SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Dunn to be enshrined in WBU Hall of Honor
Wayland Baptist University head track and field coach Brian Whitlock was there to watch former Bowie High School athlete Kirby Dunn compete in the Conference 3A 1,600-meter run.
Dunn didn’t exactly run well, either. Kirby raced in with a time of 4 minutes, 53.46 seconds, which was 18 seconds off the pace for seventh place at the 2006 state University Interscholastic League meet.
Whitlock still recruited Dunn anyway, and Kirby became a member of the Pioneer track and field team.
After a stellar college career, Dunn was recently named to the Wayland Baptist University Hall of Honor – part of a group of 11 people – the largest induction group in WBU history.
The induction ceremonies will take place this fall, according to a WBU release, at the Plainview campus.
This will mark the 25th anniversary celebration for the hall of honor, and the group includes six former athletes, one coach, one administration and three boosters.
Dunn’s addition, and that of the others, will bring the Hall of Honor class to 99 recipients overall.
“I was shocked to be honest,” said Dunn when he found out he would be inducted. “I was in the hospital at the time.”
Dunn is currently undergoing his second bout with testicular cancer, which came back last fall.
“I’ve had chemotherapy and there were six surgeries,” Dunn said. “I had the last surgery in April, and I spent three weeks in the hospital.”
Dunn said he has good days, and bad days, and that cancer has understandably taken its toll on him. He’s also dealt with compartment syndrome in his lower left leg.
Compartment syndrome, according to the website webmd.com, occurs when excessive pressure builds up inside an enclosed muscle space in the body – which results from bleeding or swelling. It impedes blood flow.
Dunn has persevered through it all, and he’s looking forward to the induction ceremony.
Kirby was a star on the Wayland Baptist track and field team, an eight-time All-American in five different middle-distance events. He also was a two-time NAIA national scholar-athlete. Read more of this column in the June 24 Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Wayland Baptist University’s Kirby Dunn (third from left with 4 on hip) runs during the 2009 NAIA national outdoor track and field championships. Dunn will be inducted into the WBU Hall of Honor during ceremonies this fall. (Courtesy photo by Jonathan Ramey/NAIA)
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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