Field Hockey Fever

WFISD is home to award-winning bands, stellar soccer teams and a plethora of UIL teams. It is a thriving environment for the academically strong as well as one for traditional sports such as soccer, volleyball and football. However, to put itself over the top and prove to the state that WFISD is truly number one, it needs one final element: a field hockey team. Field hockey is not a sport that pops into mind when one thinks of high school athletics. But the demand for a team is beginning to build with rapid velocity. If a student were to talk to their friends about starting a team, chances are that the student would talk to their friends about it and so on. Students seem to embrace the idea of a team because it is a way to stay active and relieve pent-up frustrations. Since girls are not extended the chance to play football, they should have a contact sport that they can play without having to jump through hoops to make the team. Another reason WFISD needs a field hockey team is that it would be a great learning experience for the students from the three high schools. Although the swimming team is already merging the three schools, a minuscule number of students participate in it. A field hockey team, however, would spur the interest of many more girls. By merging Rider, Hirschi, and Old High into one supreme team, WFISD would show Texas that it is superb in the athletic arena which in turn would generate more interest in the district. The aspect of having the sport catch on across Texas is also an inspiration to start a team. Field hockey is a highly active sport that involves about as much running as soccer. This would keep the participating girls active in a fun way that doesn’t seem like exercise. Once other school districts catch on to this idea, the credit for bringing this orphaned sport back would be bestowed upon WFISD. This could result in publicity for the district, which could in turn bring in revenue. Those against the team would argue that it is a contact sport, therefore dangerous. However, there is no more contact than in football, and there is no actual tackling. They could argue that injured students could attack WFISD with a lawsuit, but waivers would stop this possibility before a student would even hit the field. All in all, WFISD needs a field hockey team because girls don’t have a contact sport, to show Texas that they are more talented than they appear, and to bring extra attention to WFISD.

Swim Team Setting Records

The WFISD swim team faced a crisis very early in the season. Star swimmer, Lindsay O’Donnell, had to sit out of several meets because of a combination of H1N1 and being diagnosed with Graves Syndrome. To date, the team has participated in four meets, with another one scheduled for December 8th.

So far this year, three Rider records have been broken. O’Donnell has broken two records this year, and another in 2008. The records she now holds are for the 50- and 100-yard freestyle. Her time for the 50- was 25:21 and the 100- was in 54:89.

Ashton Gill now holds the record for the 100-yard breaststroke, and his time is 1:02:78.

Rodney Devonte’ Gilliam: Football

Most proud of this year: I’m most proud of my teammates and how they have kept playing hard and never given up.

Biggest accomplishment this season: When we beat the Colony.

One thing you can’t live without in your sports bag: The things I can’t live without are my snacks and my iPod.

Rider Raider Football

One Team, One Goal

After a shaky start, the varsity football team looks forward to a strong season as they rely on the leadership of the seniors.
“[I’m looking forward to] a district championship and a state championship,” Coach James Garfield said. “[And] kids playing hard and doing what is right all the time.”
Rider lost many key seniors this year, including four division one athletes, due to graduation.
“It happens every year,” Garfield said. “The dynamic of every team is different, therefore, you have plans and adjustments in place before the senior class reaches their senior year.”
Garfield said the difference between this year’s team and last is team cohesiveness.
“Both teams were very close, the thing about this years group is a ‘workman’ type attitude,” Garfield said. “This is the kind of team that puts on their hard hat and brings their lunch pail.”
Garfield’s personal goals include being a leader not only to the team, but also to the school.
“I would hope that the love I have for the game would come through and the players would see it,” Garfield said. “If a player does something that may be detrimental to our team chemistry then we will handle it with some type of punishment.”
Senior Zach Apperson looks forward to playing in December.
“We are a team,” Apperson said. “It’s not just about any one player, offense, defense, or who is going where, it’s about Rider Raider football as a whole.”
As he does his job, makes plays, and tries to keep everyone’s head up, Apperson said he will contribute to the team.
“[This team relies on] unity and heart,” Apperson said.  “We have already gone through a tough season so far and we have worked extremely hard for all of this, now its just time to let everything fall into place.”
Apperson said the coaching staff is very motivational and would do anything for a win.
“Leadership is extremely difficult, sometimes you may have to do or say something you don’t want to do,” Garfield said. “The team is more important than the individual.”

Varsity Volleyball

Coming together as a family, the varsity volleyball team hopes to be successful in the 2009-2010 season.

Members of the team feels that they are doing well because they are functioning as a whole.

“We’re really close as a team and we’re playing our hardest,” Sophomore Cadyn Laing said.

The girls have been handling criticism well, so they can improve.

“The girls have been responsive,” coach TiAda Radtke said. “They’ve dona a good job of changing what we ask them to.”

Even this early in the season the girls have their favorite moments.

“The best part of the season was beating Old High,” Laing said.

Insiders believe that the good mix of players is helping the outcomes of games.

“The team is pretty balanced,” Coach Radtke said. “We’re lucky that everyone contributes equally.”

Players seem to be bonding as a group.

“There’s nothing I would change about the team,” Laing said.

Coach Radtke is positive about the team.

“There have been no major obstacles so far,” Coach Radtke said.

Cross Country

Chris Anderson is leading the boys’ cross country team with a time of 17:24, Darryl Neal follows with a time of 19:02, and Aaron Kurtz comes in third at Rider with a time of 19:14.

The team places third at the Perkins Scout Camp and 11th at Marcus I International.

“I believe this team has more upside than teams in the past,” coach Joshua Hill said. “Hopefully, you’ll see times continue to drop and we will reach our peak right as we hit district meet.”

JV Football

The JV football team is so far undefeated for the 2009-2010 season with a 2-0 record.

So far the team has played Byron Nelson, a new team from Justin, twice.

Their scores were 12-0 and 28-7, with the seven points from the other team as a technicality. The defense has not yet been scored on.

“Our junior varsity is one of the hardest working groups in our football program, and we expect great things from them in the future,” coach Jason Meng said.

Some of the individual achievements are a kickoff return for a touchdown by Johnathan Nunn, five touchdown runs by Tevin Aldridge, and a fantastic job as tight end for Devon Garvin, who has had major receptions on third downs.