busy July

CAPTION: Madden Hernandez stands and lifts this bar of weight high during the strength session of Forge ’25. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

Right after the nation celebrates the July Fourth long weekend, the Marble Falls Independent School District athletic department will return to the high school campus to resume the activities the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs began in early June.

The department enjoyed the mandatory week off from June 30-July 4 as issued by the University Interscholastic League. That meant full stoppage of Forge ’25, the department’s summer strength and conditioning program for athletes in grades 7-12. Forge had been drawing between 200-270 athletes.

At that point, the athletes had competed in numerous activities on the gridiron, on the volleyball and basketball courts, and on the pitch that were part of sport skills training or summer leagues.

In addition several head coaches conducted their summer camps once the school year ended and several reported an increase of campers that simply blew the minds of those coaches.

Athletic director Keri Timmerman commended the athletes and coaches for showing their commitment to work by attending these events. And he also pointed out there’s still several weeks to go before the start of two-a-day training camps in August.

Forge resumes Monday, July 7, at 7 a.m. for high school athletes and at 9 a.m. for middle school athletes.

The department is offering three July camps: Lady Mustang Volleyball Camp for high school athletes July 14-16, the Tennis Academy July 21-24, and Mustang Football Camp for Kindergarteners to freshmen July 28-31.

Timmerman noted the football camp is especially vital for the freshmen because coaches teach the basics of the playbook.

That’s why attendance to these July events is essential, he said.

He pointed to the success of the freshman football team that had a winning record in 2024. Those Mustangs attended the football camps and Forge so they were in great shape headed into August. Because of their commitment to training and learning, that group enjoyed the rewards of winning, Timmerman said.

“I think our younger group especially experienced that,” he said.

In turn several of those freshmen played on the varsity baseball team where they contributed to that squad finishing third in District 24-4A and advancing to the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2024.

This summer, attendance by the upperclassmen has been solid. And most importantly, they are leading in putting in the sweat equity that success requires. There’s very little standing around and even less conversation as the players attack every drill with all-out effort.

That illustrates they want a different outcome in football than what they had last season. The boys basketball and soccer teams also advanced to the playoffs during the 2024-25 school year. And there’s little reason to believe those Mustangs won’t be in the conversation to contend for a playoff berth again.

While some sports haven’t had the results in their seasons they want, Timmerman said it’s only a matter of time.

“The reality is the kids who play have shown up,” he said. “It’s a significant difference. I think our younger kids are still learning that. We’re pushing hard to get that mindset. Kids in the summer are used to doing something,” he said. “Parents and kids expect this is what we do.”

CAPTION: Crawford Mattox and his teammates begin a sprinting drill that also forces them to move from side to side after planting. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro