SPORTS
Richey trades in basketball for pom poms
Bowie 2020 graduate Brysen Richey thought her days in athletics were over once the high school track season was officially canceled last year due to COVID-19.
The pint sized girl with big hair did get to finish both her cross country season and her final basketball season, where she helped the team reach the regional quarterfinals as its point guard.
Richey had mostly stuck to those types of activities after the age of 11 years old.
It is surprising to some then to see Richey as part of the Tarleton State University cheer squad this year. She helped the squad finish second in the advanced small co-ed open division at the National cheer association collegiate cheer and championship at Dayton, FL on April 10. The squad also finished second in the spirit rally and fifth in game day divisions.
Despite not cheering in junior high or high school, aside from the student section, Richey did have some background in cheerleading. She did gymnastics from the age of 2-11 and did some competitive cheerleading until the age of 10.
It was her mom, Nicki, who had the idea for her daughter to give the sport a try heading into college.
“I never really thought about it until she said something to me,” Richey said. “So we called my old tumbling coach because he lives in Wichita. We went up there one day just to mess around and see if I could still do everything I used to. So I thought, yeah, I’ll try out.”
When her friends found out she had not just tried out but made the cheerleading squad at Tarleton State, she said several were surprised.
“Whenever people think of cheerleaders, I think high school cheer and college cheer, it’s a lot different,” Richey said. “All they know is high school cheer, so whenever they knew I tried out they were really surprised.”
While the tumbling had come back to her easily, it was all of the stunts that as a flyer who gets lifted up by her teammates, was a learning curve for her.
“I’d never stunted on the level that they’re on, so I had to learn a lot,” Richey said.
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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