The Mansfield Middle School has been tremendously blessed with outstanding leaders of tomorrow. Instead of presenting a group of students of the month, we will attempt to select two students each week from different grades to highlight their abilities and educational success.
7th Grade students of the month for November are Sara Smith and Braxton Byers. Both students were nominated by their teachers for outstanding qualities they display by being positive leaders and helpful students and peers. Braxton and Sara have transitioned well from 6th to 7th grade. Braxton was nominated for his hard work and dedication in the classroom as well as his leadership projected throughout the day. Sara has been a persistent worker, with a quiet demeanor. Braxton and Sara continue working hard in each and every class and are working at impacting others that are around them. We hope that both students continue to grow and work on being positive students and leaders at Mansfield Middle School.
Here are some key facts that Braxton and Sara would like to share:
Braxton Byers Sara Smith
Favorite Subject Math Favorite subject World Geography
Hobby: Collect Baseball cards Hobby: Piano, Keyboard, and writing
Funniest School Memory: Falling down the Funniest School Memory: When I tripped and fell
Stairs. Down the stairs.
Favorite Movie: Fast 7 Favorite Movie: Back to the Future
Embarrassing Moment: Saying something silly Embarrassing Moment: When I fell down stairs at
To a friend. church
Happiest Moment: Hitting a grand slam Happiest Moment: When my sister got married.
Favorite Book: Last Days on Earth Favorite Book: Wonder
Favorite Food: Pizza Favorite Food: Rice
Future Aspirations: Football player Future Aspirations: Doctor
Favorite Color: Blue Favorite Color: Blue
Congratulations to Braxton and Sara and their parents for having such great young students.
Thanks for such great students from Mansfield Middle School.
MMS 7th Grade Students of the Month – October
Pyles Leaves Paw Print at State Running Finals
Four consecutive trips to the state finals in cross country equaled for consecutive improvements in performance. Mansfield senior Devon Pyles did just that as of last Friday when he attended his final state championships at Hot Springs.
Pyles, the lone runner for many seasons for the Mansfield senior boys cross country team, ran his final championship 5K this past week. The senior left his best for last as his time improved 2 minutes and 21 seconds over the four year span.
This time around, Pyles turned in a solid 19:35.30 along the 3.1 mile infield of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. Just four seasons ago, the then lanky freshman could only muster a pedestrian 21:56.70 over the same up and down course.
“It’s good to see an athlete make progress over his career,” said Tiger cross country coach John Mackey. “Devon worked hard this year. He saw improvements all along the way. It was a good way to finish his season.”
The 19:35.30 clocking placed Pyles in 26th position out of 162 state runners. It was the second fastest mark out of all runners from his home 3A-4 West Conference. Only freshman phenomenon Roc Webb of Lamar ran a faster time from this league roster.
The mark produced by Pyles was within 10 spots of All-State status. The Arkansas Activities Association recognizes the fastest top 10% of the state finishers with such distinction.
This season Pyles was not alone as a representative of the Mansfield Tigers. Netherlands exchange student Joris Felius made his first and last showing at the 3A state finals. The eleventh grade runner finished about a minute behind his teammate.
Felius completed the course in 20:27.8 for 46th place. The measure was close to the new runner’s average this season. On three different occasions this year the distance specialist ran faster times. Two of those marks were on flatter courses.
Felius clocked an All-District type performance at the District Finals two weeks before state. That time was 19:49.99. A week prior to that he ran a career best 18:49.00 at Magazine’s Rattler Run.
Early indications show that both Tiger men meet qualifying standards to make the River Valley All-Star squad. The pair will join the top 25 runners from multiple classifications around the River Valley Area for a final 5K spin at Magazine’s home course on November 11.
Ladies Reach Top Ten at State Championships
Pictured above: Mansfield state cross country participants. Pictured: Jessie George, Natalie Brewer, Megan Rose, Elizabeth Escalante (manager), Bree George, Lennon Woods, Alyssa Berry, Addison Goetz, and Corrina Wesley.
It wasn’t a trophy moment but it was a satisfying run nonetheless for the Mansfield senior girls at the Arkansas Activities Association state cross country championships on November 3. The Lady Tigers collectively reached number 10 in the state with the combined score of their top five runners.
Four time River Valley All-Star qualifier Megan Rose led the pack with a 17th place overall finish among 143 participants. Her time of 22:49.0 was a career best over the Oaklawn Park 5k course.
“We were hoping for a little bit more as a team,” said Mansfield coach John Mackey. “But, we will take the top ten status. There are many schools that would welcome that kind of recognition in a heartbeat. We’re just accustomed to bigger things. But, it’s definitely a worthy accomplishment. The kids put in the time and I’m proud of them.”
Rose was ranked as high as number two among state accumulated results throughout the year. But, as the coach confessed those rankings are hard to compare.
“You see numbers all the time. But, in cross country it can be really deceiving,” acknowledged the coach. “Every course is different with hills, rocks, wet, dry, or accuracy of distance. It’s hard to compare. I just know our girls, especially Megan, work extremely hard. Any recognition they get is well deserved.”
Rose’s state time was three places away from AAA All-State status. By definition from the state association handbook, All-State status goes to the top 10% of all the state participants. Since there were 143 girls in the 3A race that equals 14 All-State players for that division.
“It was something that we were looking forward too,” said Mackey of Rose’s non-qualification to the AAA list. “Megan is that type of runner. But, it happens a lot. Some hot shot freshmen that nobody sees all season move up to the senior high level just before state. They run extremely well and take up some of those places.”
This year three freshmen landed in the top 10 with four inside the top 15. In fact, the individual winner of the 3A girls’ state championship was a ninth grader and so was the runner-up.
Rose did earn River Valley All-Star status for the fourth consecutive year according to an email recently received by the coach. Rose and teammate Lennon Woods both received the automatic bid based upon qualifying times they ran throughout the year.
The All-Star list includes the top 25 area runners based upon a cutoff score. Rose has made the list every year since her freshman season. Woods a sophomore also made the list last season as a freshman.
Mansfield’s top five scoring state participants along with Rose and Woods included Alyssa Berry, Corina Wesley, and Natalie Brewer. Woods was 60th place with a mark of 25:17.2. Berry came across in 76th place in 26:55.3. Wesley and Brewer came in consecutive order at 82 and 83 with respective marks of 27:06.5 and 27:08.8.
Mansfield’s blockers included Jessie George and Addison Goetz. Senior Breanna George also competed. It was her final race.
The 2017 regular season concluded with the AAA state finals. Mansfield however will continue with their attendance at the River Valley All-Stars on November 11 at Magazine.
MMS 6th Grade Students of the Month – November
The Mansfield Middle School has been tremendously blessed with outstanding leaders of tomorrow. Instead of presenting a group of students of the month, we will attempt to select two students each week from different grades to highlight their abilities and educational success.
6th Grade students of the month for November are Jaxon Heydenreich and Mia Harrison. Both students were nominated by their teachers for outstanding qualities they display by being positive leaders and helpful students and peers. Jaxon and Mia have transitioned well from 5th to 6th grade. Jaxon was nominated for his hard work and dedication in the classroom as well as his leadership projected throughout the day. Mia has been a persistent worker, with a quiet demeanor. Jaxon and Mia continue working hard in each and every class and are working at impacting others that are around them. We hope that both students continue to grow and work on being positive students and leaders at Mansfield Middle School.
Here are some key facts that Jaxon and Mia would like to share:
Jaxon Heydenreich: Favorite Subject Literacy Mia Harrison: Favorite subject Science
Hobby: Basketball and Baseball Hobby: Basketball
Funniest School Memory: When Jordan Funniest School Memory: Doing the splits
Talked about a chicken.
Favorite Movie: 47 Meters Down Favorite Movie: Nerve
Embarrassing Moment: When I made a bad Embarrassing Moment: Hitting my head
grade
Happiest Moment: When I found out I had Happiest Moment: Going to Las Vegas
A’s and B’s
Favorite Book: My Big Fat Zombie Gold Fish Favorite Book: Hollis Wood’s
Favorite Food: Sushi Favorite Food: Watermelon
Future Aspirations: Be a doctor Future Aspirations: Be a teacher
Favorite Color: White Favorite Color: Blue
Congratulations to Jaxon and Mia and their parents for having such great young students. Thanks for such great students from Mansfield Middle School.
James Parker Hicks (1955 – 2017)
James Parker Hicks, better known as JP, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Saturday, November 4, 2017 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. JP was born February 8, 1955 in Springhill, Louisiana to James Alfred Hicks and Beulah Mae (Craig) Hicks. JP was 62 years old.
JP loved to fish when he was younger. He enjoyed just being outdoors. He had developed a knack for the game of golf. But with all that being said, he was most passionate about the horse races. He was a known handicapper for the races. He absolutely loved anything to do with the thrill of the races. JP loved people. He was always aggravating someone about something. If he didn’t pester you, then you knew where you stood with him. But one thing for sure, JP enjoyed nothing more than being a Papa. His love for his family was undeniable.
JP leaves behind to cherish his memory, one daughter, Jodi Perry of Waldron, Arkansas, four siblings: Pat Goff and husband Bill of Grove, Oklahoma, Dottie Blackmon and husband Duane of Waldron, Arkansas, Brenda Mock and husband John of Waldron, Arkansas, and Phillip Hicks of Pocola, Oklahoma. Papa will forever remain in the hearts of his grandsons: Bryson “Smarty” Jones and Jake Perry. JP will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family, friends, neighbors and loved ones.
JP was preceded in death by his parents, James and Beulah Hicks.
JP’s life celebration will be at 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 6, 2017 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Rickey Hunt officiating. Interment will follow in the Pilot Prairie Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas.
JP’s pallbearers will be his nephews. Honorary pallbearers will TJ Johnson, Butch Sims, Billy Joe Hale, Darrell Horn, Herb Wilson and Dwayne Hutchens.
JP’s visitation will be Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas where JP’s family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
You may leave words of remembrance for JP’s family by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com.
Donald Gene Cox (1966 – 2017)
Donald Gene Cox of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life Thursday, November 2, 2017 in Waldron, Arkansas. Donald was born August 7, 1966 in Phoenix, Arizona to Tommy Joe and Dorothy Mae (Pritt) Cox. He was 51 years, 2 months and 26 days old.
Donald was a mechanic and welder, he was a jack of all trades and could fix anything. He loved hunting and fishing and being in the outdoors. Most of all, he loved spending time with is grandchildren who was the light of his life.
Donald leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Cindy Cox of the home; five daughters, Abbie Sparks and husband Dale, Trista Richmond and husband Danny, Jr., Kelly Richmond and husband Markus, Kaylene Pasold and Craig, Emily Stone; two sons, J. D. and wife Kristina, Mac Hill; nine grandchildren, Keylee Richmond, Zoey Richmond, Bentley Nichols, Bella Pasold, Walker Henderson, Jessalyn Cox, Kyle Pasold, Maddalyn Cox and Sutton Richmond.
Donald is also survived by one sister Bonnie Thompson and husband Terry Thompson; six brothers, Ronnie Cox, Jerry Bob Cox, Terry Cox and wife, Shirley, Tommy Cox and Cheryl, Gary Cox, James Cox, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Donald is preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Larry Cox.
Donald’s life celebration service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas
Donald’s visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2017 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
You may leave words of remembrance and view his video tribute by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com
Benefit Spaghetti Dinner Date Set
A benefit spaghetti dinner for Kelley Self Jenkins will be held on Saturday, November 4th at the Mansfield High School cafeteria.
Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. and will cost $5.00 per plate.
A pie auction and raffle will take place after the dinner.
Run Over for Juniors as Girls Take Second
A season that started for the core group back in July has come to an end. With the Southwest Regionals held at Acorn on October 25th, the Mansfield junior girls cross country team wrapped up the year with a runner-up team plaque. The junior boys closed with a third place prize.
Taking their cue from the high school players, six junior high athletes regularly attended summer practices. As it turned out, everyone of those early birds concluded a very successful season with individual medals and team plaques.
“It’s nice that those kids that dedicated themselves in the high heat of summer got rewarded,” said Mansfield long distance coach John Mackey. “It kind of sets a standard for the future.”
Mansfield’s youth movement was on high alert at the regionals. Billed as the Tom Stuthard Top 25, the final junior high race of the year saw 12 total underclassmen make the medal stand.
Eight grader Ethan Chapman and seventh grader Olivia Bouse led their respective genders to the Tigers’ highest places. Chapman was the overall silver medalists for the boy’s team running the 1.5 mile race in 8:56.1. Bouse took home bronze for the Lady Tigers completing the same distance in 10:23.9.
Faith Rainwater (7th), McKenzie Griffin (11th), Harleigh Mars (12th), and Jadellyn Wood (17) joined the third place Bouse for the Mansfield girls’ scoring unit. The 34 point total provided by the five put them just behind team winner Horatio at 24 points.
Lady Tiger Hope Rainwater medaled for the first time this season coming in at 18th place. She was the first displacer for MJH. Lita Hecox finished two spots away from her first medal serving as the Tigers’ second blocker.
Steven Perez (6th), Levi Escalante (11th), Tommy Phang (19th), and Dru Buckner (21st) completed the Tiger junior boys’ score. With second place runner Chapman, their collective 53 point total put them into third place overall as a team.
“Our number three runner didn’t make the trip,” informed Mackey. “That played tough since we were only two points away from the runner-up trophy.”
Seventh grader Darryl Little crossed at 23rd place for his first medal of the year. He was the Tigers’ first blocker. Fellow seventh grader Ashton Hinkle missed the top 25 by two pegs. He was the Mansfield men’s second blocker.
Acorn won the team title in the boy’s division with 33 points. Mena came in second at 51. Mansfield closed at third with 53.
The Stuthard Top 25 Regional event invites cross country teams from classes 1A through 4A that placed high in their respective districts. Both Mansfield junior high teams where the 3A-4 District Runner-up a week earlier.
Mansfield’s junior roster was completed by Malachi Fuller, Zac Desormeaux, Shasta Christopher, Serenity Brunson, and Bethany Sartin.
Seven Senior High Medals Bless Mansfield’s Regional
Completing the second leg of Mansfield’s three week long championship series, the senior high cross country team stockpiled seven more medals to their growing bounty. At the Tom Stuthard Top 25 Regionals at Acorn on October 25, Mansfield’s long distance athletes weaved another productive workday.
As she’s done all season long, Mansfield senior Megan Rose not only led the Tiger franchise she was also in contention for the day’s top prize prize. After a solid 21:57.60 finish to an extended Acorn 5K course, Rose ended up as the silver medalist.
“Coach (Keith) Willsey moved the start and added a couple of turns since we went down there in September,” announced Mansfield cross country coach John Mackey. “It looked to be running about a minute to a minute and a half longer. If you figure in the added distance, Megan was probably running about 27 seconds faster this time around than last time there.”
According to her coach, Rose is running really well right now. Since October began, the next level recruit has finished no worst than third place. In the five events she’s run in the Halloween month, two were outright wins and two were second place completions in the small school divisions.
Alina Homan of Jessieville was the Regional Champion. Her time was an efficient 21:12.0. Last season at the state finals the pair of 5K contenders were separated by a mere 1.7 seconds.
Mansfield took home a total of five senior girls’ awards and two from the men’s division. The seven set collection of individual medals were scattered among Rose, Lennon Woods, Natalie Brewer, Alyssa Berry, Corrina Wesley, Devon Pyles, and Joris Felius.
Woods and the rest of the scoring company behind Rose ran nearly the entire race working as a pack. By the end, the thirteenth place Woods was only 5, 10, and 14 seconds ahead of her scoring teammates.
After Woods’ finish time of 25:13.7, Brewer came in two spots later at 25:18.0. Berry and Wesley were in consecutive order after Brewer. Respectively the pair clocked in at 25:23.2 for sixteenth place and 25:27.7 for seventeenth.
On the whole Mansfield finished third overall in the team standings with 59 points. Waldron, who moved up a host of freshmen from their junior high winning 4A-4 District Championship team, won the event with 39 points. Acorn who also moved up two scoring freshmen as well was second at 49.
For the Tiger men, Pyles was again the top cat. The senior picked through the 55 player field settling in at number 10 by the end. Exchange student Joris Felius climbed to nineteenth place.
Pyles’ time of 19:26.70 was his second best measure of the season. Currently the All-District selection is ranked number 19 out of 304 ranked class 3A runners in the state.
From the same Mile Split resource, Felius of the Tigers is ranked number 20 in the state. At the Stuthard Regional run, the Netherlands native crossed in 20:11.0 for his top 25 medal.
Mansfield’s complete senior high roster competing at the Regionals included sisters Bree and Jessica George along with sophomore newcomer Addison Goetz.
Both Mansfield’s senior high squads will advance to the Arkansas Activities Association state finals hosted by Lake Hamilton at Hot Springs Oaklawn Park on Friday, November 3.
MHS Sr. Runner Roundup – Megan Rose
Scan recorded history. From 1942 you’ll find meaningful words by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that eloquently mirror the senior season of Mansfield cross country star Megan Rose.
“Now this is not the end,” famously spoke Churchill to the House of Commons. “It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Churchill’s spoken words at the time celebrated a much needed World War II military victory. It wasn’t the end of the war. Many more miles lay in store and there was much more work to be done. One day Britain and their allies would rest. Just not this day. New triumphs were still to come.
A soon to be released Mansfield yearbook photo aptly proclaims Megan Rose as the “most athletic female” from the MHS class of 2018. A plethora of medals unmistakably draped around the neck of the senior in the photograph is positive proof the claim fits.
By week’s end, arguably one of the most decorated 5k runners in Mansfield school history will be competing in her final high school cross country state championship. But to her, it will not be the end. It won’t even be the beginning of the end. It’s just the end of the beginning to what appears to be an even longer career in cross country at the next level.
Rose is on the radar of several college scouts to run next season after she finally graduates from Mansfield High School. By her admission two have had face to face visits, three contacted by phone, seven sought contact through email, and dozens more used traditional mail for correspondence.
“It makes me feel good to get recognition,” said a reverential Rose. “I have to remain humble about it. It’s really God using me. I want to give Him the glory. It’s His blessings that have given me opportunity. I pray before every race.”
“I can’t stop the end from coming,” confided the senior about the end of her high school days coming quickly. “I’ve had some good race times and not so good. I just try to make every moment count.”
Rose’s senior moments officially started back in July when the team meet three times weekly for summer fun runs. In reality, the self-motivated runner never stopped running once her junior year state track and field finals ended last May.
“Megan is the standard,” beamed John Mackey her cross country coach for the past three seasons and her track coach for the last five. “She never takes shortcuts. She puts in the time like champions are supposed to do. That’s why her career will continue beyond Friday’s state finals.”
Southeastern Oklahoma State, a Division II college in Durant Oklahoma, came calling just last week. Savage Storm Head Coach Ron Hair drove the 4 hours and 6 minutes from Durant, OK to Acorn, AR to see Rose run at the Tom Stuthard Top 25 Regional.
University of Ozarks, a NCAA Division III school in Clarksville, has also had its head coach witness Rose run in live action on two different occasions this season. Eagle Coach Jeremy Provence spoke with the Mansfield player at Magazine and again at the high school meet he hosted off the U. of O. campus.
Over the course of twelve scheduled races this season, interested personnel have had an opportunity to see Rose run and run well. As the Lady Tigers number one runner, Rose has finished first on three different occasions. She has also posted three second place ends, two thirds, a fifth, and a seventh.
At the Chile Pepper Festival on the University of Arkansas home course, Rose finished in an abnormal 88th place. Understandably, that was against 582 other entries from multiple states. Little room to navigate pretty much painted the distance dynamo into the a preverbal corner.
“Seventh is the lowest place this season except for the Chile Pepper,” recalled Rose reflecting back on this year’s regular season. “I’ve set a personal record at every course except for District. Weather plays a big factor. I like it when it’s really cold.”
A scan of this season’s results affirmed Rose’s revelation about weather. On the first cool night of the season on October 10 at Magazine, the senior electrified the field with a career best 19:42.00 over the 5K race.
“It was a special run for sure,” marveled Mackey on his prize pupil’s record run. “She was just in a zone. We’d been talking about how much she had left in the tank after each race. It was a conscious decision to go out fast and stay at a high level. Megan’s in the best shape of her life. I’m so proud of what she’s been able to do.”
Rose admitted the friendly confines of the local Magazine Rattler Run tends to bring out the best in her.
“The guy (Coach Brandon Bryan) driving the lead 4-wheeler at Magazine jumped off to come congratulate me,” exclaimed the excited senior. “I’ve made friends with other runners over the years like Lauren Ryan of Magazine and Lennon Woods from my own team. We got really close last year.”
“Cross country is such a great atmosphere,” asserted the typically quietly yet confident competitor. “My friends, we help each other. I’m thankful for the emotional support that my friends and family give me.”
Many Mansfield teachers and former coaches have also come out to watch Rose run this year. Each in their own way wanting to catch a glimpse of the tiny talent who wants to be a teacher and coach when she finally unties her running shoes.
“It makes me feel good to have teachers come and watch,” explained Rose. “I want to be a cross country and track coach. I want to give back to a sport that’s been so good to me.”
From the looks of things, Megan is in no hurry to retire her running shoes. The state championships in Hot Springs on November 3 will be just another run in the illustrious career of the highly decorated senior. Call it the end of the beginning with a new chapter to follow.
Remember, Churchill once noted. “The bright gleam has caught the helmets of our soldiers, and warmed and cheered our hearts.”
On Friday, it’s possible a bright gleam may catch the bounce of Megan Rose’s prominent ponytail. May it warm and cheer our hearts.