Local Sports
Ten to Remember ... The top 10 local sports stories of ‘09
Football returns to Lon Morris College
By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Just eight days into 2009, the local sports scene became engulfed by a new form of (Lon Morris College) Bearcat mania as the school’s athletic director, Dale Dotson, confirmed to the Daily Progress that LMC had in fact decided to revive its football program after being dormant for nearly 70 years.
A formal press conference was held on January 20 at the Wilson Administration Building to officially announce the return of football to the LMC sports docket and to introduce the team’s head coach, Johnnie Ritchey as well.
Ritchey, a native of Rusk, has coached football for almost 40 years and has led several high school teams to the state playoffs while mentoring many young men that have gone on to play collegiantly and a few that have even made their way into the professional ranks.
Dotson stated in the press conference that LMC’s decision to add football was partly made in order to provide an opportunity for young men to be able to continue their dream of playing the sport as well as to enrich the overall college experience for all LMC students.
“We are unlike most two-year schools in that most of our students live here (on campus), and we want to give them something to be proud of in addition to our other sports,” Dotson said.
Initial recruiting efforts drew about 200 hopefuls that went through conditioning and strength training rituals under the guidance of Ritchey and his staff of assistant coaches this fall.
The bulk of the would-be Bearcats hail from the East Texas area, although some have journeyed in from the Metroplex, Houston area, New Orleans and even as far away as Georgia.
LMC is putting the finishing touches on a brand new training complex to house the football program, located adjacent to the school’s softball complex.
Included in the package is several new practice fields as well.
When the Bearcats return from their holiday break in early January 2010, they will follow the same schedule as other NJCAA football institutions.
LMC will play as an independent for the first several years according to school officials and will face regional junior varsity teams from four-year colleges as well as other junior college opponents beginning in the fall of 2010.
Although a formal announcement has not been made on the exact location for LMC home games, Ritchey has stated on several occasions the importance of the team playing its games in Jacksonville. That point was driven home by LMC President Myles McCall during the press conference also.
“There is a Saturday game day out there where thousands of LMC folks, parents of players, opponent supporters and students from other colleges will drive into our community to watch a (football) game, visit our campus, eat at our restaurants, stay in our hotels, shop in our stores and enjoy the hospitality of the Jacksonville community,” McCall said.
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Volunteers help make Indian Tennis Camp a big hit
The last sports camp of the summer was held this week as the second and final session of the annual Indian Tennis Camp was staged at the Jacksonville High School Tennis Complex.
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Rusk Marlins go 1-1 in early stages of state tournament
The Rusk Marlins, playing in the Texas Teenage Baseball Association Junior Boys Baseball State Tournament in Eastland, Texas, rebounded from an opening-round loss to topple the Brownwood Rangers, 16-5, on Wednesday night.
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Good news, bad news for Texas Rangers
First the good news.
The Texas Rangers are currently well entrenched into first place in the AL West standings with a 59-42 record.
Texas is 7 1/2 games in front of second place Oakland A’s and 8 1/2 in front of the Los Angeles Angels. -
Sports Briefs for July 30, 2010
Maiden spikers to report early Monday morning
Jacksonville head volleyball coach Billie Walley requests that all freshman, junior varsity and varsity volleyball athletes to report to the JHS Gymnasium at 8 a.m. Monday for the first day of fall practice. All players should come dressed in proper volleyball attire. For more information, contact Walley at 903-721-3147. -
New Orleans native Kraus new JHS athletic trainer
Jacksonville High School student athletes needing medical treatment will have to get used to a couple of new faces from far away places when the new school term begins in early August.
Jason Kraus of New Orleans is the school’s new head athletic trainer while Averi Alderdyce, a graduate of Upper Iowa University, has assumed the duties of assistant athletic trainer — both are Licensed Athletic Trainers that came up through the Trinity Mother Francis Hospital athletic training program. -
Shattuck wins local NTPGA event
Local junior linksters found the comforts of The Challenge at The Woods to be to their liking on July 19.
Hunter Shattuck of Jacksonville won the boys 14-15-year-old division by firing a 8-over par 79.
Shattuck easily out distanced himself from the runner-up, Justin Largent of Rusk who tallied an 87. -
Rusk Express earn trip to TTA state tournament
As a result of winning the District 10 tournament, the Rusk Express have qualified for the Texas Teenage Baseball Association Senior Midget Boys (9-10-year-olds) State Tournament, which is being played at Coleman Park in Athens this week.
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Fightin’ Indians get trio of new assistant football coaches
It will be several weeks before Jacksonville Indian football fans will be able to determine if this year’s team will be improved over teams of the past.
One facet that JHS athletic director and head football coach Steve Wells has already strengthened significantly is his staff of assistant football coaches.
Highlighting the influx of new blood is Rick Cullum who will be serving as the Tribe’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Cullum brings a proven track record with him to Jacksonville, having served as offensive coordinator on a state-championship Lufkin team. He also has been a head coach as well. -
30th Annual River Cities Triathlon set for Sunday
SHREVEPORT, La. — Over 1,200 triathletes are expected in Shreveport on Sunday as the 30th Annual Sportspectrum River Cities Triathlon is slated to take place.
The first wave of the 1/2 mile swim will begin at 8 a.m. at Cypress Lake in Benton, La. Next the triathletes will bike 18.2 miles around Cypress Lake. - local sports briefs for July 28th
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