SPORTS
Bowie Pep Squad showing spirit
If you went to Bowie’s last two football games or Tuesday’s home volleyball match, spectators might have noticed the atmosphere was a bit livelier than the usual games have been in the past.
While the games had their share of good moments on the field and court, the difference was the organized student section that brought all the energy and enthusiasm only teenagers cheering on their school mates can bring to the proceedings.
Besides just being loud, outfits or themes were coordinated. Faces and T-shirts were painted at homecoming along with whistles. A luau theme permeated the volleyball match full of grass skirts and leis. Friday’s road game to Holliday were white shirts and face paint for a whiteout type theme.
Not just settling for looking nice, concerted effort also has gone into being loud in the way only teenagers can. Short little chants and organized clapping at the right moments, like before every serve in volleyball, can make even the routine moments of the game feel that much bigger.
Most schools show a bit more spirit the week of homecoming that can lead to one excited stands a season if enough students are encouraged, but to keep it going takes some commitment.
Junior volleyball player Lexi Kirkham and several of her classmates decided to try and make homecoming that much more special on Sept. 13. They created the Twitter account BowiePepSquad and sent out text messages to encourage enough of a group to commit to being loud during the football game that it drew some notice compared to the usual apathetic student crowd before.
People noticed. Bowie football coach and athletic director Cory Mandrell brought down the group after the game to thank them for their support as he saw it had an affect on the field.
Not wanting this to be a one time thing and to have all the football players return the support they received Friday night forward, Tuesday’s volleyball game, just a regular non-district game against state ranked Bridgeport, saw an even bigger crowd show up.
Fans would have been remiss to think it was a themed pep rally day with all of hula skirts and tropical shirts.
While this might be just a short lived trend that might die down after awhile, it is not the plan.
Kirkham said they are mostly making things up as they go along.
Fans will see how long the loud crowds and themed outfits keep showing up, but for right now the school spirit is hard to ignore if you are going to Bowie sporting events.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.
The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.
To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint