Pitcher of the Year: Jonah Poenitzsch
Defensive MVP: Jackson Bystrek
First Team All District:
Andy Russell, Kyle Wied, Jake Drabek, Hudson Bystrek
Second Team All District:
James Terrazas, Caleb Leach, Jax Bubela, Aiden Chisum
Honorable Mention:
Holt Yackel, Luke Tidmore
Bi-District Champs
Kudos to all! 🎉
State Meet Send-Off!
Join us for a send-off for Maddie Holmes and Ava Simper as they head to the State Track & Field Meet!
We're so proud of these talented athletes and their hard work this season. Let's show them our Ricebird pride! ❤️
When: Wednesday, May 13th
Time: 12:15 PM
Where: Between Ricebird Gym and Student Parking
Go Ladybirds! Run fast, jump high, and finish strong! 🏆

Date: Thursday, May 21st
Time: 8:00 PM (Gates open at 6:45 PM)
Location: Ricebird Stadium
**Important Information:**
- Certain items are not permitted: Please refrain from bringing balloons, air horns, or noise makers.
- Only clear bags will be allowed for entry.
- Spectators will have the opportunity to enter the field at the end of the ceremony, although this is subject to change.
We look forward to celebrating this special occasion!

🏆 Signing Day Success at ECHS!
We are thrilled to celebrate four of our incredible student-athletes as they officially signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level.
Congratulations to these dedicated individuals for their hard work:
Maddie Holmes – Taking her talents to the next level in Track & Field at Prairie View A&M University.
Evan Vazquez - Ready to make a splash with the Southwestern Pirates in Georgetown.
Isabella Ikard - Heading to Kansas to continue the legacy of excellence from our volleyball program at Cloud County Community College.
Mac'Yia Warner – Bringing that Ricebird softball grit to the Ranger College Diamond.
Thank you to the coaches, families, and teammates who supported them along the way. We can’t wait to see what you achieve in this next chapter! 🎓✨
See the event in this video link.




The ECHS Clinical Program would like to once again extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the ECMH district and all of the various clinical sites for welcoming and supporting our students throughout the year. We truly appreciate your time, guidance, and partnership.
Until next year!




🌺 Aloha, Ricebirds! Let’s Save Lives! 🥥
NHS & Student Council are hosting a Luau-themed Blood Drive in honor of the brave Amelia Lyford! Amelia, the daughter of Mrs. Lyford, a science teacher at ECHS, has won her battle with leukemia!
When: Wednesday, May 13
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: ECHS Practice Gym
Theme: Luau! Wear your favorite tropical shirt! 🌴
Perks of Donating:
Receive a FREE exclusive beach towel! 🏖️
Get a free diabetes health screening.
The best feeling in the world: helping someone in need.
How to Join:
Appointments are required. Sign up online with this link.
#RicebirdNation #GiveBlood #CommitForLife #AmeliaStrong


The ECHS admin would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our ECHS teachers for the dedication, patience, and support you show each and every day. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and the impact you make on our students and campus is truly appreciated.


A huge thank you to Ms. Poenitzsch, Ms. Harp, and all of our talented Culinary Arts students for their hard work in the kitchen and for providing such a delightful lunch for our team.
The future is looking (and tasting) bright for our Culinary program!




🥁 Big News from the Ricebird Band! 🎺
We are thrilled to officially announce and congratulate our 2026-2027 ECHS Leadership Team and Ricebird Color Guard!
These students have shown incredible dedication, talent, and leadership. We can’t wait to see them lead the way on the field and in the classroom next season. Please join us in celebrating their hard work! 👏
ECHS Leadership Team
Drum Majors - Dillan Mancine, Jennifer Hernandez, Lauryn Hopper, & Veronica Hagan
Section Leaders:
Woodwinds - Alfredo Rojas, Jackie Melgar, Aubrey Lerma, Estrella Brito, Hayden Popp
Brass - Andres Salazar, Devora Loredo, D’Angelo Montes, Noel Ramirez, Alyx Fisher, Robert Clapp, & Richie Shaffer
Percussion - Captain: John Jia,
Battery Leader: Josiah Garcia, and
Front Leader: Vivian Daniel
Color Guard
Captains: Avery Cruz, Delaney Kocian, & Sara Arriaga
Members: Abbigal Holloway, Alayna Hernandez, Aleena Arriaga, Altair Flores, Aubree Janik, Ava York, Elease Thompson, Giselle Zepeda, Kamari Brigham, Kevin Cruz, Lexi Gollas, Lynda Montes, Lilly Wampler, Mia Mendoza, Mya Medrano, Natalie Ramirez, Richard Sanchez, & Yazmin Ontiveros-Lopez.
Managers: Ashley Garcia & A'leisha Barnes
Congratulations to everyone! Let’s make the 2026-2027 season the best one yet! Go Ricebirds! 🔴⚪️
A BIG CONGRATS to the Horse Judging team that finished ⭐️10th⭐️ in the state this week!
Devin, Scollie, Brennen, and Addisyn
WAY TO GO, LADIES!!!

It was signing day for this future Buccaneer!
Ashlyn Peters has found success in livestock judging through both FFA and 4H and will continue her passion for evaluating animals at Blinn!
Congrats on her commitment to livestock judging at Blinn Jr College!

It’s time to celebrate the future! ✍️
Join us at the Ricebird Gym tomorrow, May 7th, at 9:30 AM, as we celebrate our incredible student-athletes as they take the next step in their journeys!
Congratulations to:
Evan Vazquez – Southwestern Pirates
Isabella Ikard – Cloud County Community College
Mac’Yia Warner – Ranger College
Maddie Holmes – Prairie View A&M University
#RicebirdNation #SigningDay2026 #CelebrateTheFuture

🥎 🏆 AREA CHAMPS 🏆🥎
The Ladybirds battled all series long and came out on top, punching their ticket to the Regional Semi-Finals.
Proud of this group and the way they compete for each other every pitch. Let’s keep it rolling!
Regional Semi-Finals:
Thursday, May 7: Gonzales V. El Campo
Game Time: 6:00
Site: Cypress Lakes HS, Katy, TX
Friday, May 8: El Campo V. Gonzales
Game Time: 5:00
Site: Kenedy, TX
The third game, if needed, will start after the first game on Friday in Kenedy.
Go, Ladybirds! ♥️🤍




🏆 BI-DISTRICT CHAMPS! 🏆
Congratulations to our Ricebird Baseball team on their Bi-District victory! These guys played with heart, and it showed on the field. ⚾️🔥
Now, it’s time for the Area Round! Pack the stands and bring the noise as we keep this momentum going.
Area Round vs. Tuloso-Midway:
Game 1: Thursday, May 7th @ 6:00 PM (Yoakum) — Ricebirds are Home
Game 2: Friday, May 8th @ 6:00 PM (Kenedy HS) — TM is Home
Game 3 (If needed): Saturday, May 9th @ 2:00 PM (Kenedy HS)
Let’s go, 'Birds! 🔴⚪️


