It has been reported that the scoreboard given to the Little League Football has been stolen from the Old Agri building, located on the East side of the Mansfield Middle School Football field.
The scoreboard was leaned against the building (reference above image), on the NW corner where the basketball goals, and additional signage was placed, while they waited to be utilized for the use of the Little League Football.
The sign is believed to be stolen within the last 4-5 days.
If you have any information on this theft, please contact Mansfield Middle School at (479) 928-4451, Mansfield Police Department at (479) 928-5700, or contact us [email protected]
Little League Scoreboard STOLEN
Van Herpen Leads College Track Team
Former Mansfield graduate Alex Van Herpen was the front runner for his Williams Baptist College cross country team at the Chile Pepper college men’s Division II race last Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Van Herpen ran a personal record 27:45.26 over the 8K race to beat his closest teammate by nearly one and one-half minutes. The clocking placed the former Tiger runner into 211th position out of 435 total DII racers.
The Mansfield native could certainly be described as an avid runner. While in high school, the distance specialist competed in the first annual Fort Smith Marathon. Last year as a freshman in college, Van Herpen again ran in the Fort Smith race to finish second overall.
With his marathon time, William’s top runner qualified and will be competing in this year’s prestigious Boston Marathon in April.
Van Herpen has been busy through his second year at the tiny Walnut Ridge school. Not only does he find time to race, he attends course work for a double major in religious languages and pharmaceutical technology. Not to mention, he also juggles three jobs.
That’s quite an accomplishment for a kid who was once strapped to a wheelchair for the better part of his freshman and sophomore years of high school. Unable to walk due to a mysterious illness that left him without feeling in his lower extremities, the motivated athlete suddenly found has strength sometime during that tenth grade year. From that point on, the Mansfield mystery not only learned to walk but he began to run.
Competing in cross country and track throughout the remainder of his high school career, Van Herpen parlayed that into a college scholarship after graduating from Mansfield in 2015.
At the Chile Pepper race, the second largest of its kind in the country, Van Herpen’s average time was 5:35 per mile. Pretty good feat for the former Tiger that couldn’t feel his feet once upon a time.
CONGRATS ALEX!
Tiger Trio Take Chile Pepper Challenge
(Pictured Left to Right) Alyssa Berry, Devon Pyles, and Megan Rose
One of the largest high school cross country meets in the nation, the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville Arkansas, saw a trio of Mansfield products take the challenge.
Juniors Megan Rose and Devon Pyles along with sophomore Alyssa Berry boarded the bus early Saturday morning to showcase their talents against thousands of runners. Going against 1,160 male runners and 763 female runners, the local distance runners showed that they belonged in such a competition.
The Tiger triad saw teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas. That was just in their divisional races and did not include the “El Caliente” elite competitors from regions in the country.
Rose fared the best among the Mansfield collection. The 2015 district champion finished among the top 19%. Her mark of 23:37.6 placed her 148 out of 763.
“Megan’s time was about a half-minute faster than last year at the Chile Pepper,” stated her cross country coach John Mackey. “She’s coming on and really motivated to do well. Right now she’s the face of our cross country program.”
Rose averaged 7:37 per mile over the 5K course. It was the same course her idol Dominique Scott-Efurd of the University of Arkansas won last year as a college senior. It was the same Scott that recently competed in the Rio Olympics back in August.
Tiger teammate Alyssa Berry competed in her first Chile Pepper Festival. The timid tenth grader was a little over two minutes behind her friend Rose.
“Alyssa ran her best time so far this cross country season,” explained Mackey. “She got into the 25 minute range near the end of last season and just recently dip under 26 minutes the other day at Magazine.”
Berry was clocked at 25:43.68. Her placement was 315 out of the near 800 runners putting her near the top 40%. Her rate of speed was 8:18 per mile.
Pyles was the lone representative for the Tiger men. The eleventh grader rushed around the 3.1 mile equivalent in 20:57.98. His mark was 547 out of the over one thousand racers.
“Devon is coming on as well,” stated Mackey. “He’s picked up a medal already this season and has a solid chance to make the all-stars again if we can get his time down a little more.”
Pyles averaged 6:45 miles. According to his coach, they are working to get that down closer to 6:30 miles within the next few weeks.
Congrats Alyssa, Devon, and Megan!
2016 Fall Fest at Buckner Park
This coming Saturday, October 8th, Buckner Park located on Highway 71 in Witcherville will host a Fall Fest. Bring your family, and enjoy all the festivities.
They will have bounce houses, cake walk, and a Glow Run that starts at 7:00pm. The Glow Run is 1 mile long, and participants can chose to either run, or walk.
$25 gift card for the best dressed, and for the top (3) winners of the Kids Run.
Bring your glow gear, neon, funny hats, tutus, face paint, and smiles for your chance to win.
We’ll see you there!
Mansfield Makes Waves at Rattler XC Invitational
Mansfield High School’s distance team took little time off as they completed their home meet on a Saturday and returned to action the following Tuesday at Magazine. Having representatives in all four divisions, the Tigers made some noise among the 17 assorted schools in attendance.
As she as done most of the season, Mansfield’s Megan Rose took home another medal as one of the top local runners. The junior distance specialist attacked the mild course layout in 22:18. It was her best time of the season around a 5K course.
“She battles every week,” said Mansfield Coach John Mackey of his star pupil Rose. “The younger athletes really look to her as a role model in the running game. It’s a blessing having a talented player such as her.”
Rose crossed the 5K finish line in seventh place among the senior girls’ division. Andrea Balbuena of Western Yell County led all 50 runners with the best measure of the day with a 20:32 clocking. Acorn’s Faith Hill (21:07) and foreign exchange student Betka Dostolova (21:07) who attends Scranton completed the top three.
Devon Pyles, off the Mansfield men’s team, crossed in a solid time at 20:59. That however was well off the winning margin established by Mena native Clint Buck who destroyed the field with a 17:03.
Pyles labored a bit over the Magazine landscape to fall back at 38th position. Teammate Luis Tomita (21:29) closed fast to his in-school rival for 41st place among 81 total men runners.
Junior high runner Brandon Carver was also 41st place for the Tigers in his younger division race. The seventh grader went 9:31 for the mile and one-half course against 129 participants.
Teammate Steven Perez was only three seconds back of Carver. His place was good for 44th overall.
Lennon Woods off the junior Lady Tiger squad faired well among 100 participants. The freshman front runner scored the 22nd position with a mark of 10:40.
“Lennon is still a rookie at the long distance races,” commented Mackey. “She joined cross country this fall after a solid track season last spring. She has missed a few meets with family obligations so this was only her third meet of her career.”
McKenzie Griffin and Delilah McKusker were Mansfield next best junior girls. Each finished near the top 50%. Griffin was 50th place exactly with a measure of 11:35. McKusker was 53rd with a time of 11:38.
Others competing for the Lady Tiger’s were Skyla Honeycutt off the junior girls squad and Alyssa Berry, Corrina Wesley, and Bree George from the senior team.
Berry was a solid number 20 among the 50 players in the older girl group. Her mark of 25:53 bettered her home meet time by nearly two minutes. Wesley completed the long race under 30 minutes for the first time this season.
For the junior boys, Mansfield also competed with Tyler Escalante, Riley Sadoski, Levi Escalante, and Dru Buckner.
MHS Track Facility Nears Completion
After nearly 12 years of use, the original surface on the Mansfield High School track finally got an upgrade. With most all of the work completed, the school administrators will conduct a dedication ceremony on Friday, October 7th to celebrate.
Since it’s original installation in 2004, the Mansfield track has seen thousands of participants run its lanes and jump its runways. The wear of an average seven meets a year plus community walking traffic, took a real toll on the track surface.
“We were down to the base in a lot of places,” commented Mansfield Women’s Athletic Director John Mackey. “There were cracks in the armor that’s for sure. It was time for a major overall. Tracks only last so many years and ours was at the end of its rope.”
Mansfield Superintendent Robert Ross recognized the need for the new surface a few seasons ago. As financial stability in the district reached a more solid state, Ross urged the school board to take action this year. No action at all would have most likely meant the end of a highly successful track program at the school.
With due diligence, the members of the board agreed it was time to pull the trigger on a resurfacing job. The fruits of that decision will be apparent this Friday night as the Mansfield senior football team takes on Cedarville on the field just inside the track oval.
“We want to celebrate the new beginning by celebrating the past,” said Mackey who also serves as the school’s track coach for girls. “At halftime of the football game, we’re asking any former track athlete to show up in mass for a ribbon cutting ceremony. That will give the school decision makers a real sense of the lives this track has touched.”
Expected to attend are some of the members of Mansfield’s (12) state championships, (2) heptathlon winners, and a cross country champion. Both the men’s and women’s teams have won multiple conference titles since the facility opened its gates. Some of those players are also expected to attend along with members of the school’s current teams.
“We have the choir doing a song,” continued Mackey. “The administration, board, and other notable figures will be present. It should be a fun halftime sandwiched between what looks to be a very competitive football game with the Tigers and Pirates.”
Lanes, hurdle marks, and exchange zones are set to be painted by dedication time this coming Friday.
Tigers Take Tough Loss
The Tigers have been tested almost every game thus far in their 2016 campaign. Not making any excuses, or pointing blame, Coach Bentley simply stated “we have to execute, and make plays on both sides of the ball. It’s that simple.”
Heading into last Friday nights game against Lamar, the Tigers shown they can score, but depth and overall experience have been a huge disadvantage. Bentley added, “We must fix our takeaway-turnover ratio. We have to protect the ball and get more takeaways, specifically on quick turnaround possessions.”
The Warriors bested the Tigers with a final score of 49-14.
Mansfield hosts Cedarville this coming Friday night at Home.
A Field of Faith
A wide smile, and a gentile nature describes Hackett alumni Logan Bennett. Those traits are a small aspect to the focus of Faith that Logan follows.
“I’ve always thought that Coaching was as much as, or even more, about teaching our players to be quality young men, and role models as it is about X’s & O’s” said Hackett Head Coach, Lonnie Hester.
The Hackett Horents went to the Charleston “7 on 7” football camp this past Summer, where Tyson Simon (Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative for this area) introduced himself to Hester. It wasn’t just a chance meeting of crossing paths.
“He explained some things FCA was trying to do, and I immediately knew it was something I wanted to do at Hackett” stated Hester. “I went to our Administration, received approval, and got Logan’s name from an impromptu conversation. I wanted someone who had strong Hackett ties. I presented the idea to Logan, and he took some time to think it over, and Pray about whether it was something he felt led to do” added Head Coach Lonnie Hester.
As far as looking for local ties, Logan was Hornets Quarterback, and a star baseball player at Hackett. Not to mention, his Faith, and solid reputation preceded his athletic abilities.
After searching for an answer, Logan felt like this was a “God Given” opportunity to not only serve his community, but to follow his path of mentoring, and Faith filled fellowship. Bennett will serve as the Character Coach for the Hackett Hornets Football team this season. Logan’s role is a volunteer based, FCA position, not employed by Hackett Public Schools.
“We have a very special relationship with our players. But there are also days when we are the last person in the world they want to talk to. So Coach Bennett will fill that gap, and focus on an aspect of our program that we feel is crucial to these kids” added Hester.
In speaking with the coaching staff, and the Hornet team, it’s apparent that Logan’s presence is encouraging. In a humble voice, and a stern manner, Logan stated, “We want our players to grow up to be good fathers and husbands. I want them to bring their kids around someday and be proud of what they were a part of as a Hackett Hornet. There is so much more to it than what people see on Friday Nights!”
EDITOR’S NOTE: We would like to personally thank Coach Hester, and Logan Bennett for being an encouraging, and Faith filled example to our kids, and parents not only in the Hackett School District, but in the surrounding communities. Thank you!
MES Receives Dontation from Juvenile Center
Mansfield Elementary School is making great progress with their newly constructed awning, and pavilion area that will help protect the kids during inclement weather, which will also provide a shady area for snacks, and an outside break.
The pavilion should be completed within the next few weeks.
The Mansfield Juvenile Treatment Center recently built, and donated four new picnic tables for the new pavilion area. The addition of these tables adds a finishing touch. Thank you MJTC for your donation!
Visit the Mansfield Health Fair TODAY!
A Health Fair will be held today from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the Family Center at Mansfield First Baptist Church.
Focusing on health needs for all ages, there will be pediatric dental, information for families needing help with diapers/formula, along with Health South, and Veterans’ Affairs in attendance, as well as many other groups, and medical areas that will be covered.
Hot dogs, and water will be provided.