Local sports season highlights 2026 start
2026 is here, and with the start of the new year comes the busiest part of the high school athletics scene across the state as well as action for several youth leagues in the South Belt area.
High school basketball was already well underway when the holiday season began, and there really was no break in the action for hoops programs as many, including those from both Clear Brook and Dobie, took part in holiday tournaments and have since resumed district competition with an eye toward the playoffs.
The high school soccer season also began during the holiday break, with the Dobie varsity boys’ team getting out to an impressive 3-0 start with a trio of impressive victories at the San Antonio East ISD Invitational as head coach Josh Kluka’s program certainly gained plenty of momentum moving forward into the 22-6A race. The Dobie varsity girls, also looking to bounce back from a so-so 2025 campaign, have been solid early on during head coach Kyle Jurek’s second season.
In mere days, the high school softball preseason will begin as Dobie, second overall in the 22-6A race last season at 12-4, is intent on putting together another solid season under the direction of head coach Robin Rackley.
Dobie will begin scrimmages later this month and will open the regular season Feb. 9 at Clear Brook.
With three senior standouts already committed collegiately and ready to lead the way, the Dobie softball program will open scrimmage play Jan. 24 at Deer Park with a focus on 2026 regular season opening night Feb. 9 at Clear Brook. The Longhorns will then take part in the Feb. 12-14 Bryan/College Station tournament.
The Longhorns are led by Rackley, who was named Coach of the Year in the 22-6A ranks a season ago while guiding her varsity program to a second-place finish in the standings.
Dobie swept 21-6A champion Ridge Point in the Division 1 bidistrict playoff round before losing in the area around to Clear Springs for an 18-13 overall finish.
Texas Lutheran University signee Vanessa De La Fuente has profiles as one of the top returning pitchers in the area as she was a first-team All-District performer a season ago and will lead the way for Dobie in the circle.
Infielder Natalie De Hoyos is also a returning first-team All-District performer who has chosen to continue her collegiate playing career at Texas A&M-Victoria.
A third player, outfielder Chloe Nunez, was a second-team all-league selection that season ago and will play collegially at Alvin College.
Returning first-team All-District selection Persephone Soria returns for her third varsity run and has already proven to be a top all-around talent area wide during each of her first two seasons.
Moving ahead, the high school track and field season will begin the first week of February, and the high school baseball season won’t be far behind. The Dobie tennis program will also begin its fun-filled spring season soon as veteran head coach Manuel Moreno Jr., fresh off his induction into the Texas Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame, will lead the Longhorns on the courts.
Human remains found near Windmill Lakes
Autopsy results pending on skeletal remains; cause of death, gender remain unknown
Houston police are investigating after skeletal human remains were discovered Tuesday, Dec. 29, in a wooded area in the 10100 block of Minnesota Street near Windmill Lakes Boulevard and Almeda Genoa.
According to investigators with the Houston Police Department, the remains were discovered around 1:15 p.m. in a long-vacant piece of property near the dead end of Minnesota Street when a work crew was clearing land in the wooded area for a future development.
Investigators confirmed the remains were human. Other details, however, remained scarce at press time.
“The identity, gender and cause of death of the individual are pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences,” a statement from HPD investigators said.
Police also said they currently do not know how long the remains had been there.
A FOX 26 News story reported the remains were that of a male, but investigators could not confirm that at press time, saying the autopsy results are still pending.
The Houston Police Department and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences are investigating the incident as a homicide.
Aerial footage showed investigators combing through the lot, which had recently been purchased for development. No additional evidence or personal items have been publicly disclosed.
The ongoing investigation – which garnered national media attention – is pending results from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.
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