SPORTS
SHOOTING: Team USA is locked and loaded
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)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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