-
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Rebecca McGregor will be competing as part of the East Texas Team for the girls Oil Bowl Classic basketball game Friday, June 6. -
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Lady Blues senior Braylee Mayes serves the ball during one of the team’s matches in 2024. Mayes will be competing on the West Texas Team for volleyball at the Oil Bowl Classic. -
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Lillian Noble will be competing as part of the East Texas Team for the girls Oil Bowl Classic volleyball game Saturday, June 7. -
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham senior Georgia Martin sets a ball for one of her teammates to score during the team’s 3-0 win over Iowa Park in September 2024. The senior made her season debut after missing nearly the entire first month of the season with an injury.
Graham athletes continue to make their community proud representing them in summer tournaments.
This year, several athletes were selected to compete in the various athletic events for the Maskat Shrine Annual Oil Bowl Classic.
This athletic tournament dates back to the 1930s when the first ever oil bowl all star football game was played. According to their website, the oil bowl started as “a simple summertime West Texas vs. East Texas high school all-star football game back in 1938.”
Today, the event has grown into “one of the most prestigious postseason all star games in the United States.” They have also expanded their reach to different sports as well to allow more athletes a chance to compete.
Today, the oil bowl is made up of football, basketball and volleyball for its tournament games. While no Graham athletes are being represented in the football game, several Lady Blues athletes will be participating in the basketball and volleyball events.
For basketball, that would be Rebecca McGregor. McGregor played in the guard position for the Lady Blues this season while showcasing versatility, switching between guard and forward positions when needed.
McGregor was also a very decorated athlete for Lady Blues sports this year, earning Academic All District and Second Team All District honors for the Basketball team.
McGregor graduated from Graham High School this past year and will be attending the University of Arkansas this fall.
Lillian Noble will be representing Graham on the East Texas Team for volleyball, alongside her teammate Georgia Martin.
Noble was also an award winning athlete for Graham this past year earning Academic All State honors for the Lady Blues Track and Field teams in the spring. Noble will be attending Oklahoma Baptist University in the fall.
Martin earned Academic All District Honors and 2nd Team All District Honors for her efforts in volleyball this past season as well as being an Academic All-State selection for the Texas High School Coaches Association and the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
After graduating this year, Martin will be continuing her academic and athletic career at Texas Tech University in the fall.
The West Texas volleyball team will have an accomplished Graham competitor in Braylee Mayes.
Mayes earned First Team All District honors as well as Academic All District honors. Like Martin she was also an Academic All State honoree as well from the Texas Girls Coaches Association and Texas High School Coaches Association.
Mayes will also be moving on to the next steps of her academic and athletic career by attending the University of Arkansas in the fall.
The Graham community will have their chance to show support for these athletes before they head off to college.
The girls basketball game will be played at 6 p.m. Friday, June 6 at Legacy High School in Wichita Falls.
The volleyball game will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at Memorial High School in Wichita Falls.
