SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Full throttle running
Cross country season is kicking – pardon the pun – in the area.
This past Thursday, the sports editor went to the Wichita Falls Invitational inside Kiwanis Park.
The course itself, despite being flat, isn’t the easiest to run, let alone walk.
The grass has burnt up from not receiving much rain in recent months and the course itself meanders like an unpredictable serpent around the boundary of the facility.
Cross country can be one of those overlooked sports, and unfortunately the blame can lie with people like me – the sports editor.
Football is king in Texas, and volleyball is the queen of fall sports for girls.
But, there’s also cross country, and plenty of it.
Today, the sports editor went to the Decatur Reunion Run inside Joe Wheeler Park.
I think it’s pretty special the Decatur Independent School District serves as host for not just one meet per year, but two.
Decatur takes the sport of cross country mighty seriously, as evidenced by all the success the Eagles and Lady Eagles have had.
The Lady Eagles have won state championships four times, the oldest from 1999 and the most recent in 2009.
Not to be outdone, Decatur’s boys have claimed state championships in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2012. The credit goes to the runners for sacrificing themselves. And to head coach David Park.
The cross country team has its own website through Decatur ISD, complete with a glossary of workout terms, the rules of the road, runner placement and expectations for team leadership.
Cross country coverage ramps up as the season goes along.
Next Wednesday, Oct. 7, Bowie High School will have its first meet at home in a long time. The race will take place at Twisted Oaks Golf Course.
I am happy to see course superintendent Chad Thummel and owners Andy Duke, Dewayne Hamilton and Greg Vicars allow runners to use the facility.
The first time I visited Twisted Oaks, back when it was known as Top O’ The Lake, I thought it was the perfect venue for a meet.
There are enough hills to challenge the runners, and the ground is soft because the course is watered on a consistent basis. The venue is maintained immaculately, in other words.
There’s only drawback I can see having a meet at Twisted Oaks. But, it’s a minor issue. Parking is not ample for school vans and spectators.
However, that could be said for most of the meets I’ve attended throughout my career. Read more from this column 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.
Bowie’s Dane Lancaster continues his recovery from a rodeo accident, running for the junior high boys’ cross country team. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
The Red River High School Bass Club competed on Saturday at Eagle Mount Lake as the club finished fifth overall out of 28 clubs.
The club had two teams that brought in fish at the end of the day, but one also finished highly.
The team of Carson Caudle and Hunter Blackburn got fourth overall out of more than 100 teams. The pair caught three fish that weighed in at 7.99 pounds.
The club had one more pair that brought in fish. Walker Strahan and Bryce Ramsey got one fish that weighed in a 1.95 pounds that was good for 33rd place.
Only 37 out of the 126 teams were fortunate enough to bring fish to the weigh-in.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
Bowie
Superlatives
Offensive most valuable player: Rayder Mann
First team
Gaige Goodman
Second team
Boston Farris
Honorable mention
Adam Pickett, Bradly Horton, Braden Rhyne
Academic all-district
Hayden Sutton, Keller Dosch, Anthony Jaraleno, Finn Riddle, Tyler Richey, Adam Pickett, Bradly Horton, Hayden Heugatter, Boston Farris, Rayder Mann
Nocona
Superlatives
Co-newcomer of the year: Landon Fatheree
Fighting heart award: Jose Gomez Jr.
First team
Karson Kleinhans, Oscar Salomon-Gomez
Second team
Zyrus Moreno, Walker Murphey
Honorable mention
Adrian Gutierrez
Academic all-district
Jose Gomez Jr., Kyle Waters, Kasch Johnson, RJ Walker, William Henley, Skye Kirby, Landon Fatheree, Karson Kleinhans, Oscar Salomon-Gomez, Zyrus Moreno, Walker Murphey, Adrian Gutierrez
1A
Superlatives: Jesus Sanchez, Forestburg, most valuable player; Barrett Johnson, Saint Jo, offensive MVP; Evan Chavez, Bellevue, sixth man of the year; Camden Dreyer, Gold-Burg, co-newcomer of the year; Josiah Wadsworth, Forestburg, co-newcomer of the year; Curtis Enis, Forestburg, coach of the year
First team
Ryan Jones, Bellevue; Jesse Wadsworth, Forestburg; Kyler Willett, Forestburg; Lee Yeley, Saint Jo; Trent Gaston, Saint Jo
Second team
Aaron Allison, Bellevue; Brycen Bancroft, Bellevue; River Trail, Bellevue; Jayton Epperson, Gold-Burg; Trae Campbell, Prairie Valley; Zeke Bonn, Saint Jo; Landon Shannon, Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Bryce Ramsey, Bellevue; Brenna Criswell, Bellevue; Eli White-Freeland, Gold-Burg; Keelyn Case, Gold-Burg; Barrett Allen, Gold-Burg; Angel Cruz, Forestburg; Hayden Halliburton, Forestburg; John Carranza, Forestburg; Hunter Camden, Prairie Valley; Jarrett Horton, Prairie Valley; Landen Williams, Saint Jo; Jayden Curry, Saint Jo; Colton Curry, Saint Jo
Academic all-district
Bellevue: Walker Strahan, Brycen Bancroft, Bryce Ramsey, Will Bonds, Cowyn Langford
Forestburg: Rafeal Sanchez, Josiah Wadsworth, Tristan Cumby, Hayden Halliburton, Jesse Wadsworth
Prairie Valley: Hunter Camden, Jarrett Horton, Josh Stout, Dayne Sadler, Kasey Caruthers
Saint Jo: Jayden Curry, Colton Curry, Landon Shannon, Barrett Johnson, Trent Gaston, Zeke Bonn, Lee Yeley
Gold-Burg: Levi Hellinger, Brady Allen, Barrett Allen
For pictures from players from every team, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
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