SharkRockets do well in Bryant meet

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

The Lonoke SharkRockets scored 137 points in their swim meet with Bryant and Maumelle on Saturday.

"We are having such  great season," team coordinator Tara Bennett said. "We had 22 kids swim 80 races Saturday and had 54 top times."

Emily Armstrong, girls 13-14: freestyle, third, 30.19; backstroke, first, 35.89; breaststroke, second, 39.75; butterfly, first, 34.94.

Makenzie Bennett, girls 15-18: freestyle, second, 29.96; breaststroke, second, 44.07; butterfly, first, 35.03; IM, first, 1:18.71.

Tristan Bennett, girls 15-18: freestyle, second, 31.60; backstroke, first, 37.93; breaststroke, first, 41.61; IM, first, 1:20.16.

Tanner Canamore, boys 15-18: freestyle, third, 30.03; butterfly, third, 33.97.

Tanner Edwards, boys 15-18: freestyle, first, 28.66; butterfly, second, 32.94; IM, second, 1:16.78.

Jimmy Evans, boys 15-18: freestyle, second, 28.91; backstroke, second, 33.56; butterfly, first, 32.00; IM, first, 1:15.25.

Casey Long, boys 15-18: backstroke, first, 41.47; butterfly, second, 40.34.

Kayla McGee, girls 15-18: freestyle, first, 26.00; backstroke, first, 30.19; breaststroke, first, 32.94; butterfly, first, 28.32.

Spencer McGhee, boys 7-8: freestyle, first, 18.71; backstroke, first, 24.42; breaststroke, first, 30.13.

Colby Rogers, boys 15-18: freestyle, second, 27.24; backstroke, first, 33.47; IM, second, 1:16.81.

Kanon Williams, boys 6-under: freestyle, third, 34.53; backstroke, first, 37.38.

Also swimming Saturday were Taylor Cash, Baileigh Dulaney, Kelyn Fagan, Hailey Fugatt, Colby Hartley, Lauren Hill, Luke Hill, Kenzlee Minton, Ruth Potter, Cassidy Roland and Joseph Webster. 

 Colby Rogers

 Jimmy Evans

 Girls Relay Team: Makenzie Bennett, Tristan Bennett, Kayla McGee, Emily Armstrong

Tanner Canamaore

(Photos by Tara Bennett)

Bison athletes in all-star games this week

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

The Carlisle Bison athletic program will be well-represented during the 2014 Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star games this week in Conway.

Bo Weddle will play for the East squad in the all-star football game Friday at Estes Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. 

Cheerleaders Katlyn Stock and Bailey Amaden will cheer for the East squads in the basketball games Thursday at the Farris Center and the football game Friday. The girls basketball game starts at 6 p.m.

Weddle, who was named the Farm Bureau Class 2A defensive player of the year and the 2A-6 outstanding lineman/linebacker, rushed for 1,258 yards and 23 touchdowns on 197 carries while coming back from a devastating knee injury, which forced him to miss most of his junior season in 2012. He led the Bison in tackles with 110. 

"I'm honored to be able to represent our town and conference in the all-star game," Weddle said. "I'm looking forward to being able to play with and against some of the best players in the state."

Weddle signed with Harding University to play for the Bisons this fall.

Stock and Amaden were members of the Bison cheerleading squad, which finished as the Class 1A/2A state runners-up for the second consecutive year.

Stock said she is excited for the opportunity to cheer in the all-star game.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and all of my hard work as a cheerleader has paid off," she said. "I"m very thankful to have such  great cheer coach in Lindsey Thaxton. I wouldn't be the cheerleader I am if it wasn't for her and my cheer family."

Amaden said she was ecstatic when Thaxton told her she would be an all-star cheerleader.

"I have always dreamed of having an awesome opportunity such as this," she said. "I've cheered for the Bison for six years and loved every bit of it. I'm also so thankful to have such a great coach in Lindsey Thaxton."

Bo Weddle

(Photo by Mark Buffalo) 

Katlyn Stock and Bailey Amaden

(Courtesy of Lindsey Thaxton)

Shinn to represent Lonoke Jackrabbits in all-star baseball game

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

For the first time since baseball was added to the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Games, the Lonoke Jackrabbits will be represented in the game.

Lonoke pitcher Mikey Shinn will be a member of the East squad when it takes on the West in the all-star game Tuesday at the University of Central Arkansas' Bear Stadium in Conway in a doubleheader, which starts at 5 p.m.

Baseball was first introduced by the AHSCA in 2003 after being a part of it's own entity with the Arkansas High School Baseball Coaches Association prior to 2003.

Shinn said he is honored to be a part of the game.

"It is a huge honor to be selected for the AAA all-star game, especially since I'm the first player to be selected from Lonoke to play in this game," Shinn said.

During the 2014 season, Shinn was the ace of the Jackrabbits pitching staff. He was 4-4 with two complete games. He had a 2.85 earned run average. He struck out 46 batters in 46 2/3 innings. He gave up only 55 hits while walking only 21. 

At the plate, Shinn batted .379, going 25 for 66 with 17 RBIs, two doubles and a triple. 

Lonoke pitcher Mikey Shinn, playing against Gosnell in the regional tournament last month, was selected to the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Games, which will be played Tuesday in Conway. 

(Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Lady Bison play in Cabot team camp

Carlisle Lady Bison coach Jonathan Buffalo talks to his team during their game at Cabot Junior High South on Monday. The Lady Bison lost to Central Arkansas Christian, the defending Class 4A state runner-up, but beat Class 7A Mount St. Mary and Class 5A Sylvan Hills during the opening day of team camp in Cabot. 

(Photo by Kym Warren)

SharkRockets swim at Lakewood on Saturday, June 14

From Staff Reports

The Lonoke SharkRockets swim team competed in a meet Saturday with Cabot at Lakewood in North Little Rock.

The team's 18-year-old girls relay won their race with a time of 59.42 seconds. Swimming were Makenzie Bennett, Tristan Bennett, Kayla McGee and Emily Armstrong. 

Swimmers who scored points:

Emily Armstrong, girls 13-14: freestyle, second, 33.64; breaststroke, second, 44.03; butterfly, first, 38.59; IM, first, 1:30.65.

Makenzie Bennett, girls 15-18: freestyle, second, 34.21; breaststroke, third, 49.96; butterfly, second, 39.43; IM, second, 1:30.72.

Tristan Bennett, girls 15-18; freestyle, second, 35.08; breaststroke, first, 47.11; butterfly, third, 41.50; IM, first, 1:31.01.

Tanner Canamore, boys 15-18: freestyle, second, 33.47; backstroke, second, 42.18; breaststroke, second, 49.32; butterfly, first, 39.74

Bailey Dulaney, girls 15-18: freestyle, first, 40.17; backstroke, first, 49.84; breaststroke, third, 44.72.

Jimmy Evans, boys 15-18: freestyle, second, 33.18; backstroke, first, 39.95; breaststroke, second, 49.45; IM, first, 1:27.86.

Kelyn Fagan, boys 9-10: backstroke, third, 59.64.

Casey Long, boys 15-18: freestyle third, 39.39; backstroke, third, 49.29; breaststroke, third, 1:00.35; butterfly, first, 51.63.

Kayla McGee, girls 15-18: freestyle, first, 29.05; breaststroke, first, 36.36; butterfly, first, 32.47; IM, first, 1:13.19.

Spencer McGhee, boys 7-8: freestyle, first, 21.37; backstroke, first, 29.13; breaststroke, second, 32.61; butterfly, second, 38.13.

Kanon Williams, boys 6-under: backstroke, first, 46.73; freestyle, second, 36.81

Others swimmers participating include: Rylie Carter, Taylor Cash, Hailey Fuggat, Lauren Hill, Luke Hill, Kenzee Minton, Cassidy Roland, Colton Tidwell and Joseph Webster. 

 Emily Armstrong

 Rylie Carter

 Spencer McGhee

Tristan Bennett

(Photos by Tara Bennett)

Jack Keith is new Bison football coach; hired Thursday night

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

Defensive coordinator Jack Keith is the new head football coach at Carlisle High School.

Keith, who came to Carlisle in 2013 after a three-year stint at Warren High School, was hired to replace Brandon Barbaree, who resigned last month to become an administrator in Pangburn. Keith's hiring came during a special meeting of the Carlisle School Board on Thursday night.

In 2013, the Bison finished 12-2, advancing to the Class 2A state semifinals with Keith calling the defense.

"This is a wonderful opportunity … you couldn't ask for a better place to get the opportunity with the tradition that we have here at Carlisle," Keith said after the school board meeting. "I feel like I can just jump in and get going."

Keith said the Bison will continue to run the football in a similar manner, something that former coach Scott Waymire installed eight years ago.

"We're going to do what the kids know to do," Keith said. "I'm looking forward to it. I think you have to fit your scheme to the kids and not your kids to your scheme. These kids have shown they are good in this system. Why change what is not broken?"

Keith has been running the program since Barbaree resigned. He conducted spring practice as well as the organized team activities during the summer season. 

"It was going through the back of my mind that you hate to waste reps," Keith said. "I thought we may go through all this and it be for naught. Luckily it worked out. All of the spring reps are going to work for us."

Keith is a 2003 graduate of Hamburg High School. He played football one season at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 2010. He worked for three years at Warren before coming to Carlisle a year ago. 

"When I took the job at Warren, I honestly think God talked to me the day I signed that contract that 'you'll be there for three years,'" Keith said. "When those three years were up, God talked to me again and said it was time to go. He led me here [Carlisle]. I firmly believe that."

Keith said he played football at UCA with Barbaree. 

"It was nice to come in somewhere where I already knew someone on the staff and that we would be able to work well together," he said. 

Keith and his wife Mary have been married more than three years. They have a 2-year-old daughter Collins.

Carlisle superintendent Jason Clark was complimentary of Keith while recommending him to the board following the executive session.

"I think he has earned the right to have a chance at this job," Clark said. "He comes from good football stock. He works well together with his current staff [Lonnie Roberson, Blake Dorsey]. They were advocates of Coach Keith."

Clark said the board will start looking for an assistant coach and teacher because of the vacancy of Barbaree.

The board also voted to hire high school principal Brad Horn to replace Barbaree as athletic director.

2014 schedule

Sept. 5 vs. England

Sept. 12 vs. DeWitt

Sept. 19 at Augusta*

Sept. 26 at Des Arc*

Oct. 3 vs. Marvell

Oct. 10 at Hazen*

Oct. 17 vs. Palestine-Wheatley*

Oct. 24 at Brinkley*

Oct. 31 vs. Clarendon*

Nov. 6 vs. McCrory*

*-2A-6 conference game

 Jack Keith, coaching in a game last season. 

New Bison coach Jack Keith talks to a player during spring practice. 

(Photos by Mark Buffalo)

Jack Keith is New bison coach

Jack Keith, the defensive coordinator at Carlisle, was promoted to head coach, replacing Brandon Barbaree, who resigned last month to become an administrator at Pangburn. 

Keith came to Carlisle a year ago after a stint at Warren. 

The Carlisle School Board approved his hiring during a special meeting Thursday night.