In order to explain how all of this works, we’ll go back to 2006-07, With Howe finishing sixth in district in football, fifth in basketball, fifth in track and third in baseball, those ranking numbers totaled to 19 (6+5+5+3). That put them finishing fourth overall in the final standings. Whitewright finished with eight points overall as they were first in football, first in basketball, second in track and fourth in baseball.
Since that initial season, the Howe boys athletics have never finished first in the final district standings to receive the “Norman Dickey District Cup,” however the girls athletes of Howe are a totally different story. From 2006-07 through 2008-09, the Howe girls finished first each of those years. The strong track and basketball programs for the girls have kept them competitive with each district school by finishing in the top two for five straight years.
So what do these numbers look like recently? The Lady Bulldogs finished seventh in volleyball and their track fell to fifth. However, we all remember that they were really good in basketball and softball finishing second and tied for first in those categories, respectively. So that brought The Lady Bulldogs total to 15 1/2 points (when a tie occurs, Dickey gives each team equal share and that’s where the 1/2 comes in to play). The Pottsboro Lady Cardinals finished first overall with 11, 1/2 points. They finished first in basketball and track which offset their poor showing in softball.
Howe’s boys finished sixth this year with 20 overall points. The Bulldogs finished third in football, third in basketball, eighth in track and sixth in baseball. Howe was sitting pretty until the year changed to 2015.
Dickey says that these sports are chosen because of their ability to easily research. He is not undermining the value of other sports.
This is what happens when an athletic director/math teacher retires.
