The Odessa High Lady Bronchos are hoping for more luck in 2023.
After a 13-18 overall record (0-10 in District 2-6A) last year, head coach Cody Dominguez is optimistic for this season as Odessa High returns seven players with varsity experience from last year.
“We’re super excited,” Dominguez said. “We’re excited for the upcoming season and we’re ready to put in some more work.”
The Lady Bronchos graduated six seniors from last year.
Dominguez enters his second season as head coach of the Lady Bronchos and for him, there are no more jitters like last year.
“I will say that this year is not as stressful since this is my second year,” Dominguez said. “I feel like I have a feel of how high school and UIL works. I’m excited.”
One area of strength for Dominguez is his team’s morale.
“Last season, the players had to get used to having a new coach,” Dominguez said. “We’re getting the team to believe what we’re seeing and trusting the process. The kids are seeing the results and they’ve been putting in the work.”
Experience will be on the Lady Bronchos’ side this year as the team returns seven varsity players.
Among the players to return this year is junior Clarissa Rodriguez who was on last year’s First Team All-District squad.
Rodriguez has been on varsity since her freshman year.
This year, I have Clarissa Rodriguez who’s a great junior coming in (and) she’s going to be a three-year varsity player,” Dominguez said. “I feel like she’s grown as a player. She’s trying to help better the team.
The Lady Bronchos also bring back District 2-6A Honorable Mentions from last year Zoelly Herrera and Aubrey Villa at captain.
“(Villa) is a great captain and a great leader,” Dominguez said. “She pushes the girls to where they need to be and she’s the one who will refocus everyone back. If we need to jump back to something, she’ll help everyone get back to where they’re supposed to be. Then, I’ll have my other standouts. We also have Zoelly Herrera returning. She’s a four-year letterman as well. We have some good returning seniors that have been starting the last couple of years and they know what to expect. They feel it and they want it more than anything.”
District will always be a challenge and the Lady Bronchos are going to be up against the likes of Permian, Midland Legacy, Wolfforth Frenship, Midland High and San Angelo Central.
“Our competition, I expect will always be there and be strong,” Dominguez said. “This year, I’m expecting our competitors to be strong and to bring it like they always do. I’m also expecting my team to show that they’ve been putting in the extra work in the gym and hard time on and off the court and show what they’ve been putting in the work for.”
