SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Give that ride hell, Bowie
This is the only time a sports editor can get away with saying the word “hell” in a column.
That’s because the Hotter ‘N Hell bicycle ride takes place beginning on Friday in Wichita Falls and all throughout the surrounding areas.
This ride has built up a reputation as being one of the best bicycling events in the United States.
“It’s a ride that should be on everyone’s bucket list,” said Ben “Chip” Filer, executive director of the Hotter ‘N Hell.
This is an incredible community gathering with roughly 12,000 bicyclists and 4,000 volunteers.
In addition to the Hotter N’ Hell endurance ride, there also is a USA Cycling race which draws an additional 600-750 licensed racers. They use a different course, and it’s just as competitive.
Bowie’s Rusty Morgan will spend the weekend at the event, and he’ll be one of the many people loading on carbohydrates at the spaghetti dinner.
It’s been reported hundreds of pounds of pasta are simmered for dinner, which takes place inside the Multi-Purpose Events Center (MPEC).
“It’s a lot of it,” Morgan said. “You want to eat a good meal and get a good night sleep.”
Some competitors prefer going to hotels for sleep. Others bring campers and rest under the stars in tents. Some stay with host families, and others drive up the day of the ride. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Here’s what about 12,000 bicyclists look like going off the start line on Scott Street in Wichita Falls for the Hotter ‘N Hell 100 bicycle ride. This is considered one of the best events of its kind in the United States. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (Courtesy photo from Hotter ‘N Hell website)
With the baseball and softball seasons over for the area 1A schools, district awards have been released.
Listed below are those earned honors on the field and in the classroom for Saint Jo and Bellevue.
Softball
Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Utility player: Taylor Patrick; Catcher: Jordyn O’Neal
Baseball
Superlatives
Offensive MVP: Devin Stewart, Saint Jo
Newcomer of the Year: Bryce Ramsey, Bellevue
Pitcher: Trent Gaston, Saint Jo
Outfielder: Jayden Curry, Saint Jo
Second team
Pitcher: Charlie Barclay, Saint Jo
Infielder: Brycen Bancroft, Bellevue; Sam Martin, Saint Jo
Outfielder: Rylan Forrester, Saint Jo
Catcher: Charlie Evans, Saint Jo
Utility: Logan Hoover, Saint Jo
DH: Amzy Barclay, Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Cody Gaston, Saint Jo; Xander Joyner, Saint Jo
To see academic awards from Saint Jo players, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Eldon Van Hooser is leaving Forestburg better than he found it.
The head boy’s basketball coach is retiring after more than 30 years, spending the last five at Forestburg.
Van Hooser did not come to this decision because of a lack of fire or feeling tired after decades in the profession. He had to for family reasons.
“My wife has MS (multiple sclerosis) and it’s a disease where you have trouble standing and walking and she needs help,” Van Hooser said. “I am able to so I am going to step away from teaching and coaching to be there for her.”
Van Hooser was hired in 2019. Along with being the boy’s basketball coach, he also was the football team’s defensive coordinator.
There were some lean years for Forestburg on the boy’s athletic side, with numbers being low and the available athletes being mostly underclassmen.
For two years, the Longhorns’ boy’s basketball team won few games and one of those seasons saw the team field five players on the high school team.
“One of those years we had COVID-19 and the other we had five kids,” Van Hooser said. “It was very rough. After that we worked with the kids and we had a good freshman group coming up. Next year they are going to be seniors.”
That group has helped to turn the program around. Last year the young Longhorns team contested for a playoff spot and just barely missed it finishing fifth in the district.
This season, that same group took a leap and finished second in district with a record of 7-5.
Despite losing its last two regular season games in dramatic fashion heading into the playoffs, the team stepped up in the bi-district game.
Playing against an athletic Newcastle team, Forestburg led for most of the game.
Unfortunately, the previous game against Bellevue saw the Longhorn team blow the lead late in the fourth quarter against a hard pressing style team and they were suffering the same fate against the Bobcats down the stretch.
Fortunately, Forestburg held on just enough to win 53-46. It was the first boy’s basketball playoff win in nine years for Forestburg.
“It was huge for our program,” Van Hooser said. “This new year we will have new goals. The new coach will have some goals of his own, but I set some for the team and think that we have come a long way.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
The Bowie sports banquets was on Monday night. Olivia Gill and Tucker Jones were named Jackrabbit and Lady Rabbit of the year. Pick up the mid-week paper for all of the sports team awards and pictures.
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