BHS athletes honored at annual banquet
By Brant Thurmond
The 2022-23 Breckenridge High School Athletic Banquet on Thursday evening, May 18, was a night to reflect on the success of the athletic program and build off the progress that has been made over the last three years with Casey Pearce at the helm of the Breckenridge Buckaroo and Lady Buckaroo Athletic programs.
Pearce told those in attendance at the Breckenridge Athletic and Fine Arts Facility that progress is definitely being made throughout the athletic program as a whole.
“We are consistently advancing sports into the post season and competing at a high level in our region and on the state stage,” Pearce said. “This is a credit to the athletes, coaches and this community.
Breckenridge High School athletes sing the school song at the 2022-23 Athletic Banquet. (Photo by Brant Thurmond)
“We have accomplished many things we discussed at our annual player/parent meeting in July,” he said. “The structure and discipline have improved; work ethic has become an everyday habit by our athletes and coaches; doing right by one another is evident every day; the finger pointing and complaining are working their way out; and the physical strength and embracing the weight room by male and female athletes is showing up every time we compete.”
Pearce had a special message to the class of 2023 who left their mark on BHS athletics and have set the bar for years to come.
“From your coaches, teammates, and the Buckaroo Faithful, thanks for all you have done for the Buckaroos and your school,” Pearce said. “Enjoy these life-long memories and the friends you made while in the Buckaroo Athletic Program. Chances are you will not have a better experience playing sports. You played for the true love of the game, teammates, school, family, and this community.
“Being a Buckaroo is not something you do.. It’s who you are,” he continued. “Remember, sooner or later, the playing days will end and ‘the air will go out of the ball.’ Hopefully, Buckaroo Athletics has prepared you for when that time comes, and you will become great parents, leaders and productive citizens wherever you live.”
Looking to the fall of 2023 and the start of a new season in all sports, Pearce told the returning athletes there will be unknowns in all sports with new coaches, new opportunities and new schedules.
“We owe some teams on our schedules and some have put a bullseye on us,” Pearce said. “We better rise to the challenge. Between now and August, we need to concentrate our efforts on the things we can control – the 2023 Buckaroos. We have an opportunity to have a great fall, but it won’t happen by chance.”
Each year, at the sports banquet, coaches recognize athletes for their achievements throughout the year and give a brief recap of how their sports performed throughout their respective seasons.
2022-2023 SPORTS SEASONS
Several Buckaroo and Lady Buckaroo sports teams had a great deal of success throughout the 2022-2023 athletic seasons.
The year started off with both the volleyball and football teams making the playoffs. The football team started their season off 6-0 and were ranked as high as No. 6 in Class 3A, according to Dave Campbell’s rankings.
The Bucks finished with an overall record of 8-3 following a Bi-District loss to Paradise. The future is still bright for the Buckaroo football team as the JV team was a perfect 10-0 in 2022.
The Lady Buckaroo cross country team placed second at district and qualified for the regional meet, while the Buckaroo cross country team placed third at district and qualified for the regional meet, as well. All of the Lady Bucks team members will return for the 2023 season, while the Bucks will lose one team member to graduation.
In the winter sports, the Lady Buckaroo basketball team advanced to the playoffs after finishing third in district and were Bi-District champions, while the Buckaroos narrowly missed out on the playoffs.
The spring sports saw a great deal of success for the athletic program, as well, with the baseball and softball teams making it to the playoffs. The powerlifting team had 21 lifters advance to the regional meet, while the Buckaroo golf team placed third in the district as well.
The BHS track teams saw several athletes advance to the Region I track meet in Abilene. The Buckaroos won their second straight district championship in 2023, and advanced six athletes to the state meet in Austin.
Chase Lehr captured gold in the 800-meter run for the second straight year at the state meet and set a new personal and school record with a time of 1:51.82. Lehr’s time was the second fastest in the state among all divisions 1A-6A.
Sawyer Wimberley placed third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.82 at the state meet. Adler Loftis placed fifth in the discus throw with a distance of 155 feet.
The 4×400 (1,600-meter) relay team of Karter Smalley, Angel Alvarado, Jaime Cruz and Chase Lehr placed fifth with a time of 3:23.65.
Overall, the Buckaroo team placed 8th at the track meet with 22 points.
The Lady Buckaroo track team advanced the 4×400 relay team to the regional meet and placed fifth at regionals with a time of 4:07.40. Ruthie Valdez placed sixth place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.84, a personal record, and Joni Jackson came in 10th in discus with a distance of 110-07, a personal record.
2022-23 SPORTS AWARDS
Anson Rodgers was chosen as the All-Around Senior Boy Athlete, and the All-Around Senior Girl Athlete Award was presented to Avery Rodgers. (Photo by Brant Thurmond)
Among the many awards given at the banquet were four superlative awards given to a boy and a girl athlete.
The All-Around Senior Girl Athlete Award was presented to Avery Rodgers. Anson Rodgers was chosen as the All-Around Senior Boy Athlete. Keaton Ragle and Avery Rodgers were presented with the Scholastic Athlete Award, which is given to the BHS athletes with the highest scholastic average.
The Breckenridge American Most Inspirational boy and girl athletes were Keaton Ragle and Haigan Thompson.
Keaton Ragle and Avery Rodgers were presented with the Scholastic Athlete Award for the BHS athletes with the highest scholastic average. (Photo by Brant Thurmond)
The Most Inspirational Awards by the Breckenridge American were presented to Keaton Ragle and Haigan Thompson. (Photo by Brant Thurmond)
Other awards recipients are as follows:
Football
Jackie Cooper Memorial Award – Anson Rodgers; Lions Club MVP Award – Anson Rodgers (Offensive) and Zeke Castillo (Defensive); Fighting Heart Award – Isaiah Lehr; Jerry Tubbs Permanent Team Captains Award – Anson Rodgers, Jerry Lawson and Nando Becerra
Cross Country
Outstanding Boy – Chance Stewart; Outstanding Girl – Karsyn Smalley
Volleyball
Lions Club Award Most Valuable Player – Jesi Warren and ZaeaRagle; Outstanding Defensive Player – Haigan Thompson; Buckaroo Determination Award – Mia Castillo and Destiny Jaminson
Basketball
Outstanding Player (Boy) – Jerry Lawson; Fighting Heart Award (Boy) – Karter Smalley; LT Cook Award (Boy) – Anson Rodgers; Fighting Heart Award (Girl) – Kaysi Wilcox; Lions Club (Girl) – ZaeaRagle and Destiny Jamison; LT Cook Award (Girl) – Camila Palacios; Determination (Girl) – Avery Rodgers
Power Lifting
Best Boy Lifter – Ashton Reyes; Best Girl Lifter – Cara Schkade; Newcomer of the Year – Nathan Roberts; Iron Horse Award (Boy) – Sawyer Wimberley; Iron Horse Award (Girl) –Haigan Thompson
Golf
Most Valuable Boy – Jackson Curtis
Tennis
Outstanding Boy – Keaton Ragle; Match Point Award (Girl) – Camila Palacios; Jenny Sloan Stanley Award (Girl) – ZaeaRagle
Softball
Player of the Year – Brittney Melton; Fighting Heart – Olyvia Perez; Lady Bucks Batting Champion – Joni Jackson
Track
BOYS
Elks Lodge Outstanding Boy – Chase Lehr; Fighting Heart Award (Boy) – Sawyer Wimberley; Newcomer (Boy) – Jamie Cruz; Holding the Rope Award – Adler Loftis
GIRLS
Elks Lodge Outstanding Girl – Ruthie Valdez; Determination (Girl) – Haylie Mendoza; Fighting Heart Award (Girl) – Destiny Jamison; Newcomer (Girl) – Kassidy Whitaker; Field Event Girl of the Year – Joni Jackson
Baseball
Bill Black Memorial Most Valuable Player Award – Karter Smalley; Buckaroo Batting Champion – Aaron Moore; Fighting Heart Award – Marco Jarmillo
Cheer
Most Spirited – Giselle Reyes; Best All-Around Cheerleader – Kenna Adams; Kimberley Pardue/Pamela Pardue Midkiff Permanent Cheer Captain Award – Kenna Adams
2023 SUMMER CAMPS
Several summer camps will be available for young athletes to participate in throughout the summer. Dates for Buckaroo baseball, Lady Buckaroo softball, Buckaroo basketball and Buckaroo football camps have been announced so far.
Details for each camp can be found at the following link: https://breckenridge.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?fbclid=IwAR28zzqEzRqoYsE4Pg7IetFbnmaRRWYuXgBCp6P6h7M2-LOLhs2YMGkyYXY
Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge High School Athletic Director Casey Pearce speaks at the 2022-23 Athletic Banquet after Anson Rodgers and Avery Rodgers were named the All-Around Senior Boy Athlete and the All-Around Senior Girl Athlete Award, respectively. (Photo by Brant Thurmond)
