Sports

Great run in Class 4A by Vista Ridge

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Vista Ridge High School made quite a splash into varsity athletics in its five years in Class 4A,

Since opening in 2003, Rangers athletics have gone to state in volleyball, boys' soccer, cross country, track, swimming, wrestling and golf.

Add to that multiple district titles won in girls' soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball and cross country, and its not difficult to see the legacy built up by Vista Ridge athletes.

2003-04

There was no varsity team athletics in the school's first year, but Travis Fort and Carrie Clark began the first of four-straight trips to state in cross country and wrestling, respectively.

Fort, now running for Tarleton State, got to state as a medalist and finished 14th.

Clark (wrestling for Oklahoma City University) wrestled at state at 185 pounds.

2004-05

Moved into District 26-4A in all sports but football, Vista Ridge quickly got to work on a district title haul for girls' cross country, girls' swimming and boys' golf.

Jessica Guest (cross country), Michael Smith (boys golf) and Jordan McCallum (17-4A Girls' swimmer of the Year) were among the individual award winners.

Fort just missed out on a state title in cross country, finishing second, while teammate Javier Perez placed fifth.

Clark also just came up short of a state championship in wrestling, finishing second.

Also reaching state was Angela Gash, competing in the 400-meter dash in girls track.

There was also playoff wins by girls basketball (the schools' first playoff win), girls' soccer and softball.

2005-06

The banners started going up in earnest in the school's third year, as Fort and Clark became state champions.

Fort simply dominated the competition all year long, winning district and regional titles to his crowning win at state.

Clark was just as strong, pinning all comers to win state at 185 pounds.

Javier Perez added to the individual medal haul in boys' cross country, finishing third overall. Zoe Galbraith also became the first girl to qualify for state in girls' cross country.

Daniel Wood added to the individual accolades, reaching state as a medalist in boys' golf.

District titles in volleyball (undefeated in district), softball, girls' swimming, boys' swimming, boys' golf and boys' soccer also came in during the year.

The baseball team also had a great season, going from winless in district the year before to the second round of the playoffs.

Another big story was the girls' soccer team, as they pushed their season to the Region IV championship match.

2006-07

The lists of accomplishments for the school's first senior class was immense, starting in the fall with cross country and volleyball.

The volleyball team got as close as you can get to a state title, finishing 31-8 and state runner-ups in 4A. The Lady Rangers also pushed its district-match winning streak to 26.

Both cross country teams won district titles, with the girls also adding the program's first regional team title.

Freshman Ashley Isham and Fort also swept individual titles at district and regionals. At state, Fort just missed out on a second state title, while Isham came in fifth overall.

Clark, however, wasn't denied at state wrestling in winning going undefeated and winning back-to-back titles. Teammate Bryan Osorio nearly won a state title in boys' wrestling as well.

The spring also saw Isham medal in the 3,200 at state track, with both Smith and Wood finishing third and fourth in state golf, respectively.

Girls' swimming added a bronze medal at state in the 200 medley relay (Ziemann, Danae Welch, McCallum, Shelby Green).

Teamwise, district titles were captured by softball, girls' soccer, girls' swimming, boys' swimming. Girls track won the Region IV title, while boys' soccer won its first playoff match.

2007-08

The last school year may have been the school's best, as Isham won gold medals in the 1,600 and 3,200 at state.

Teammate Amanda Russell was third in the 3,200, while the girls' track team won district and regional titles.

Boys' soccer not only qualified for the playoffs, they pushed their season to the 4A state tournament.

Girls swimming won the regional title, as Ziemann took silver in the 200 freestyle at state.

Brandon Sheldon gave wrestling its second state-runner up, while sprinter Kaleigh Frazier qualified for state track in the 100 for the second straight year.

The year was closed out in a big way by softball and baseball, as both teams reached the Region IV title series in their sports.

Volleyball, girls' soccer, boys' swimming and boys' track also won district titles.

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