SPORTS
Bowie inducts coach into hall of honor
Bowie Lady Rabbit Basketball Coach Wanda Edwards brought home the 1955 state championship in her very first year of coaching the Lady Rabbits.
It was one of many accomplishments for the former head coach, who was named all state in both American Athletic Union and TAF during her career as a high school athlete.
At the time, Wayland Baptist University was the only college offering women’s sports, but after a tryout for the basketball team, Edwards decided she did not like the dust that was a common sight in Plainview.
She instead enrolled in Texas Wesleyan University, where she earned a spot on the men’s golf team.
Her first teaching position was with Bowie High School, where her and a group of high school basketball players brought home the state title by a score of 54-52 in the AA title game. The team consisted of Linda Bradfield, Sue Jackson, Joan Baxter, Glenda Brooks, Ruth Ann Wright, Linda Campbell, Lynda McLeland, Margin Stovall, Betty Andreasen, Mildred McCraw, Carol Ann Smith, Lornda Sue McLeland, Lawana Robinson and Johnny Shytles.
The team ended the season as regional finalists the following year and the girl’s tennis team won state in 1955-56. After her time with Bowie, she taught, and eventually became vice principal, at Meadowbrook Middle School.
Her career as an educator, administrator and a crisis intervention coach and co-director spanned 35 years.
Her time with the Lady Rabbits was honored as the only inductee for the Bowie Hall of Honor on Friday night as part of homecoming festivities.
The rain did not stop a large crowd from attending the event in honor of the coach. Due to her health, Edwards was unable to attend, but her sister-in-law Carol Edward and nephew Stacey were there on her behalf. Several members of the state championship team also were present to honor their former coach.
Carol gave a speech from the coaches own words, stressing how much her time at Bowie meant to her both as a coach and as a person, and how special the group of athletes she coached were.
The inductee received a plaque identical to the one that will grace the halls of Bowie High School. It contained photos of the longtime educator as well as her biography and the important role she played in Lady Rabbit athletics.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
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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