SPORTS

RODEO: 4X Arena is a place to ride

Published

11 years ago

07/15/2015

By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@gmail.com

4X Arena was the brainchild of Libby Clayton and Johnny Uselton of rural Nocona.
On Saturday night, the one-year-old arena played host to a World Senior Professional Bull Riders event as well as a film crew shooting a documentary on small-time rodeo in Texas.
“We constructed it from scratch,” Clayton said of 4X Arena. “It was originally a team-roping arena with chutes, but we removed all that.”
4X Arena is located off United States Highway 82, less than five miles west of Nocona, on Eureka School Road.
“It’s a source of pride for us,” Clayton said. “We love the Nocona area. It has a small-town feel, and it was nice for me to come back to that. It was heartwarming.”
Clayton grew up in rural Illinois, and she met Uselton at a rodeo. Uselton is a former rider on the WSPBR circuit – competing until 2011.
The WSPBR is a not only relatively young, but it also is a rapidly growing circuit.
“It’s a dream come true,” Uselton said. “I’ve wanted to do this for years (build an arena). Nocona is a really a perfect place. We can draw cowboys from Oklahoma and from the Metroplex.”
WSPBR co-founder Robert Long, who competed in Saturday’s event, agreed with Uselton – saying Montague County is an ideal spot for a tour stop. Long founded this organization along with Morgan Saunders and Troy Moseley.
“We go all the way to Wichita, Kansas, now in just six short years,” Long said, “and we go all the way to Galveston in the south. This is a great centralized location.” Read more in the mid-week Bowie News.

A contestant rides a bull at 4X Arena, less than five miles west of Nocona, during Saturday evening’s World Senior Professional Bull Riders tour stop. The WSPBR is specifically designed for senior bull riders ages 35 on up. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)

SPORTS

Saint Jo volleyball beats Sam Rayburn

Published

3 days ago

09/17/2026

bowienews

Saint Jo hosted its own volleyball tournament Sept. 10-12.

In its first match, the Lady Panthers bested Sam Rayburn in a b est-of-three match 2-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-14.) In the opener, senior Tatum Morman staked the Lady Panthers to a 4-0 lead with help from Kamron Skidmore and Olivia Johnson kills. The Lady Rebels would come back and tie the game at seven.

Savannah Hill’s kill broke serve and allowed Abby Carter to string together seven points. An ace and a Hill kill helped keep the drive alive. Hill later rolled off six points in a row, helped by two aces, to go up 23-10. Sam Rayburn broke serve but Saint Jo finished the game with a single Morman point.

Sam Rayburn came right out of the gate firing in the second game leading 4-0. A single Carter point, thrown down by a Hill block, and Hill’s four-point skein put the Lady Panthers up 8-6. Sam Rayburn tied the game at eight.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Forestburg VB falls to Chico in four games

Published

3 days ago

09/17/2026

bowienews

Forestburg’s volleyball team gave visiting Chico a solid test Sept. 8, but the Lady Dragons rebounded from a third-set loss to pull out the 3-1 win (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 25-19).

The Lady Longhorns got out to a quick start with aces from freshmen Madi Wadsworth and Lacie Shotwell staking the squad to a 4-1 lead in game one. Wadsworth later broke a 4-all tie with a kill.

Addy Conway rolled off four straight points, helped by a Wadsworth kill to give Forestburg an 11-9 lead. Chico took a 16-14 lead but a Brenna Briles ace and Jocelyn Rich’s two points forced Chico into a timeout down 17-19.

The respite worked as it would be Forestburg’s last lead of game one, the Lady ‘Horns not having another serving point.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Lady Rabbits defeat Vernon Northside

Published

3 days ago

09/17/2026

bowienews

After splitting the first two games with Vernon Northside, Bowie’s volleyball team turned things out and wound with a 3-1 match win (25-17, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17).

Molly Enlow used two aces amidst a four-point string to give the Lady Rabbits a 5-1 lead in game one. Senior KP Rutherford’s pair of points extended the lead to 8-3.

Northside cut the deficit to 10-11 before Rutherford’s kill broke serve.

Bella Culwell’s point, aided by an Ellie Mowery kill, put Bowie up 13-10. Northside tied the game at 13 before Rutherford came through with another pair for a 17-14 lead. Lillie Maddox also had a deuce for a 20-15 lead and force a Lady INdian timeout.

Northside broke serve but a Sophie Maddox block and Lillie Maddox three-point string gave the squad game point at 24-16. The squads exchanged side outs to end the game.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.