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.
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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