What would the beginning of summer be without the Heart of a Champion Week?
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Northeast Texas started a new tradition some 16 years ago and the annual all-star games continue this weekend in Tyler.
Some of East Texas’ brightest stars will gather for baseball, softball and football. There are also cheer all-stars to round out the standout senior student-athletes.
The athletes get to compete one time as a prep star.
The 11th annual baseball and 12th annual softball games are slated for Friday at Tyler Legacy High School. Gates are set to open at 5:30 p.m. with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.
The 16th annual football game, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, is set for Saturday on Earl Campbell Field at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. Gates are slated to open at 5:30 p.m. with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 (adults) and $5 (under 10).
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The games serve as the primary fundraiser for the Northeast Chapter of FCA. The FCA covers 15 counties with 180 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities taking part.
Robert Bardin, of the Northeast Texas FCA area director, said “The Northeast Texas FCA all-star games exist to: 1, Bring glory to God; 2, bring recognition to the work of FCA on the middle school, high school, and college and university campuses in Northeast Texas; and 3, highlight the talent of Northeast Texas athletes and coaches.”
He added, “The vision is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.”
The Northeast Texas FCA Board includes: chair Dr. Paul Roberts, Gary Adams, Nancy Cavender, Dr. Jon-Micheal Cline, Meredith Grant, Pat Hargrave, Brad Harvey, Justin Jenkins, Jim Rapp and Judy Stewart.
2026 Northeast Texas
Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Stars
11th Annual FCA Baseball All-Star Game
June 5, Tyler Legacy Baseball Field
Directors & Coordinators: Jeff Lee, FCA; Chad Halcumb, Union Grove.
Blue Team Coaching Staff: Head Coach Don English, Brook Hill; Assistants: Seth Gibson, Tyler High; Dalton Smith, Brook Hill.
Blue Team: Carson Bizzell, Frankston; Ben Braatz, Brook Hill; Logan Cansler, Tatum; Malachi Deleon, Tyler High; Karter Fleming, Lindale; Miggy Flores, Lufkin; Colton Garrison, Grace Community; Levi Green, New Diana; Bo Hatchcock, Grand Saline; Hayden Huml, Troup; Logan Langeweisch, White Oak; Joseph Mejia, Carlisle; Jackson Parker, Lindale; Braiden Peyton, Van; Ben Reed, Whitehouse; Alex Rodriguez, Whitehouse; Hunter Synder, Brownsboro; Cade Stuckey, Hallsville; Gabe Tatum, Brook Hill; William Walker, Tyler Legacy; Cale Zips, Tyler Legacy.
Red Team Coaching Staff: Head Coach John Gattis, Hawkins, Assistants: Kyle Consemiu, Hawkins; Jason Causey, Spring Hill.
Red Team: Travis Allen, Spring Hill; Corbin Argenbright, Sulphur Springs; Matthew Ballew, Mineola; Luke Brown, Gladewater; Travis Burkhalter, Garrison; Zachary Duhart, Pine Tree; Eli Emery, Spring Hill; Karter Fleming, Lindale; Kolton Hale, Kilgore; Landon Hill, Overton; Brody Lewis, Canton; Wrigley Roberts, Union Grove; Will Sanford, Arp; Kaden Skaggs, Harleton; Zaylon Warren, Palestine; Gus Wilfong, Cayuga.
2026 Northeast Texas
Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Stars
12th Annual FCA Softball All-Star Game
June 5, Tyler Legacy Softball Field
Directors & Coordinators: Dr. Paul Roberts, FCA; Meredith Grant, FCA; Marc Chitty, Grand Saline; Sam Weeks, Tyler Legacy.
Blue Team Coaching Staff: Head Coach John White, Henderson; Assistants: Karley Free, Henderson; Hannah Welch, Jefferson; Ryan Mason, Waskom.
Blue Team: Destiny Arcibar, Center; Jacie Boothe, Henderson; Brynlie Braddock, Jefferson; Kaitlynn Brooks, Henderson; Rylee Busby, Canton; Noa Cart, Tatum; Lily Carvantes, Canton; Brianna Delosrios, Kaufman; Jenna Gould, Frankston; Chloe Green, New Diana; Aubrey Hassell, Rusk; Bailey Isaac, Big Sandy; Makiah Mburugu, Whitehouse; Mckenna Moon, Henderson; Savannah Phillips, Mabank; Ava Pugh, Athens; Abbigail Sustaita, Edgewood; Taniya Vanzandt, Henderson; Aubreigh Whiddon, Spring Hill; Jorja Young, Mineola.
Red Team Coaching Staff: Head Coach Nineveh Blankenship, White Oak; Assistants: Mikaila Kenney, Arp; Klint Blankenship, White Oak; Kate Keierleber, Wills Point.
Red Team: Alabama Anding, Malakoff; Brooklyn Brannen, Bullard; Andee Bridges, White Oak; Brooke Byrd, Ore City; Caroline Castleberry, Mineola; Gracie Jo Currey, Grand Saline; Emma Cutright, Brownsboro; Lacy Fletcher, Arp; Keslee Gandy, Chapel Hill; Emily Grandgeorge, Beckville; Audrey Jones, Hallsville; Addison Kneipp, Cartage; Kirstin Malone, Bullard; Mahayla McMahon, Mineola; Erin Ottmo, Mabank; Jailey Potter, Van; Alyssa Potts, Lindale; Kara Schoon, Harmony; Paisley Watkins, Como-Pickton; Lorn Witherspoon, Wills Point; Kinnadie Rayson, White Oak.
2026 Northeast Texas
Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Stars
June 4-6
Baseball, Softball June 5 at Tyler Legacy High School
Football June 6 at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, Tyler
Cheer Squad
Coaches: Summer McCartney, Big Sandy; Cheryl Trimble, Harmony; Elizabeth Harvey, Van.
Blue & Red Team: Addison Alexander, Canton; Kaylee Almazan, Troup; Addison Blanton, Troup; Hollie Boone, Sabine; Cali Boyd, Elkhart; Jasmine Byrd, Pine Tree; Izzabella Compton, Garrison; Averi Crouch, Van; Madisyn Davis, Sabine; Reese Dawson, Elkhart; Caroline Denman, Harmony; Samantha Espinoza, Carlisle; Sierra Gideon, Van; Reanna Hartman, Big Sandy; Estrella Hernandez, Carlisle; Audree Hinkle, Troup; Bailey Isaac, Big Sandy; Aaliyah McCleveland, Big Sandy; Raeleigh Normandin, Pine Tree; Hailee-Jade Peffer, Canton; Hadley Penny, Van; Khrisy Prince, Edgewood; Jarrena’e Pullum, Big Sandy; Bailey Robles, Pine Tree; Reese Silvertooth, Sabine; Kayleigh Smith, Quitman; Halle Stefka, Van; Emeree Stellpflug, Van; Natalie Woodard, Union Grove; Kali Yarbrough, Big Sandy.
16th Annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Heart of a Champion Bowl
Presented by Chick-fil-A
June 6, Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, Tyler
Directors & Coordinators: Robert Bardin, FCA; Gary Adams, FCA; Luke Blackwell, Mineola.
Blue Team Coaching Staff: Head Coach Jason Bachman, Pine Tree; Assistants: Shane McQueen, Chapel Hill; Weston Griffis, Gilmer; Jonathan Boone, Palestine Westwood; Austin Blanco, Pine Tree; Damon Holmes, Pine Tree; Zac Spears, Pine Tree; Tony Rivera, Spring Hill.
Blue Team: Cody Adkinson, Center; Roger Attaway, Pine Tree; Braylon Beckworth, Palestine; Aaron Bellard, Jefferson; Caden Boyd, Mabank; Del Brown, Jefferson; Collier Bryant, Van; Braxton Bullock, Beckville; Mason Burdo, Gladewater; Elton Calico, Chapel Hill; Josh Castaneda, Chapel Hill; Chris Castillo, Nacogdoches; Jaxon Copeland, Mabank; Jordan Deckard, Marshall; Darryl Dolly, Longview; Adrian “AJ” Donnell, Frankston; Lucas Duncan, Harleton; Aden Eacret, Commerce; Reece Ellison, Harmony; Dallas Gipson, Chapel Hill; Jose Guerrero, Edgewood; Skylar Hamberg, Big Sandy; Jessier Hampton Williams, Longview; Jacori Hearn, Commerce; Vandorian Horn, Rusk; Eddrick Irving, Mineola; Wyatt Johnson, Arp; Jamarion Johnson, New Diana; Macen Jones, Henderson; Brandon Kennedy, Elysian Fields; Trey Kincade, Lindale; Adan Lowe, Rusk; Wyatt Marker, Commerce; Brantley McDougal, Spring Hill; Tyson McKinney, White Oak; Jordan Mojica, Beckville; Jaice Newman, Tyler High; Chris Nickoles, Pine Tree; Owen Perry, Cross Roads; Damarion Pickron, Longview; Landon Robinson, Van; Lincoln Royce, Sabine; Alberto Sarmiento, Lone Oak; Eli Solis, Hallsville; Tristen Taylor, Tyler High; Adrian Tumblin, Rusk; Harlan Van Horn, Garrison; Madaxx Vasquez, Gladewater; Kenny Waters, Lufkin; Krystin Williams, Longview; Brayson Woods, Pine Tree; Brady Yoder, Longview.
Directors & Coordinators: Robert Bardin, FCA; Gary Adams, FCA; Scott Callaway, Bullard.
Red Team Coaching Staff: Head Coach Bill Cowley, Hawkins; Assistants: Bo Maines, Elysian Fields; Colton Traylor, Gilmer; Patrick Mayes, Hawkins; David Stone, Hawkins; Josh Turner, Maud; Justin Arnold, Ore City; Jaidon Parrish, West Rusk.
Red Team: Joseph Allen, Frankston; Conrad Bastien, Canton; Zane Bourque, Arp; Don Brooks, Palestine; Brody Brown, Overton; Casen Burgins, Arp; Christopher Carter, Palestine Westwood; Syncere Cleaver, West Rusk; Decaden Cooks, Center; Carter Cooper Union Grove; Carsin Cooper, Gladewater; Coulter Evans, Hallsville; Brennon Ference, Big Sandy; Jack Floyd, Harleton; Stephen Gibson, Commerce; Brayden Givens, Hawkins; Bradlee Gould, Frankston; Caden Granberry, Tyler High; Julien Griffin, Hawkins; Tyson Hampton, Lone Oak; Quinton Hines, Arp; Davis Holladay, Frankston; Rylan Holleman, Overton; Alex Holt, Harleton; Vince Howard, Henderson; Celson James, Gilmer; Jamarion Johnson, Elysian Fields; Camden Joslin, Palestine Westwood; Camden Lane, Lindale; Kelton Lee, Sabine; Jaxsen Ludlow, White Oak; Ra’Shad Lynch, Alto; Mar’Kaden Mapps, Commerce; Joseph Mejia, Carlisle; John Morrow, Mabank; Justin Murry, Marshall; Landis Newberry, Bullard; Calan O’Neill, Canton; Josh Otujor, Spring Hill; Preston Parker, Harleton; Daiden Peery, Rusk; Cannin Peppers, Quitman; Lucas Pippin, Edgewood; Alex Rambin, Garrison; Caden Reneau, Garrison; Davion Sirles, Tyler High; Jayden Slagle, Quitman; Tony Smith, Edgewood; Luke Stegall, Bullard; Coleman Stout, Spring Hill; Ashton Tave, Sabine; Irelyynd Underwood, Harmony; Donald Veasley, Ore City; Zyon Washington, Arp; Avery Yarbrough, Garrison.