Five Poteet athletes to continue playing careers in collegeFree Access


POTEET—It’s a proud moment when a small school can send an athlete to the collegiate ranks.

Poteet got to multiply that feeling by five.

Five Aggies will continue their playing careers around the state, including two pairs heading to the same school.

Hannah Dove and Lea Sanchez will play volleyball at Schreiner; Sonny Orozco and Samuel Ritchey will continue on with McMurry football; and Anthony Ambriz will be a member of the Texas Lutheran football team.

“It’s been a dream since I was a little kid,” Orozco said. “I’ve always wanted to play college football. This is a big dream of mine.”

McMurry University, a Division III school in Abilene, competes in the American Southwest Conference.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind, and I’ve always wanted to do,” Ritchey said. “I finally got my chance, and I’m going to go with it.”

The two said being able to continue as teammates was an added bonus.

“It’s a little piece of home,” Ritchey said. “It’s going to keep me humble. I’m coming up with the same people I started with.”

Dove and Sanchez will also have the opportunity to play together.

“It’s awesome to have a friend, so hopefully we won’t get too homesick,” Sanchez said. “It’ll be fun.”

Dove said their chemistry will enhance their play on the court as well.

“It’s reassuring to know that we’ll have someone with us that we’re comfortable with already,” she said.

“We’re just excited,” Dove said. “I know we tried to accomplish as much as we could during the school season. We know that club [volleyball] and all our hard work paid off.”

Both said the small campus at Schreiner University, a DIII school in Kerrville, made them feel at home.

“It’s a pretty good feeling. It’s exciting to go further my career in volleyball and academically, too,” Sanchez said. “It will be interesting.”

Ambriz will head to DIII Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.

“To actually go play college football—because I know a lot of people don’t get to play—to be able to have a chance to do it, it makes me feel pretty great,” he said.

Ambriz said playing college football was his goal since making the varsity team as a freshman.

“I’ve been wanting to take it to the next level,” he said. “I love football with a passion. I’ve been doing it since I was little.”

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