SPORTS
Teen racing to success in BMX
Long before he was competing in BMX races, Bowie resident Toby Dunn knew his son had a thing for his bike.
“Jaden’s first bicycle he actually wore the tires off,” Dunn said. “Not from sliding the back tire. I mean he wore out a set of tires he rode it so much.”
Jaden cannot remember life without him riding his bike,
“I just started riding street with some friends and just grew to love bicycles,” Jaden said.
That passion for riding has paid off as Jaden won the Texas State Championship in BMX racing for the 13-year-old intermediate division on Sept. 8. That was followed by the tougher Gold Cup in Austin on Sept. 15., where he finished second overall. This was in less than a year of competing on the national circuit.
Dunn was more familiar with motorcycle races himself, but when Jaden brought up BMX racing as something he might want to do, Dunn and Jaden’s mother Amy sent him to a BMX camp called Rebel Run in Houston after racing in a few local contests.
“When we picked him up, they said the only problem they had with him was they could not keep him off the bike,” Dunn said.
With a new bike for Christmas, Jaden started seriously competing on the national circuit for the first time after basketball season ended. With a newfound dedication and using everything he learned at Rebel Run, Jaden has racked up at least 16 first place finishes.
While Dunn and Amy fully support Jaden in this endeavor, it has been Jaden who has taken charge of his training and diet so he can go as far as he can. He has kept an A-B average while taking three advanced classes.
The teen lives with Amy in Weatherford where he goes to school, but sees Dunn often.
One of their projects is trying to set up a mini course in the back yard. While it is something Dunn is familiar with in motorcycle racing, it is a lot of work and is just in the starting stages right now.
While Jaden has some local sponsors, including Dunn’s place of work Lipscomb, they hope to attract some national sponsors in year two to help offset the bike maintenance and travel costs.
Two big races are still on the horizon for Jaden: the Lone Star National in Houston on Oct. 25-27 and the Grand Nationals in Tulsa, OK. on Nov. 28-Dec. 1.
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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