40th Anniversary of Flatonia’s 1985 State Championship in Volleyball to be Honored Friday
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This caption for the photo is updated to include married names: Back: Coach Ann Schmidt-Rigden, Mimi Richter Lahodny (Mgr.), Cece Garbade Oden (All State), Jan Wetjen Anderson (All State), Gay Len Rietz Gaskey, Audra Mica Janecka, Pam Vecera Beesley (Stats). Front: Aurora Alvarado Kalina-Young, Jo Ann Alvarado Chavez, Shawna Mica Bruns (All State), Michelle Farek Sexton, Shannon Florus Dyer.
Flatonia ISD will be honoring their 1985 volleyball team that 40 years ago achieved a State Championship.
There will be two recognitions: after the Lady Dogs Varsity volleyball game verses Ganado at approximately 5:45 p.m. in the new gym, then again at approximately 7 p.m. before the Bulldogs verses Ganado football game on the football field.
Back in 1985 volleyball had different rules. Teams played 2 out of 3 sets, and you won a set with 15 points. You could only score a point when your team was serving, and a serve could not touch the net. That year Flatonia’s quickest complete game was over in 16 minutes!
In 1985 Flatonia was in a 1A district. The team record was 29-5.
Wins in pre-district included Bishop Forest, Weimar, Fayetteville, Sacred Heart, Smithville, Runge, Sealy, Yoakum, Columbus, and Pflugerville. The early rounds of playoffs saw Flatonia defeating Iola, Normangee, and Sabine Pass. The Regional Tournament was played at Blinn College in Brenham. The Lady Dogs beat Burton 15-9, 13-15, 15-10 and Tilden McMullen County 15-12, 15-7 to win the regional tourney. The State Tournament was played in Gregory Gym on the UT campus. Flatonia beat Wink in the semi-final match 15-12, 15-11, then beat Scurry-Rosser in the state final match 15-6, 15-11.
This ‘85 Lady Dog volleyball team was coached by Fayetteville native Ann Schmidt-Rigden in her fourth year at Flatonia. She coached for two years at Fayetteville, then 23 years at Flatonia, and completed her career at La Grange coaching 10 years, for a total of 35 years. Coach Schmidt-Rigden retired in 2015. She has said she “loved the kids at all three schools, they were enthusiastic, talented and hardworking with great parents ..... really a testament to growing up in our Fayette County.”