SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Love’s dream realized
Dejai Love had always wanted to be a cheerleader, and last week Bowie High School cheerleaders granted her that wish.
Love is a ninth-grader at BHS who suffers from Down Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that’s associated with physical growth delays and distinguished facial features.
“We try to involve as many kids as possible,” said BHS cheer sponsor Nicole Jordan. “I think it’s important for everyone to be included because they are part of the school spirit.”
Love wanted to be a cheerleader for Halloween, and she was all decked out for the BHS pep rally and the game against Paradise.
Jordan said she had an old uniform Love could wear, and she performed well.
“Dejai did great,” Jordan said. “She did great in practice on Thursday and Friday, and she knew the cheers. She kept up the whole game.”
Love stays in Brooke Hunter’s self-contained classroom at the high school where she learns life skills.
The moment touched Amy Justiss, Love’s mother, so much she wrote a letter to the Bowie cheerleaders.
“Today, you made a little girl’s dream come true,” Justiss said. “She has always wanted to cheer, and since she is special needs no one would let her join their team.”
Justiss said Love enjoys watching the cheerleaders and mascot.
“Watching her (Dejai), I couldn’t help but cry, her smile from ear to ear was one I have never seen before,” Justiss said.
Justiss called the cheerleaders heroes for their actions.
“Your parents and teachers should be very proud of you all,” added Justiss, who works in Bridgeport for a monster truck promotion. “Thank you for being kids she can look up to and feel safe with.”
There are scores of videos from both the game and pep rally on Facebook, and Love was spot on with her routines. Read more in the Nov. 5. Bowie News.
Bowie’s Dejai Love (center) cheers during an Oct. 28 game versus Paradise at Jackrabbit Stadium. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not 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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