Walker Valley HS Basketball Star Signs with Bryan
October 31, 2007
(first row from left to right: Ron Thomas, Anna Thomas, Donna Thomas, Amanda Thomas)
(second row from left to right: Danny Coggin-WVHS principal; Carol Peace-Ast. Principal; Jamy Bechler-Bryan Coach; David Tucker-WVHS Coach; Mike Turner-WVHS A.D.; Lea Myers-WVHS Ast. Coach; Paul Cretton-Ast. Principal; Nat Akiona-Ast. Principal)
By DREW SMITH Banner Sports Writer
Published October 27, 2007 11:20 PM EDT
Anna Thomas will be continuing her academic career at Bryan College.
And she’ll be playing a little basketball, too.
The Walker Valley senior post player recently signed a scholarship to play for the Lady Lions and basketball was just one of the reasons she chose Bryan.
“The Bryan basketball program has had a lot of success over the years, but education is very important to me. They have a good biology program,” said Thomas, who has a 3.9 GPA. “I really like the Christian environment and I think that coach (Jamy) Bechler is great. I love all the players and the atmosphere.”
Thomas has put in many years of hard work and that has allowed her to become the player she is today.
“I’ve trained with a lot of my Walker Valley teammates and Tony Calvin,” Thomas said. “We worked really hard in the gym at North Lee. We’ve been working there since fifth grade and I feel like that’s where I got my start. At Walker Valley I’ve developed a lot as a player as well.”
Walker Valley basketball coach David Tucker has seen Thomas develop her game over the years.
“When Anna first came here she could run and nowadays if you can run then you have a chance,” Tucker said. “She has quickness and speed. She has worked in the weight room and played all summer. It’s paying off because she’s getting to sign with Bryan College.”
Bryan coach Jamy Bechler was hired five months ago to replace former coach Matt Bollant, who is now the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Bechler is excited to have Thomas as one of his first recruits.
“Anna will fit in and help us right away,” Bechler said. “She is a great rebounder and when she played with our girls we couldn’t keep her off the boards. She is a great student and she works really hard. Anna has a lot of upside and we are losing an all-conference post player so I think she can come right in and replace her.”
Bryan College has gone to four straight NAIA national tournaments and it is the two-time defending Appalachian Athletic Conference champion.
“Bryan has a very good program and we want to bring in athletes that not only are going to help us on the court, but be good people also,” Bechler said. “With Anna we are getting a little bit of everything. She’s a good Christian girl, she’s a good student, she has a good personality and she’s a very good player.”
Walker Valley starts its season on Nov. 13, but Thomas won’t be on the court because a knee injury she recently suffered. She will have surgery on Friday to repair a torn meniscus and will be back on the court in four to six weeks.
(Courtesy of Cleveland Daily Banner, www.clevelandbanner.com)