Green blisters Mystic Creek couse with final round 67 to win Shootout
EL DORADO, September 17, 2017 - Two weeks ago, Hannah Green (Perth, Australia) wrote the letters “LPGA” with a smiley face on her golf glove as a constant reminder of the ultimate goal. It became a reality on Sunday at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout as she broke the Mystic Creek course record with a bogey-free 8-under, 64 to win at 11-under, 205, which is a 3-day tournament record. Green edged Celine Boutier (Montrouge, France) by one shot.
Green’s second win and the $15,000 payday vaults her from sixth to fourth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and with just three events left, she secures a spot on the LPGA Tour for the 2018 season. Green has now earned $76,290 in 17 starts as a rookie on Tour.
“I didn’t really know what to expect in the last six weeks (now three weeks left), there are a lot of girls behind me performing well so I wanted to make sure I was staying on top of my game and didn’t get knocked out (of the top 10),” explained Green, who picked up her ninth top 10 finish of the year. “To win this week is really great and it sets me up for next year (on the LPGA).”
The 20-year-old started the day in a tie for fourth and a full seven shots off the lead. Green made birdies on holes one, four, five and seven on the front nine to move into contention at 7-under. At that point, she was still three shots off the pace of 36-hole leader Dottie Ardina (Philippines). Green made birdies on holes 11 and 12 to move into a four-way share of the lead with Boutier, Ardina and Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England), who made birdies on 10, 11 and 12.
Green, who finished second to Lydia Ko at the 2015 New Zealand Women’s Open, made birdies on 15 and 17 to take command of the tournament and closed with a par. Boutier made birdie on 18 to finish at 10-under.
“Obviously I’m really happy and excited, but it doesn’t feel real quite yet,” said Green, who won the Sara Bay Classic earlier this season. “I’m really pleased with how today turned out and I’m glad I shot a really good score to get the win.”
The 64 ties her personal best score, which she also shot in the final-round of the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in Rochester.
Green's statistics were incredible. She hit 17-of-18 fairways and 12-of-14 greens in regulation. She attempted 28 putts.
“My ball striking was definitely there today,” said Green. “Going bogey-free on this course means everything tied together today, which was great.”
Four years ago when Green graduated from high school in Perth, she devised a plan to reach the LPGA.
“I set a plan and I wasn’t going to college in the U.S. or studying in Australia, I just said that I was turning professional and I wanted to be on the LPGA,” said Green. I’ve been dreaming about this for at least four years so to have it come true is awesome.”
Green is a two-time recipient of the Karrie Webb Scholarship and has had the chance to develop a friendship with the Aussie legend. Webb was one of the first people to congratulate Green on social media after the win.
“She has been such a big supporter, not only to my golf, but a lot of female golfers in Australia,” said Green. “I got to go to the U.S. Open with her and those are amazing experiences. I would have never been able to go to a major unless I was playing. She is just awesome and to have her as a close friend is really cool.”
Green’s dad, Tau, was her caddy this week and it was the first time he had been on her bag for a victory.
“It was great to have a win with him on the bag,” said Green, who called her mom before the trophy ceremony and talked to her at 3:30 a.m. Australia time. “I’m sure it’s a moment he won’t ever stop telling his friends about.”
In addition to the $15,000 first place check, Green was also presented with a diamond bracelet valued at $10,000 courtesy of Murphy-Pritard Jewelers.
The Tour heads to Prattville, Alabama next week for the inaugural Guardian Championship.
Back to back 67's gives Ardina big lead in El Dorado Shootout
EL DORADO, Arkansas, September 16, 2017 - Dottie Ardina (Philippines) continued her tremendous play on Saturday with another 5-under, 67 at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout. She moved to 10-under, 132 and will take a three-stroke lead into Sunday’s final-round. Ardina has made just one bogey over the first 36 holes and will go for her first career win on Sunday. No. 2 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, Celine Boutier (Montrouge, France), will enter the final-round in second at 7-under, 137. Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England) carded a 4-under, 68 on Saturday to move into third place at 5-under, 139.
If Ardina wins, she would be just the second from the Philippines to win on the Symetra Tour. The only player to win was Lynda Jensen, who won once in 1985 and twice in 1988.
The final-round will begin at 7:30 a.m. and a split-tee start will be used. Play is expected to finish at approximately 2:30 p.m. and the trophy ceremony will take place on the 18th green immediately following. The final group of Ardina, Boutier and Thomas will tee at 9:20 a.m.
The cut was made at 6-over, 150 and 61 players will tee on Sunday.
Ardina, 23, started with a par save on hole one and then her only bogey of the tournament on two, but she quickly got going. She tallied birdies on four straight holes between four and seven to make the turn at 8-under. She made birdies on 13 and 16 before closing with two pars.
“It was a little more interesting than yesterday, I think I only hit ten greens so I had to save pars today with up and downs,” explained Ardina, who carded a bogey-free 67 on Friday. “I’ve been putting well and just trying to keep it simple.”
Ardina attempted just 25 putts on Saturday.
“I’ve made really one mistake in 36 holes, which is pretty good,” said Ardina. “If the hole locations are tucked, I’m just playing for the middle. As long as I have a birdie putt, I’m fine with it.”
Two years ago at the Four Winds Invitational, Ardina held a three-stroke lead into the final round, but Brooke Henderson caught her to win. She’ll try and pick up her first win on Sunday.
“I just want to play like I did today and Friday,” said Ardina. “My putter and my iron shots have been key this week.”
She also has her dad, who doubles as her coach, back with her this week.
“He’s been my coach so it is nice to have him here with me,” said Ardina. “He really guides me and my swing so I think that helps me for Sunday.”
BOUTIER IN POSITION FOR A THIRD WIN: Celine Boutier is playing pressure free. She won two weeks ago at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge and has already secured a spot on the LPGA Tour. On Sunday, she has a chance to polish off a third win and move to the top spot on the Volivk Race for the Card money list.
“Before, I felt like every shot really mattered and there is a different feel now,” said Boutier, who still badly wants to win the tournament on Sunday. “I’m definitely more relaxed when I’m on the course now and I’ve been enjoying the tournaments more.”
Boutier followed a 68 on Friday with a 69 on Saturday to get to solo second.
“Any win is welcome,” said Boutier with a wide smile. “I’m pretty hopeful for tomorrow, but anything can happen on this course.”
Boutier has won twice and has earned $98,161 this year.
THOMAS WILL PLAY IN FINAL GROUP FOR FIRST TIME: Charlotte Thomas missed a 3-footer for birdie on her last hole, but was still happy with a 68 to move into contention.
“It was just one of my days,” said Thomas, who made six birdies. “I holed a lot of putts and when I missed greens I got up and down when I needed to. I putted really well and still left a few out there unfortunately.”
Thomas has two top 20 finishes as a rookie on the Symetra Tour and will go for her first top 10 on Sunday.
“I’m very excited to play in the last group, I’m just going to play my own game,” said Thomas. “I just want to play as I did today and put some pressure on her and see what happens.”
YADLOCZKY FINISHES WITH 4 BIRDIES AND AN EAGLE OVER FINAL 6: Carlie Yadloczky (Casselberry, Florida) finished with a 10-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to post a tournament-record tying 5-under, 67. She made four straight birdies between holes 13 and 16 and then made par on 17. She moved up from T39 to a tie for fourth.
She was 2-over for the tournament heading to her 13th hole of the day and finished 3-under.
“I’ve been hitting it well the last two days, but didn’t make many putts yesterday,” said Yadloczky, who worked on her putting after the round Friday. “It felt like I could hit everything today and I was hitting it close to the hole. Today was really solid.”
Yadloczky is coming off her best finish of the year last week, a T13 at the Garden City Charity Classic. She has a chance at her first top 10 of the season on Sunday.
“I’ve been waiting for this type of play to come because I am hitting it really well,” said Yadloczky.
“Everything fell in today.”
EUNICE KIM HOLE-IN-ONE HELPS HER MAKE CUT: Yu Eun Eunice Kim (Seoul, South Korea) made her first career hole-in-one in a tournament round on Saturday and carded a 3-under, 69 to make the cut.
It was her fourth career ace, but the other three were in non-tournament rounds.
Kim arrived at the par-3 seventh hole and pulled out an 8-iron to make the ace. She had 144-yards to the cup. The ball bounced twice and went in.
“I hit a really perfect shot, it was heading straight for the hole and then it went in,” said Kim. “It went in and there were people yelling at the green so it was nice.”
Kim carded an 80 on Friday and made two bogeys on holes three and four to start her day. She rebounded with birdie on five and then the ace on seven really propelled her. She made three birdies on the back nine to jump from T105 after day one to T50.
“The hole-in-one got me pumped up,” said Kim, who moved from Korea to Australia when she was 16.
“After the ace, my shots were that much better. Because I was 8-over yesterday, I knew I had to shoot low today and I think the hole-in-one really helped me.”
JUNIOR CARDINALS ROLL TO BIG WINS OVER DEQUEEN
By KELLY BLAIR
Y95 Sports
Camden Fairview’s 8th and 9th-grade football teams steamrolled their way to a pair of big wins over DeQueen Thursday night at Cardinal Stadium, as the 8th grade Junior Cardinals won its contest 27-7 before the CF ninth-graders cruised to a 45-0 ???? victory.
The scoring started early in the 8th-grade contest as Jacory Brown took the opening kickoff 80 yards for a score. The kick after was no good.
Following a quick three-and-out by DeQueen, Brandon Copeland returned the ensuing punt 52 yards for the next Redbird score. Corey Lockhart added the kick for a 13-0 advantage.
Mark Welch then recovered a fumble to kill the Junior Leopards next drive. Following a CF punt, the Junior Cardinals forced DeQueen to punt as well, and Ja’toney McGee blocked the kick and recovered it at the DQ 45 to set up CF’s next score. That score came when Brandon Copeland raced in from 45 yards, and Lockhart added the kick for a 20-0 lead at halftime.
DeQueen got its only score of the night when Demonte Grant returned the second half kickoff 77 yards for a score to pull the visitors within 20-7. Tony McGee scored from 26 yards out on Camden Fairview’s next possession, however, to push the home team’s lead to 27-7. Braylon Smith picked off a DeQueen pass late to snuff out one of the Junior Leopards last threats to the scoreboard.
In the 9th-grade game, Camden Fairview got things rolling early and often as Gunner Branch scored from 33 yards out with on 2 ½ minutes gone in the first quarter, before Kevin Tate added a 38-yard run for a score with 4:55 to go in the first.
Branch then came back to hit Jaden Bates with a 24-yard touchdown pass before Tate scored on a swinging gate play for two which pushed the lead to 20-0. Branch would later add a 28-yard scoring throw to DeSharay Burton, before Jacory Rogers recovered a fumble deep in DeQueen territory, and Javien Clemmer scored from 10 yards out to push the lead to 33-0. Clemmer scored again from 23 yards out. DeQueen fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and CF recovered at midfield. After Burton carried the ball down to the 4-yard line, Strickland scored with 19.6 seconds left before halftime to push the lead to 45-0.
Neither team scored in the second half as Camden Fairview worked several of its alternate unit players, and the clock mostly ran continuously due to the sportsmanship “mercy rule.”
Both teams remained undefeated with the wins, with the freshman team improving to 3-0 and the 8th-graders now 2-0. Camden Fairview will host Hot Springs for junior high action next Thursday, with the 8th-graders starting at 5:30 and the 9th-grade to immediately follow.
CARDINALS FALL TO HAMBURG, 0-2 WITH 14-12 SETBACK
By KELLY BLAIR
yesradioworks.com
CAMDEN – The Camden Fairview defense held the Hamburg Lions to only 160 yards of total offense, but the offense and special teams let the Cardinals down on Friday as the visiting team took a 14-12 victory.
The loss drops the Cardinals to 0-2 on the young season, while Hamburg improves to 1-1. The Cardinals will travel to Texarkana to take on the Arkansas High Razorbacks next week.
Camden Fairview trailed 14-0 after the first half of play after Hamburg scored on an interception by Derrick Webb with 1:10 left in the first quarter, and Johnathon Kelly added a 27-yard screen pass for a touchdown to Allen Forrest with 5:01 to play before intermission. Forrest’s score came on a third-and-long play for the Lions.
The Cardinals were hurt by penalties and turnovers all night, fumbling the ball away twice in the first half, and once in the second, to go along with the interception. Despite the setbacks, the Cardinals still outgained the Lions in total yardage, 230 yards to 160 yards on the night.
Camden Fairview was able to get back in the game with a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Keith Johnson, following a big catch and run play by Devonta Lewis. A bad snap didn’t give the PAT a chance, however, and the Cardinals still trailed 14-6.
Camden Fairview continued to struggle on offense in the second half, as lost yardage plays and penalties put them behind the sticks most of the evening. The Redbirds were finally able to break through, however, when Johnson hit Lewis with a pass over the middle, and the speedy senior took it in for paydirt with a 38-yard score.
The try for two which could have tied the contest was no good by the Cardinals, however, and Hamburg continued to lead 14-12. That turned out to be the final score when the Lions picked up enough first downs to run out the clock.
Johnson finished the night 11 for 23 passing for 159 yards.
SAU Tech hires new basketball coach
Southern Arkansas University Tech, Camden Arkansas - SAU Tech is pleased to announce the hiring of Marty Levinson, as the new head basketball for the SAU Tech Rockets.
Levinson, an avid basketball player, and former high school player, played for Bellevue West in Nebraska and helped lead them to a state championship in 2000. As a player in 2003 for the University of Nebraska Kearney, Levinson was part of the team that were NCAA D2 Regional Champions and Elite 8 qualifiers with a 30-3 record.
Levinson has experience at all levels of the game, as an assistant coach, head coach, manager and player. His work history covers positions in California and Nebraska at both high schools and colleges. He earned a Masters of Art in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2011 and has lived in California since 2014. Levinson coached Tyrone Criswell - who was the NJCAA Division 2 Junior College Player of the Year - and in 2002, Levinson was the head coach for Central Community College in California which finished with a record of 26-10 and placed 3rd nationally.
Levinson also coached at the University of the Pacific which is a NCAA Division 1 college. Levinson is currently working with the South Sudan basketball team to help them qualify for the 2020 Olympics in head to head qualifying match-ups.
When asked what the greatest advantage he sees in coming to SAU Tech to start up competitive basketball teams, Levinson stated that “I get to take my personal vision and implement it from the ground up. It is an amazing opportunity that most coaches never get. I believe that college basketball is a platform for students to obtain an education and expand their life experiences.
"It’s not just about the game. Winning is great, but seeing students get an education and continue on to successful careers is the best part of it all. The teams I have been on and coached have had success because the participants came together and functioned as a team. It wasn’t about one person; it was everyone doing their part. That is what I will work to accomplish with the SAU Tech Rockets. My biggest challenge here in Camden is that I don’t have community contacts but I am hoping that will soon change. I am already making contact with the local basketball coaches.”
Levinson enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his family. He says he is especially proud that he is an uncle as his brother now has a son and daughter.
Dr. Morrison, SAU Tech Chancellor, made this statement with regards to the new athletic endeavor at SAU Tech, “Students at two-year colleges deserve the right to experience the same things four-year college students experience. Basketball is one of the ways that SAU Tech is providing a complete college experience for its students. Athletics can provide students with a foundation in which to obtain a college education and build leadership skills. We are excited about Coach Levinson and the experience and energy he is already brining to the college.”
Levinson will be spending the fall and spring preparing for the start of Rocket basketball in fall 2018. His offices are located in the SAU Tech Student Center and he can be reached at 870-574-4545. SAU Tech’s Vice Chancellor for Student Services, David McLeane, is serving as the college’s athletic director. McLeane is a former high school coach and mathematics teacher.
CARDINALS DOMINATE MONTICELLO IN PRESEASON SCRIMMAGE
By KELLY BLAIR
Radioworks Y95
CAMDEN - The Camden Fairview Cardinals thoroughly dominated the Monticello Billies in a preseason scrimmage game at Cardinal Stadium on Tuesday night, winning the preseason contest 31-7.
Cardinal coach Jake Monden said while the team still has some corrections to make, overall he was very pleased with the Redbirds' performance.
"I thought for two plays we could have been better," Monden said. "The one time on the goalline with just a few seconds left to go in the half, we got out of coverage on the backside ... they made a nice throw and catch and that's where they got their score ...likewise we were in the middle of the field one time and turned the ball over, and you don't want to see those things.
"But to be honest with you, we came out of it healthy, we have good film to go back and look at, there's always going to be a lot of corrections, but I thought our offensive line did a better job tonight than they do in practice of protecting the quarterback and taking care of the ball."
The Cardinals got the scoring going early as they forced Monticello to punt on their opening possession, before quarterback Keith Johnson hit Jalen Moore with a 40-yard pass to set up a 27-yard field goal by Israel Quiroz to give CFHS a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals then immediately forced another quick punt, but fumbled the ball away a few plays later. Monticello still couldn't move the ball against Camden Fairview's stout defense, however, and Johnson broke loose with 8:55 to play in the second for a 30-yard touchdown. Quiroz added the first of several PAT kicks, and the Cards led 10-0.
Another quick punt, and a quick score from the Cards pushed the advantage to 17-0 for the home team. Following a pair of punishing runs by Demetrius Moore,
Johnson hit Dalvonte Lewis with a pass down to the 6-yard line before Moore punched it in on the next play.
With the CF defense continuing to dominate and forcing another punt, KJ Malone came in at quarterback for Camden Fairview and immediately hit Quaishun Thompson for a 49-yard touchdown and a 24-0 Cardinal lead. Monticello then came back to cap off a long drive by scoring on the last play of the half to pull within 24-7.
After a brief 10-minute "halftime" break, the Cardinals took the ball to open the third quarter and capped a 90-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Jalen Moore for a 31-7 lead. Reserves took it the rest of the way for the Cardinals, with Deterian Curtis ending Monticello's last real threat with a interception.
"My big thing man, our defense ... they played well tonight," Monden said of the dominating performance the Redbird defenders turned in. "As opposed to a year ago, we never any heads get rocked backwards, and tonight they were bringing the wood and getting all our hats the ball every play."
The Cardinals will officially open up the 2017 season next Friday on Sept. 1 when they host their longtime rival from the South, the El Dorado Wildcats. Game time at Cardinal Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
Bearden Bears practice report, Aug. 2
OLDER BEARS LOOKING FOR BIG SEASON
By KELLY BLAIR
yesradioworks.com
BEARDEN - Armed with a full coaching staff now, the Bearden Bears are looking for big things in 2017.
At one point late in the summer, Bearden head coach Ernie Horstkamp thought he may have to go into the new season a little shorthanded, as former line coach David Clark left for a new job in Springhill.
But then last week, former Bearden assistant Larry Reeder walked into the fieldhouse.
"He asked me if we wanted any watermelons, and I asked him, 'Do you want a job?'" "Horstkamp said, noting Reeder worked under him and former Bearden coach Mike Cox for eight seasons before retiring a couple of years ago. "We talked about it, and we were able to work something out."
With Reeder now on board to coach offensive lineman and defensive backs, and with new coach Lavell Wright joining the staff as well, the Bearden coaching staff is back to full strength and ready to go into the new season. William "Bud" Chambliss, Ryan Thomas and Anthony Hammonds are still on board with the Bears as well.
The new staff welcomed 32 players to training camp on Monday, and return six starters on each side of the ball. Currently there are two players out of action with injuries, but Horstkamp said the ones who are in camp are ready to go.
"Practice has gone well the last three days," Horstkamp said following today's workout. "The attitude and effort has just been fantastic, and we always tell them that those are the things they can control. A lot of it is that they have had good retention from the spring and summer."
Horstkamp said with Bears getting in shoulder pads and "shells" today, the staff was able to get a better idea of just how far along the team is. After three days of limited contact practice, teams can start full-pad practices next week.
"This year we did do some 7-on-7's in July, but we didn't overdo it," the coach said. "With 30 players, everybody is going to get plenty of reps. We don't want everyone wearing down by the end of the season. We want them to still want to play by the time we get to playoffs."
The Bears will continue to have early morning practices for the rest of this week before practicing in the evenings Monday and Tuesday of next week due to teacher workshops. They will then take Aug. 9 off, before practicing in the morning on Aug. 10, and then traveling to Little Rock on Aug. 11.
With conference rival Rison installing a new turf field, Horstkamp said he wanted his team to work out on an artificial field before they played the Wildcats. He said while he could have possibly had his team travel to El Dorado or some other turf field instead, he choose to take the War Memorial Stadium in the capital city so the Bears can set a goal of getting back there by the end of the season.
"That's kind of theme - start there, end there," Horstkamp said, noting all state championship games are played at WMS. "We'll bus up there and work out ... make a day of it."
The Bears will have both junior high and senior high Black-&-White scrimmages on Aug. 15, starting with junior high at 6 p.m. Admission to those events is laundry detergent or $2 a person.
The high school team will then have a preseason scrimmage against Fordyce in Bearden on Aug. 22. On Aug. 24, the Junior Bears will travel to Fordyce for a preseason scrimmage game.
Harmony Grove Preview, Aug. 1, 2017
EXPERIENCED HORNETS LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE IN 2017
By KELLY BLAIR
yesradioworks.com
HARMONY GROVE - Two practices into what the Harmony Grove Hornets think will be a big 2017 season, head coach Tony Chambers could hardly sound happier.
"Things have gone really good," Chambers said. "Really, it's gone about as good as it has ever gone. We're making a few changes on offense, but for the most part we've got a lot of returning players and a lot of playing time back this year, and you can tell. It's been pretty impressive what the retention has been like."
Of course, Chambers said it helps when a team has its entire offensive line back, and several key contributors on offense. Overall, HG has seven starters coming back on offense, and six on defense.
"And we've got some depth this year too," Chambers added. "We're a solid 2-deep at every position, so that means nobody feels completely safe. Everybody working hard to make sure they keep their position. We have some sophomores that could step in and play on the line if we needed them too. We have some other people that can play the skill positions. We're at least 2-deep at every position - some we're 3-deep in - and most of the positions there isn't a big drop off between the ones and twos."
The Hornets had 37 players in camp for the start of the season, down from the 45 they had through most of the offseason. Chambers said a couple of the players are out of town or accounted for, but added two or three are simply "MIA." Since most of the players made all their summer workouts, however, Chambers said he believes most of them will be back.
Harmony Grove will continue to workout each morning this week, before switching to some afternoons workouts next week depending on the coaches' schedule with other activities at the school.
The team plans to have a controlled intra-squad scrimmage on Aug. 10 after team pictures are made. On Aug. 22, the high school team will take on Junction City in a preseason scrimmage game, before the squad opens up its season a few days early by taking on Smackover on Aug. 29 at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia as part of one of the Hooten's Arkansas Football Kickoff Classics.
As part of the Hooten's game, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will have a food drive, and the team will meet with cheerleaders and several other members of the community on Aug. 8 to pack meals for under-privileged families at Harmony Grove United Methodist Church.
Tickets to the Hooten's Classic in Magnolia are $7 each, and Harmony Grove gets to keep all the proceeds of any tickets they sell. Tickets will be on sale at the school registration day Thursday, on the Elementary Pop Night on Aug. 8 and on Spin Night on Aug. 10.
Tickets can also be purchased from any player or coach.
Despite losing three coaches during the offseason, Chambers said he is happy with the three assistant he has on staff for 2017. Mark Hill left Foreman to join the Hornets as the offensive and defense line coach. Blake Williams is back as running backs/linebackers coach and will serve as defensive coordinator with the departure of DJ Keithley, and James Garcia will serve as the receivers and secondary coach.
Starting Wednesday, the Hornets will go in "shells" for three days before being able to don full pads next week.
Aug. 1, 2017
URGENT SPORTS UPDATE
Camden Fairview to drop to Class 4A in all sports except football in 2018
By KELLY BLAIR
yesradioworks.com
With new legislation passed on Monday, Camden Fairview high school will drop down in classification in all sports except football, starting with the 2018-19 school year.
The measure, Proposal No. 9 by the governing body of the Arkansas Activities Association, will mandate that starting in the next school year, the 16 largest school districts in the state will play in Class 6A for boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball, track and soccer.
The next largest 32 schools will then be assigned to Class 5A, with the next 48 schools assigned to Class 4A.
With the 58th largest enrollment in the state, Camden Fairview would drop down to 4A for the 2018-19 school year for the non-football sports. CFHS will remain in Class 5A for football.
Reached earlier this morning in Little Rock, where the AAA meetings are taking place, CF athletic director Ricky Tucker said the result of the voting did not come as a surprise to him.
"We kind of saw this coming," Tucker said. "A lot of folks weren't really happy with the blended conferences we're doing right now ... There were a lot of schools that didn't want to go to this (proposal), but it passed, so in the end so we'll go forward from here."
Currently Camden Fairview plays in a 9-team "blended" conference for sports including basketball, baseball and softball. Camden Fairview's current conference includes 6A members El Dorado, Texarkana and Lake Hamilton.
Part of the confusion with the blended conferences came when teams advanced to postseason, and would go back to playing only teams in their classification size. For Camden Fairview, that meant seeing White Hall and Watson Chapel rejoin the conference for the district tournaments as the end of the season.
No conference assignments have been made by the AAA for the new legislation yet. Schools close to Camden Fairview which could be possibly be assigned to - although there is nothing official yet - include districts such as Arkadelphia, Nashville, Malvern or Crossett.
As the 48th largest district in the state, Magnolia should be assigned to Class 5A, along with White Hall, Hot Springs Lakeside and Watson Chapel.
Schools that currently share a conference with Camden Fairview such as Hot Springs High School, Hope and DeQueen will likely remain in the same district as CFHS.
Tucker said while looking for a solution in getting away from the "blended" conferences, he believes it is important to remember that each school had a right to have their say in this issue.
"Y'know, this thing is a democracy," Tucker said. "I know that not everyone is happy with it, but it's what we have now and everyone had a chance to vote. I can remember when (Camden Fairview) was in the old 5A, which was the largest classification in the state (in all sports) with schools as big as Fayetteville and Bentonville, and no one was real concerned about it then. Now we've got some other folks that aren't happy with this but we'll move forward and do our best to make it work."
On a side note, Camden Fairview will also welcome a pair of newcomers to the 5A South football conference including 2018, including Texarkana and Little Rock McClellan.
White Hall and Watson Chapel have been moved to the 5A Central, while the rest of the 5A South football conference - including Lakeside, Hope, Magnolia, Hot Springs and DeQueen - will remain the same.
July 31, 2017
Cardinal football ready to bounce back in 2017
By KELLY BLAIR
yesradioworks.com
CAMDEN - After a 3-7 season in his first campaign as the head coach of the Camden Fairview Cardinals, Jake Monden has made a number of changes to make sure the Redbirds bounce back and have a better year in 2017.
Armed with 87 players on the first day of practice, Monden indicated that he not only believes the Cardinals have "the right 87 players" to have a successful season, but to also get back into the playoffs and compete for a conference championship in the upcoming season. The Cardinals went into 2016 with around 77 players, the coach noted.
"I feel good about the ones we have left," Monden said, noting the team had over a hundred players during the offseason, but as usual, saw the number dwindle during the summer months. "The kids we have now have sacrificed and put in the work."
The Cardinals begin their first official practice of training camp today at 5 p.m. The Redbirds will work out all month while preparing for a Red-White game on Aug. 18th at Cardinal Stadium, and their pre-season scrimmage game against Monticello, also at Cardinal Stadium, on Aug. 22.
Monden said he went exclusively with an evening schedule for practice instead of mornings because after a week or so, the team had to switch to evenings to accommodate teachers’ workshops and coaches' schedule anyway.
"This way, we just keep doing the same thing - it allows us to get into a routine," Monden said. "We'll keep the same schedule and have an easier transition."
The head Cardinal said the afternoon practice schedule also allows a little more time for him to meet with his mostly new coaching staff, which saw a lot of turnover for the second straight year.
Only two coaches, Monden and offensive coordinator Landon Dover, are left over from 2016. Dover served as the receivers coach last season, but was already set to take over the play-calling duties in 2017.
Matt Sandifer, the new high school defensive line coach, served on the Junior Cardinals’ staff last season, but otherwise, there are a lot of new faces in the meeting rooms these days.
TJ Hill is the new CF defensive coordinator, coming to Camden Fairview from El Dorado. Garrett Whitley takes over as the new O-Line coach, while Tramaine Brown will coach running backs and Jon Brooks will coach receivers.
Joining Sandifer on the defensive side of the ball include new faces Dex Gardner (linebackers) and Devin Ball (secondary).
The large turnover came due to a number of reasons, including a pair of coaches who had a chance to coach a little closer to their hometowns, a pair that went into administration, and some that simply were not asked back.
Monden said he feels really good about the staff he has now, and after having eight coaches total on the high school staff last year, he added that having nine on the high school staff now was always a goal of his.
"With the amount of kids we have, I think this number now gives us the expertise that we need on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball," Monden said. "It also allows me to float and have my hands in all aspects of things, instead of having to spend so much time on one side of the ball like I did last year (as the acting defensive coordinator).
Monden also pointed out that having Chris Coker serve as the junior high head coach for both the 8th and 9th grade teams would give the junior high players the same staff to work with for two years in a row. Troy Keith will be the offensive coordinator for both junior high teams, and is joined by defensive coordinator Jamal Russell and assistants Carlos Tucker, Jacob Wiedmaier and Dillon Fogle.
Overall, Monden said workouts for the high school Cardinals went very well over the offseason and summer. The team competed in a number of 7-on-7 passing games, and team camps where they were able to get a number of padded workouts in as well.
"I think our kids are confident," Monden said going into the new year. "We're definitely a lot stronger .... and I think the harder you work, the harder it gets to spit the bit out when things get tough. Mentally, I think we're a lot better. During our team camps, I saw our level of competing with other teams go way up. I'm looking forward to getting the new season going and being a lot more competitive this year."
