Former AISD Athletes and Coach Inducted into Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame

Posted Date: 06/10/2025

June 10, 2025 – Amarillo is proud to be the home of MORE legendary athletes who got their start here, including the three who were inducted into the Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 8. We're honored to celebrate the achievements of Scott Tankersley, Natalie Ritchie-Roberts and Austin Johnson!

⭐ Scott Tankersley: Diagnosed as deaf at age 3, Scott was determined to become a coach, even though some said it was impossible. He became one of the most successful wrestling coaches in Texas history as a girls' wrestling coach at his alma mater, Caprock High School. Scott won seven UIL state titles – six in a row – from 1998 to 2009. Caprock was a three-time dual state champion with a dual record of 144-2. A UIL girls wrestling coach of the year, Scott coached 21 state champions.

⭐ Natalie Ritchie-Roberts: Natalie was the first basketball player in Amarillo history to score more than 2,000 points in her career. She finished with more than 2,800 points, more than any player, boy or girl, in AISD history. Natalie went on to play basketball at Texas Tech, where coach Marsha Sharp called her "the best shooting guard in the nation."

⭐ Austin Johnson: Austin is AISD's leading all-time boys' basketball points leader with 2,602 points during his career at Palo Duro High School. He earned a rare quadruple-double as a sophomore – 24  points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals, landing him in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces In The Crowd.” At OU, Austin finished his career 12th all-time in assists, 13th in steals and 20th in blocks. He went on to play professional basketball internationally.