Ranking the Top 25 Rider athletes of all time

Part of the same $6 million bond in 1958 that provided the funds to build Hirschi High School, Rider High School was the first of the new structures completed, opening in 1961.

The name of the school was chosen in 1959, less than a year after the death of former Wichita Falls High principal S. H. Rider, who spent 30 years as Old High’s lead administrator.

In July 1961, less than two months before Rider would open its doors, long-time WFHS assistant Joe Bob Tyler was chosen as the school’s first head football coach. Tyler had previously led the Burkburnett football program before joining Joe Golding’s staff.

The school’s black and gold colors were chosen shortly after the school was opened. So was the mascot of Raiders, which won in a landslide over Roughriders in a runoff election. Riders, Rebels and Razorbacks were on an earlier ballot.

Tyler coached the Raiders to their first district title in 1965, but overall, it took some time for the athletic programs to find prolonged success.

And while Tyler is one of the most notable coaching figures in WFISD history, ranking second on the recent TRN historical Top 25 list, it was Morris Mercer who established the most enduring Rider tradition.

Mercer invented the “ROHO” motto, which originally meant “Right On, Honorable Ones,” fitting the slang of the times. It was quickly changed to “Ride On, Honorable Ones” and remains the city’s most notable slogan today.

More: Ranking the top 25 coaches in Wichita Falls ISD history

While the football team thrived under Mercer, it wasn’t until about 20 years after he left Rider became the preeminent athletic program in Wichita Falls.

Rider has won three state championships in team sports, including two in boys soccer (2000 and 2007) and one in baseball (2011). It has also finished state runner-up twice, including in girls soccer in 2008 and boys soccer in 2012.

The Rider football team has made three appearances in the state semifinals, including 2012, 2018 and 2020.

The program has also produced six singles or doubles tennis state championships and one track state champion.

As Rider enters its final year competing in high school athletics before being transitioned into a junior high, the TRN has put together a panel to vote on the top 25 athletes to ever don the Raider or ROHO name on their uniforms.

The panel includes nine current or former members of the local media, including TRN sports writer Jonathan Hull, former TRN sports writer Zach Duncan, TRN sports freelancer and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football writer Cory Hogue, former TRN sports editor Andy Newberry, former TRN sports assistant editor Jeff Milam, KFDX sports director Tobin McDuff, ROHO Sports Network owner Marty McBride, WFHS radio announcer Chris Koetter and WFISD multimedia specialist Chad Johnson.

1. Bub Deerinwater (Class of 1966)

Deerinwater was Rider football’s first All-American in 1965, setting an early standard of excellence every Raider continues to be measured against today.

Deerinwater is Rider’s all-time leading rusher with 4,651 yards along with a program-record 50 rushing TDs. He was WFISD’s career leading rusher until 2018. Nicknamed the “Big Train” by former TRN Sports editor Ted Leach, Deerinwater rushed for more than 200 yards 12 times and carried the ball 784 times. He also passed for 696 yards and 13 TDs.

Deerinwater signed with TCU out of high school, but ended up at Oklahoma State where he rushed for 774 yards and five TDs in two seasons.

2. J.T. Barrett (Class of 2013)

Barrett rushed for 569 yards with seven touchdowns and passed for 784 yards and five scores as a senior prior to a knee injury. He rushed for more than 1,500 yards with nine touchdowns and passed for over 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.

Barrett held more than 25 Ohio State records when he graduated. He still holds OSU records for most career passing yards (9,434) and TD passes (104). He also holds several Big Ten Conference records including most career passing touchdowns (104) and total touchdowns (147). He also passed Drew Brees for most career offensive yards, with 12,697.

J.T. is currently an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions.

3. Taliyah Brooks (Class of 2014)

Brooks was a regional finalist in the 100 hurdles, high jump and long jump as a senior. She won the long jump at the Texas Relays and qualified for state in the 100 hurdles, winning the bronze medal. She holds the Rider record for the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, long jump and as a member of the 1,600-relay team.

She was also a standout basketball player at Rider, winning a Red River 22 MVP award. She signed with Arkansas to run track and play basketball, but abandoned basketball after an injury she suffered her senior year at Rider.

She was an eight-time All-American at Arkansas, winning a national championship in the pentathlon. Brooks qualified for the World Championships last month by finishing second in the heptathlon in the U.S. Track & Field Championships.

4. David Nelson (Class of 2005)

Nelson won a state championship with the Petrolia Pirates in 2002 as a sophomore then transferred to Rider. As a junior and senior at Rider, he caught 141 passes for 2,720 yards and 32 touchdowns. He earned all-state honors three times.

He won two National Championships as a Florida Gator while catching 46 passes for 630 yards and seven touchdowns. He then spent five seasons in the NFL with Buffalo and the NY Jets where he finished his career with 1,530 yards receiving and 10 TDs.

5. Aaron Taylor (Class of 1994)

Taylor had one of the most successful college careers of any Rider football player. After a standout career with the Raiders, Taylor signed with Nebraska where he became a two-time All-American and won the Outland Trophy — awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman — as a senior in 1997.

He’s one of seven Huskers to win, and the only Nebraska offensive lineman to be named All-American at two different positions — center and guard. The Huskers went 49-2 during his tenure with the team, including undefeated seasons and national titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997. His jersey (67) was retired by Nebraska in 1998.

He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and was later picked up by the Chicago Bears. He didn’t see action during the regular season. Taylor was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Texoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.

6. Ronnie Williams (Class of 1985)

A quarterback for Rider, Williams threw for more than 1,000 yards in his senior year in 1984. He made all the Texas blue chip lists for football and was rated by a Dallas newspaper as one of the state's top basketball players. He preferred football and chose Oklahoma State over Arkansas.

The starting QB his sophomore year in Stillwater, he threw for over 1,700 yards. Ronnie was converted to receiver for his senior year in 1987, when Mike Gundy took over under center.

Ronnie was selected in the first round of the World League of American Football (WLAF) draft in 1991 by the San Antonio Riders. The league folded after his first season, but Ronnie is the franchise’s career leader in receptions with 50.

After the WLAF, he earned an opportunity with the NFL, including four seasons with the Dolphins and Seahawks. He played in 55 NFL games, recording two career touchdowns.

7. Chase Anderson (Class of 2006)

Anderson struck out 155 batters, a 2006 Class 4A best, in 65 innings pitched, posting a 12-1 record as a senior with three no-hitters and a 0.50 ERA en route to district MVP honors. He was named all-state as a pitcher and shortstop as a senior and was named the district's utility player of the year as a junior. Anderson finished his high school career with a school-record 291 strikeouts in 206 innings pitched.

Anderson pitched his way to the University of Oklahoma after high school, working out of the Sooners' bullpen for two years. He was selected in the ninth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2009 MLB Draft. This was the third time Anderson was drafted. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the late rounds of the 2006 and 2007 drafts but opted not to sign.

In nine MLB seasons, Anderson has played for nine MLB teams and is currently in the starting rotation for the Colorado Rockies. He has a 58-54 record with a 4.36 ERA and 826 strikeouts in 1,023 1/3 innings pitched. This makes him WFISD's longest-tenured MLB player.

8. Jacob Rodriguez (Class of 2021)

There may not have ever been a player who had more hype surrounding him entering the halls of Rider High School than Rodriguez. And he delivered, helping make the Class of 2021 the winningest group in the football program’s history.

Rodriguez passed for 7,085 yards and 68 TDS, while adding 3,051 yards and 38 TDS on the ground in this career. He’s the program’s all-time leader in total offense.

Rodriguez signed with the Virginia Cavaliers out of high school, playing as a freshman, but choosing to transfer to Texas Tech. He saw time at linebacker as a redshirt freshman for the Red Raiders and is expected to be a starter in 2023.

9. TJ Vasher (Class of 2016)

Vasher was a two-time all-state player in both football and basketball. At Rider, he finished with 2,553 receiving yards, 158 receptions, 29 touchdowns and a 16.2 yards per catch average in 35 games over his three-year career. His senior season ended with 55 receptions for 1,071 yards (19.5 average), nine touchdowns and a 97.4 receiving yards per game average.

At Texas Tech, Vasher made the circus catch look routine. He caught 146 passes for 1,983 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also received scholarship offers to play NCAA Division I basketball.

Vasher went undrafted, but was with the Dallas Cowboys during preseason in 2022. He played for the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL during the 2023 season.

10. Jalynn Bristow

There’s no graduating class listed with Bristow because she didn’t graduate from Rider, transferring to Holliday and graduating from there in 2023. She led the Lady Eagles to the Class 3A state championship and is a four-time Red River 22 honoree, claiming the MVP award twice.

However, what Bristow achieved in her three seasons at Rider cannot be ignored. Bristow was a three-time all-state player for the Lady Raiders, setting the career records for points scored (2,060), points per game average (22.4), games scoring more than 20 points (59) and rebounds (1,139).

She also holds the single-season record for points (827), points per game average (27.6), games scoring more than 20 points (25) and rebounds (466). And she owns five of the top six single-game scoring totals in program history, setting the record with 44. She also has the top three rebounding performances in a game, pulling down 29 twice for the record.

Bristow signed with Iowa State and starts her career there this fall.

11. Cameron Allen (Class of 2011)

Allen is the Rider baseball program’s all-time leader in strikeouts (286) and games won (26). He’s third on the all-time list with a 1.44 ERA and second with 24 complete games. He’s also second in innings pitched (219 2/3) and third in games pitched (38).

Allen was part of two no-hitters during his career, including a combined five-inning no-no with Blake Burross and Ben Bates in 2011. Allen holds the single-season record for games won (13) and shares the record for shutouts (five) and complete games (13). He’s eighth on the single season list with a 1.17 ERA in 2011.

He also holds the single-game record of 17 strikeouts against Denton Ryan in 2010. Allen was a two-time all-state selection, TSWA Player of the Year in 2011 and UIL State Tournament MVP when the Raiders won a state title in 2011.

Allen signed with Arkansas-Little Rock, pitching in 78 games, including 24 starts, in four seasons. He led the team with six saves as a senior.

12. Eric Ward (Class of 2009)

Ward had a breakout junior season at Rider, grabbing 53 catches for 1,063 yards and 15 touchdowns. Due to injuries, he was pushed into playing quarterback for the Raiders as a senior in 2008. He still finished with 46 receptions for 737 yards and five TDs, while rushing for 356 yards and three TDs. He also had 30 tackles and an interception on defense, earning Red River 22 MVP honors.

Scout.com listed him as the 16th best wide receiver in the country and Ward chose Tech over Oklahoma, Arizona, Arizona State and Tulsa to name a few. Ward played in 47 games for the Red Raiders. He finished with 255 catches for 2,863 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Ward’s name is scattered throughout the Texas Tech record books. His 16 catches against Baylor in 2011 still stands as the single game record for most receptions in a game. He is third all-time in both receptions and touchdown catches. He’s sixth all-time in receiving yards.

More: Ranking the top 25 Hirschi athletes of all time

13. Markelle Martin (Class of 2008)

Martin finished his senior season at Rider with 81 tackles and five interceptions earning first-team all-state. He was a two-time Red River 22 honoree. Martin went to Oklahoma State where he played 48 games for the Cowboys, making 179 tackles.

In 2009, the Pokes safety led the Big 12 in passes defended. After his 2011 season, Martin earned AFCA All-American honors. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, but he never played a regular season game.

Martin is currently an assistant coach at Greenwood High School in Midland.

14. Blake Szymanski (Class of 2005)

He threw for 4,083 yards and 45 touchdowns in leading the Raiders to 11-3 record as a senior in 2004. He also ran for 455 yards and 10 touchdowns to earn first-team Class 4A all-state honors. As a junior, passed for 2,810 yards and earned district MVP honors. Szymanski also excelled in baseball and basketball for the Raiders.

Szymanski parlayed his high school success into a scholarship from Baylor and remains the Bears' record-holder in single-game completions (36), attempts (60) and touchdowns (6). Ranks 12th all-time in passing yardage (3,551) at Baylor.

15. Abby Donnell (Class of 2014)

Donnell owns 33 Rider softball records and is arguably the greatest softball player to ever come from the Wichita Falls area. She owns several career batting and pitching records, including batting average (.573), hits (272), runs (214), triples (48), home runs (14), RBIs (138), stolen bases (108), wins (55), innings pitched (426), strikeouts (804), ERA (1.35), shutouts (32), complete games (70) and no-hitters (12).

Donnell signed with Texas A&M and played two seasons for the Aggies.

16. Ryan Brasier (Class of 2006)

Brasier was a key member of Rider baseball’s state semifinalist team in 2005 and has carved out a solid MLB career as a relief pitcher. But it’s his bat that has Brasier in the WFISD record book, hitting the second-most career home runs in Rider history with 13.

Brasier pitched a season at Weatherford College after high school and was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels.

Brasier appeared in seven games for the Angels in 2013. An injury to his elbow put Brasier on a long path to return to the majors, including a season in Japan. He finally did in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox.

He’s currently part of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen where he has a 1.11 ERA in 24 1/3 innings of work. In parts of eight MLB seasons, Brasier has a 4.11 ERA with 240 strikeouts against 76 walks in 243 innings pitched.

17. James Vanderslice (Class of 1966)

Vanderslice was a standout for the Rider football team on both sides of the ball. He was a notable lead blocker for Bub Deerinwater — Rider’s all-time leading rusher — and a hellacious tackler. Vanderslice is even mentioned as a key figure to Deerinwater's success at Rider in the latter's obituary.

Vanderslice signed with TCU out of high school, earning three varsity letters playing linebacker. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 13th round of the 1970 NFL Draft.

18. Jon Brotherton (Class of 1973)

Brotherton won the 1972 Class 4A doubles state championship and the 1973 Class 4A singles state championship. He played at Texas Tech in 1975.

His love for the game of tennis led him into a career as a tennis pro at Weeks Park Tennis Center and the Wichita Falls Country Club, making him a integral part of the successful tennis culture in Wichita Falls.

19. Bill Holstead Jr. (Class of 1964)

Holstead became an instant golf legend at the age of 23, when he defeated two of the world’s top golfers, Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw in 1970 to win the prestigious Texas State Amateur.

From there he went on to win more than sixty tournaments. He is a two-time runner up in the Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament and finished third in his final T-O appearance.

20. Nicole Shook (Class of 1995)

Shook is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Rider girls soccer program with 90. She held the single-season goal scoring record (34) until Aubrey Glidewell broke it in 2021. Shook was an all-state player in 1994.

She signed with Texas A&M.

21. Connor Curry (Class of 2014)

While at Rider High School, Curry advanced to the UIL Class 4A State Tennis Tournament finals in singles as a freshman and made it to the semifinals as a sophomore before winning the title as a senior. He didn’t compete as a junior, instead playing internationally.

The No. 2 ranked prospect in Texas, Curry went to Texas Tech, making the All-Big 12 Tournament team in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, he advanced in doubles to the NCAA Round of 16.

22. Tommy Isbell (Class of 1970)

Isbell was a standout quarterback for the Rider football program who went on to play for the Texas Longhorns.

Isbell led the city in total offense with 1,816 yards in 1969 — the same season Wichita Falls High won its last state championship. Isbell was the city’s top rusher that season with 1,206 yards and 12 TDs. He threw for 610 yards and seven TDs. As a junior, Isbell led the Raiders with 746 rushing yards and eight TDs and 510 passing yards.

23. Christian Okeke (Class of 2013)

Okeke played just two seasons at Rider, scoring 38 goals in each campaign and setting the program record for career goals at 76. He was the program’s second All-American, leading the Raiders to the Class 4A state finals as a junior.

Okeke signed with Bradley out of high school and was Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year. He led the team in assists as a sophomore but transferred to Midwestern State for his junior season. Okeke became a second-team All-American as a senior.

24. Ramon Flanigan (Class of 1992)

Flanigan is one of the all-time leaders in passing yards and total offense in SMU history. He’s the only player in SMU history to pass for more than 5,500 yards and rush for at least 1,500 yards. He led the SWC in total offense in 1994. He led the Mustangs to their first winning season (6-5) in 11 years in 1997.

Flanigan spent two seasons as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in a run-heavy offense, completing 75 of 168 passes for 1,000 yards, eight TDs and six interceptions, while rushing for 571 yards and nine TDs on 196 carries.

25. Paul Johns (Class of 1976)

Johns was a Red River 22 selection in 1975 as Rider's leading receiver and eventually played two seasons at receiver for Tulsa. He caught 49 passes for 828 yards and two TDs during that time.

Johns went undrafted but caught on with the Seattle Seahawks in 1981 and spent four seasons with the team. He caught 74 passes for 1,058 yards and seven TDs. He also returned two punts for touchdowns.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Top 25 Rider Raiders of all time