SPORTS

SHOOTING: Team USA is locked and loaded

Published

10 years ago

07/28/2016

bowienews

By ERIC VICCARO and DANI BLACKBURN

sports@bowienewsonline.com

Team USA shooters descended on Willa Walla Shooting Range in Dye Mound last week to hone their craft before the Rio Olympiad.

Shooting sports begins on Aug. 6, and runs through Aug. 14. There are several shooting disciplines involved – ranging from rifle to air pistol and trap to skeet.

According to the Rio Olympics’ website, shooting as a sport originated in Europe – and there are German clubs more than 700 years old.

The first American shooting federation began in the 1870s. Women began participating in Olympic shooting at Los Angeles in 1984.

“We feel like we are doing our part for the Olympic movement,” said Nita Weger, who owns Willa Walla along with her husband, Johnny. “We’ve known these people for more than 15 years now,” Weger added. “They are kind of like our own.”

This marked the second time Team USA trained at Willa Walla, which also served as a practice ground for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

“To Johnny and me, this was a golden opportunity,” Weger said. “We’ve gotten to know a lot of young people, and watched them grow up. We’ve formed some close relationships.” Read more in the July 27 Bowie News.

Members of Team USA Shooting practice at the Willa Walla Shooting Range in Dye Mound on Friday. Willa Walla has served as the training ground for Olympic shooters for the past two decades. Josh Richmond is seen in the foreground. (News photo by Dani Blackburn)

SPORTS

Bowie softball team falls in area round

Published

1 day ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Bowie softball had a historic season, where the squad made the postseason for the first time since 2019 and knocked a top seed from the playoffs, come to an end April 29.

No-4 ranked Tuscola Jim Ned got out to a quick start and took an 11-1, five inning win in the area round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs. Bowie had its season end at 19-15.

With a large crowd at Weatherford High rooting them on, Bowie took the field looking to knock out another top seed, as they did with Early last week.

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

SPORTS

Willett, Richey off to State

Published

1 day ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Bowie will have two track athletes at the State track and field meet May 14 with top two finishes at the Region 1-3A track meet at Abilene Christian University May 1-2.

Tyler Richey finished 2^nd in the pole vault with a 15’ leap. Richey was also 9^th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.39. Sophomore Braden Willett was 3^rd in the 1,600-meters with a school record best of time of 4:21.93. Willett was 4^th in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:29.71.

Several other Rabbits and Lady Rabbits competed at the regional meet. The 800-meter relay foursome of Colton Dosch, Richey, Finn Riddle and Jaxon White finished 6^th with a time of 1:30.24 while the 1,600-meter relay team of Dosch, Judah Livsey, Riddle and Blaine Leonard finished 8^th with a time of 3:30.76.

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

SPORTS

Fourteen track athletes head to State

Published

1 day ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Saint Jo’s boys and girls track teams took top honors at the Region III-A track meet at Hewitt Midway High School May 1-2 and will send several athletes to the state track and field meet May 16 in Austin.

The boys were led by Damon Byrd who won both the long jump with a 22’9 ¾” leap and triple jump with a 45’ 10 ½”. Byrd also won the 100-meter dash with a time of 1.03 and was a member of the victorious 800-meter relay along with Trent Gaston, Barrett Johnson and Lee Yeley with a time of 1:30.80.

Yeley won the high jump with a 6’ leap. Byrd, Yeley, Dominic Luna and Gaston combined for a 2^nd-place finish in the 1,600-meter relay with a time 3:32.81. Gaston was 2^nd in the 110-meter hurdles with a tie of 16.09. Johnson was 2^nd in the 400-meter dash in 50.75, Ayden Giambruno was 6^th in the 3200-meter run in 11:05.24 with Yeley 8^th in the 200-meters with a time of 25.61.

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