SPORTS
Hill upgraded to Nocona AD
Nocona Independent School District officials looked inward for a new athletic director/head football coach, selecting Jeff Hill for the position.
Hill, who served last year as Nocona football’s offensive coordinator and also led the softball program to the playoffs for the first time in a while as its head coach, was upgraded to the role.
This came on the heels of former Athletic Director Blake Crutsinger, who served in the role the last four years, resigned in May.
For Hill, the choice to apply for the position was a no brainer. His one year in Nocona had impressed upon him and his wife that it was the place they would like to be long term.
“I’m looking for a town to raise my kids in and Nocona has treated my family really well,” Hill said. “There are some really good people. The kids work hard. Everything I am looking for in a hometown is right here in Nocona and I want to try and make it as best as it can be, especially through athletics.”
Before Nocona, Hill served as the athletic director at S&S Consolidated while also spending time at Hebron and Whitewright in his coaching career.
Hill expresses great respect for the departing Crutsinger and besides changing a few small things in how he personally wants to do things, he is not trying to come in with a sweeping restructuring of the whole athletic department.
The program had five of its six team sports make the playoffs, with volleyball playing in the regional final and the girl’s basketball team winning the state championship.
That along with two athletes competing at the state championship in cross country and track with one earning a gold medal, it was one of the more successful school years in athletic program history.
“Coach Crutsinger was awesome and did a great job so honestly just little tweaks, a little bit of structure and cohesion amongst the coaching staff between boys and girls,” Hill said. “I hope to keep the winning tradition going overall in the athletic department.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
Nocona and Saint Jo opened their respective district play with convincing road wins.
The Lady Indians needed four games but outlasted Archer City, 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16). Paige Davis and Sy Parker each had 12 kills to pace Nocona with Davis adding 12 digs defensively. Maddyn Bowles led the way with 17 digs, 11 assists and served up three aces.
Setter Kasi Castro had 24 assists and 13 digs with Sophia Gaytan adding 12 assists and eight digs. Saint Jo went into Bellevue and posted a 25-15, 25-14, 25-22 sweep over the Lady Eagles.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After a tough loss to open District 10-A volleyball play, Bellevue’s squad used the two-day break to refocus its efforts. The break worked as the Lady Eagles evened its record at 1-1 with a 3-0 win over visiting Midway Sept. 24 (25-17, 25-22, 25-20).
Bellevue Coach Jamie Hickey said working on game scenarios in practice has begun to pay off. Keeping focus was key to the victory as well.
“I think our key tonight was our mindset and just staying together,” Hickey said. “Letting mistakes go and focusing on the next play. We’ve been working on scenarios in practice and being intentional with each possession and attacking the ball more. I think we did tonight.” The Falcons played gutsy all night long, staying in each game after Bellevue had taken a good lead but the Lady Eagles, playing before a large crowd, held their own.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Forestburg opened District 10-A action with a road win at Gold-Burg Sept. 22, beating the Lady Bears in a three-game sweep (25-8, 25-9, 25-6.)
Forestburg’s Madi Wadsworth started game one with a five-point run, including two aces. Brenna Briles kept the drive alive with a kill. Gold-Burg broke serve and Zara Andrade’s serving point cut the deficit to three.
Yareli Aguirre cut the lead to 5-7 with another single point. Jocelyn Rich later countered for Forestburg with another five-point string to extend the lead to 13-5Back-to-back aces by Rich forced Gold-Burg Coach Cheryl Cromleigh into a timeout.
Sophomore Addy Conway rolled off four aces amidst a six-point run for the Lady ‘Horns to give the squad a 20-6 lead. Jocelyn Rich’s kill kept things moving along for Forestburg.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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