SPORTS
BOWIE NEWS YEAR IN REVIEW: Bowie volleyball reaches new heights
By ERIC VICCARO
sports@bowienewsonline.com
The Bowie News tracked athletic accomplishments yet again throughout 2016, and a slice of history turned into this year’s No. 1 story.
It was a close call, but the Bowie High School volleyball team edged out the Jackrabbit baseball team for “Story of the Year” honors.
Of all the Bowie High School teams, volleyball and baseball had the deepest penetration of the bunch by reaching the regional semifinals.
This marked the first time volleyball had reached such a climax, meanwhile baseball has been here before – three times, in fact.
This was a grand year of great achievements, also included in the top-10 was Sarah Patrick’s gold medal finish for Saint Jo in the pole vault, Ezekiel Vaughan scored 16 points for Bowie at the state track meet and powerlifter Cristian Martinez earned a silver medal at state.
Bowie volleyball
Bowie didn’t beat Holliday at all during the 2015 season; but, this past year, the Lady Rabbits defeated the Lady Eagles three times.
And Bowie won when it mattered most in the Conference 3A Region I quarterfinals as the Lady Rabbits topped Holliday in five 25-16, 17-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on the Midwestern State University campus.
“The kids bought in, and I can’t say enough about the seniors,” said head coach Jeanie Stark. “They did it. I think it started in 2015 when they just got in.”
Accountability became the buzzword for the Bowie volleyball team, all the players were accountable to each other and that lifted the Lady Rabbits to unforeseen heights.
Bowie (29-14) eventually lost to Shallowater in five sets in the regional semifinals, but the Lady Rabbits finished ranked ninth in the state in 3A.
Bowie’s Jeanie Stark (right) receives a hug from her son and athletic director Dylan Stark after the Lady Rabbits defeated rival Holliday in the Conference 3A Region I quarterfinal at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls. (News file photo by Eric Viccaro)
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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