The incredible success that Quitman High School has enjoyed this spring in softball that has propelled the team to the 2021 LHSAA state softball tournament is no longer a secret. That is result of the feature story that KTVE-TV sports director Chris Demardjian, did on the #5 seed team in Class B that aired on Tuesday, April 27th and was published on the myarklamiss.com website. To view the feature of Quitman click here:  https://www.myarklamiss.com/sports/quitman-softball-hopes-to-leave-sulphur-with-teams-first-championship/

Lady Wolverines to face Anacoco on Thursday, April 27

The goal of going to Sulphur, LA to play in the Class B state championship tournament is now a reality but to compete in the title game the Lady Wolverines who enter with a 27-7 record must first get past upstart Anacoco. The #9 seed, who is the district 5B champion with a 16-14 overall record earned the opportunity to play Quitman by upsetting top ranked Forest High in the quarterfinals. Game time is set for 3:00pm.

Directions to Frasch Park: According to Google Maps the best way to get to to the Frasch Park of the Sulphur Parks and Recreation softball complex is to take Hwy 167S to Alexandria and then take Hwy 165S to Interstate 10 and head west. From there you will take exit 20 on to Ruth Street and continue for appoximately 5 miles. The exact address of the Park where Quitman will play on field #15 is 400 Picard St. in Sulphur, LA.

Profile of the 2020-21 Lady Wolverines (27-7)

It would be safe to say that never before in Jackson Parish sport history has such a youthful team enjoyed as much success and advanced as far as the Lady Wolverines have this season. To put it into perspective Quitman has played seven schools that have qualified for the state tournament in various classifications and divisions and has beaten five of them including the top ranked team in Class 3A (Grant). 

Team statistics: Offensively the Lady Wolverines have scored 372 runs (Madison Chaplin – 54) in their 34 games for an average of 10.94 runs per game and has a composite team batting average of .362 (Cali Deal – .500). This includes 59 doubles (Maggie Guyotte -14), 13 triples (Cali Deal – 4) and 24 home runs (Guyotte & Maddie Kaye Brymer – 7). Quitman has also stolen 183 bases (Chaplin – 31) for an average of 5.38 per game while being caught stealing only nine times.   Defensively Quitman enters the state tourney with an .886 fielding average (Averie Williams – .986) and sports a pitching staff that boasts a sparkling 2.082 ERA (Deal – 1.333) and has struck out 269 batters (Deal – 181) for an average of 7.91 per game.

Individual capsules (team leaders shown in bold)

Starters	Statistics
Cali Deal	.500BA, 38RS, 32RBI, 12-2B, 4-3B, 4HR, 16SB, 15-5 record, 181K’s, 1.333 ERA
Maddie Kaye Brymer	.467BA, 43RS, 59RBI, 12-2B, 1-3B, 7HR, 9SB, 3-0 record, 19K’s, 2.471 ERA
Maggie Guyotte	.442BA, 34RS, 36RBI, 14-2B, 3-3B, 7HR, 2SB, 8-2 record, 69K’s, 3.635 ERA
Madeline Vail	.360BA, 35RS, 21RBI, 3-2B, 23SB
Madison Chaplin	.356BA, 54RS, 30RBI, 5-2B, 3-3B, 4HR, 31 SB
Skylar Hall	.347BA, 27RS, 23RBI, 4-2B, 2-3B, 22SB
Jada Naron	.309BA, 30RS, 29RBI, 4-2B, 16SB
Karley Huckaby	.256BA, 34RS, 19RBI, 2-2B, 2HR, 19SB
Averie Williams	.221BA, 31RS, 14RBI, 3-2B, 27SB
Reserves
Marley Bell	.417BA (5/12), 5RS, 4RBI, 1SB
Katie Lynn Roberts	.500BA (1/2), 1RS, 1SB
Taylor Harvey	.364BA (4/11), 13RS, 2RBI, 4SB
Bethany Leach	(0/3), 6RS, 4SB
Emily Borland	(0/4), 13RS, 4SB
Summer Grilette	(0/7), 6RS, 3SB
Emily Maxwell	(0/6), 1RS, 1SB

Poppa is coming home! Former JHHS basketball star Ladamien Bradford tweeted the news Tuesday that he was would be plying his skills at Louisiana Tech next season. It took a year longer than he wanted but Louisiana Tech head basketball coach Eric Konkol has now gotten the one that he said he wanted to build his backcourt around while initially recruiting Bradford before losing him to Texas A&M. Bradford will be immediately eligible to play next season for Tech. 

The versatile 6’4″ guard made two starts in the 2020-2021 season and played in 14 games for the Aggies recording recording five assists, five steals, four points and a block. As his tweet indicated, he was grateful for his experience this past season.

“First of all I want to thank Coach Johnson and Coach Williams and the rest of the coaching staff for the opportunity to play at Texas A&M,” Bradford wrote in a message posted to Twitter. “I want to thank all my teammates for their love and support and great memories that I will never forget. I am forever grateful for this opportunity in my life. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and explore new opportunities.”

Bradford was a candidate for the LSWA’s Mr. Basketball honor and also the Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana at the close of his high school days at JHHS. He was the Shreveport Times All-Area Player of the Year for 2019-20 after averaging 24.5 points and 13.3 rebounds, along with 5.5 assists and 3.3 steals.

 

 

 

With a pair of 3-run, home runs by Davis Tolar and Braden Theriot in the bottom of the fourth inning #10 seed Weston High denied an upset bid by #23 Castor by rallying for a thrilling 7-6 victory. The win propels the Wolves, now 12-7 on the year, into a Regional round contest on May 3rd on the road against #7 Converse who is the district 4B co-champion and has an 18-8 overall record.

Fourth inning magic: Suddenly the fourth inning has become a game changer for the Wolves. This past Thursday, Weston used a grand slam by Caleb Waters to rally past Quitman. On Monday the Wolves got a pair of three run blasts to rally from a 5-1 deficit. 

Scoring in bunches: Kaden Shirley got the big inning started with a one out double. This was followed by a walk to Blaine Graham. Theriot then hit a shot to dead center for first home run of the season that narrowed the gap to 5-4. Bryce Zehr and Waters then singled to right with two outs setting up the game winning blast by Tolar, his second of the year to give Weston a 7-5 lead.

Shirley seals the deal: Head coach Jacob Otwell was hoping not to have to pitch his ace after Shirley went seven innings just three days before but with Weston down by four the first year head coach turned to his ace in hopes of stopping the bleeding. Shirley responded with a superb 3.2 innings in relief where he allowed only three hits and no earned runs while striking out four to earn the win. 

Sloppy game: While the contest was exciting it was also sloppily played on defense as the twoformer district foes combined for 12 errors. A season worst seven were made by Weston which is what led to Castor taking the early lead.  

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
#23 Castor	1	0	3	1	0	0	1	6	6	5
#10 Weston	0	0	1	6	0	0	X	7	8	7

WP – Shirley, LP – n/a
2B – Shirley, Zehr
HR – Theriot, Tolar
RBI – Tolar 4, Theriot 3
SB – Waters 2,  Henderson

Anyone who knows Tag Rome, the son of former Jackson Parish residents Tony and Marlene Rome,  would not be surprised by the recent announcement that he was named to the State Farm Insurance Chairman’s Circle for 2020.  After all, they will tell you that overachieving has always a specialty of the 1979 Cedar Creek High School and NLU (now ULM) football star whose competitiveness and love for a new challenge is unrivaled. 

As a testament to his drive, Rome not only qualified for his 16th Chairman’s Circle designation at his Bossier City State Farm Legacy Office, he also did it also for the first time at his Blanchard office. To put this achievement into perspective State Farm has over 19,000 agencies in their network and less than 3% earn Chairman’s Circle designation and Rome did it twice. This being in a year that the COVID-19 pandemic created more obstacles for business owners than ever before.  Tag – your still it!

 

 

 

Savannah Dowden and Lake Vines of Quitman High School has been named the 2020-21 recipient of the annual I.J. Allen Scholarship. The memorial scholarships are awarded each year by the Jonesboro State Bank to deserving graduating seniors of Jackson Parish schools in the name of former bank president I.J. Allen (1883-1980)

Vines, who plans to attend Louisiana State University (LSU) and pursue a major in Biology received a scholarship in the amount of $6,000.00. Dowden, was awarded a $3,000.00 to which she plans to apply towards a Pharmacy degree at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.  

To say that Tuesday, April 22nd was a special day at Weston High School is an understatement. Words cant do justice to the exhilaration and heart felt tidings that were abound on what was dubbed as “Chase the Win” day in honor of former WHS teacher and coach Chase Frasier, who tragically lost his life last year in an auto accident. 

First there was the baseball game between Weston and rival Quitman, that saw the Wolves win in dramatic fashion. Then the event was highlighted by the presentation of the inaugural Chase Frasier Memorial Scholarship. The well deserving, recipient was Madison Coody, who not only exemplifies the kind of school spirit Coach Frasier brought but is also wonderful representative of what it means to be a true student-athlete. 

An eagle three on the par five, third hole offset the only par the team of Dwayne “Snook” Harrell, Walter Simmons, Colton Moore, Eli Walker and Luke Walker made on their way to a winning, nine under par, score of 27 in the Tuesday Night Scramble held on April 20th.

The total on the par 36 course was two better than three teams led by the fivesome of Dawson Tolar, Drew Huddleston, Phillip Brown, David Brown and Gary Willis who won the scorecard playoff for second place by making a birdie two on the par three, fifth hole that bettered the third place finishing team of Tommy C., Bill Decou, Josh Smith, Noah Leach and Glen Watkins.   

Final results:

1. Harrell, Walker, Walker, Simmons, Moore	27 (9 under)
2. Tolar, Huddleston, Brown, Brown, Willis	29 (7 under) **
3. Tommy C., Decou, Smith, Leach, Watkins	29 (7 under) **
4. Marshall, Sony, Tolar, Knighten, Knighten	29 (7 under)**
5. Tolar, Foshee, Gaines, Beck, Peyton	30 (6 under)
6. Richie S., Jeffrey M., Smith, Hobson, Horton	32 (4 under)
7. Morris, Wells, Conville, Brown, Davis	32 (4 under)

Jace Holt and Macie Hall has been named Mr. and Miss Weston High School for the 2020-21 school year. Jace Holt is the son of Justin and Tammy Holt. Jace has attended Weston High School since Kindergarten. During this time he has been active in athletics and other organizations. He is a member of FFA and FCA. Jace has also been on the Weston Wolves Basketball team for the last six years. He was chosen District 2-B All District Boys Team, First Team. He has served on Homecoming Court the last two years and also has been chosen class favorite each high school year. He attends Hodge United Pentecostal Church. Jace’s future plans are to attend Louisiana Delta Community college pursuing a degree in E & I Engineering.

Macie is the daughter of Chad Hall and Dara Davis and has attended Weston since PreK. She is involved in FBLA, BETA, student council, is her class secretary and has been on the Lady Wolves softball team all four years. She has also been on the Homecoming Court every year of her high school career. Macie worships at North Hodge Assembly of God. Her future plans are to attend the University of Louisiana in Monroe and major in dental hygiene.   

 

Gracepoint Christian Academy (GCA), located at 1691 South Hudson Avenue in Jonesboro, LA, has begun enrollment for the 2021-22 school year. Registration is open to youth from the ages of Pre-K and the 3rd thru 12th grade.

The Christian based school offers Bob Jones University (BJU) Curriculum which provides educational materials written from a biblical worldview that focus on academic rigor and encourage critical thinking, all delivered by expert teachers and video lessons. 

Additional amenities the school offers is a weekly chapel period for students, Patriotic Heritage studies, no Common Core math curriculum and class sizes that are limited to 12 students per class ensuring maximum individual attention. 

For more information you can send a message on the GCA Facebook page or contact Administrator David “Bubba” Walsworth at 318-259-4968.

Lauren Menzina, who has deep family roots in Jackson Parish and is the daughter of former Jonesboro business owners, Lonnie and Jill (Brown) Menzina, has been named Student-Athlete of the Week at Louisiana Tech University. 

After pitching Cedar Creek High School to a state title in softball where she was named Most Outstanding Player of the Division IV State Tournament, the scholar student has continued to achieve tremendous success on the collegiate level in both the classroom and playing field.

This is demonstrated by her posting a perfect 4.0 grade point average in each of her first two quarters at Tech and compiling a 2-0 record and a 3.11 earned run average in four starts that included a complete game victory against USA conference foe University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB).

The Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that on Saturday, May 1st, a senior student from Jonesboro-Hodge, Quitman and Weston High School will be selected as the 2021 Community Service Award winner. 

This year marks the 5th Annual Community Service Award (CSA) program sponsored by the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce. For this school year only, in honor of an exemplary educator from each school who tragically lost their life this past year, the 2021 CSA award has been named in memory of Coach Chase Frasier of Weston High School, Mrs. Bertha Robinson of JHHS and Coach Zach Harris of Quitman High School. 

 

The Jackson Parish Tourism Board seeks your help with the preparation of a new tourism brochure. The effort is designed to beckon visitors to enjoy the beauty of our piney hills, take part in the great fishing and hunting that is abound and learn that Jackson Parish is a wonderful destination for relaxation. If you have a photo of a Jackson Parish location, event, or scene that will help people outside our area understand what an unsung jewel our parish is, email a high resolution copy to info@visitjacksonparish.org for possible inclusion.

The continued revitalization of downtown Jonesboro got another boost this week when Hideway Hair Salon was opened on Tuesday, April 27th. Located at 520 South Polk Avenue, which is on the corner of South Polk and 6th Street, the newest edition to the Jonesboro business district is owned and operated by Rachel Potts.

“I am so glad to be doing business in my home town,” said Potts.

A native of Jonesboro and current Quitman resident, Potts formerly worked at Davis & Company Hair Salon in Ruston and studied Cosmetology at Pat Goins Beauty School. Walk-ins are welcome or you can make an appointment by calling (318) 548-7044.

 

 

 

2021 Boys Track and Field

Event	JHHS	QHS	WHS
100M	Jameon Tate – 11.62	Noah Vail – 11.52	Gage Albert – 11.90
200M	LaJavion Nichols – 23.66	Noah Vail – 24.46	Caleb Waters – 25.71
400M	Datre’vien Bowie – 53.13	Jamall Johnson – 57.78	Landon Roberts – 56.81
800M	Cameron Leonard – 2:19.79	Taylor Huddleston – 2:26.84	Landon Roberts – 2:22.91
1600M	David Johnson – 5:43.05	Harley Brown – 5:18.75	Dillon Pardue – 5:32.78
3200M	David Johnson – 14:38.05	Chance Chaplin – 13:32.00	Dillon Pardue – 12:35.00
110Hurdles	Savantez Phillips – 17.50
300Hurdles	Devontae Mozee – 44.34	James Pabaya – 51.14
4x100Relay	45.10	49.11	48.71
4x200Relay	1:34.27	1:43.07
4x400Relay	3:38.41	4:12.79
High Jump	Datre’vien Bowie – 6’6″	S. Rowe, N. Klibert – 5’2″
Long Jump	Justin Calahan – 20′ 5″	Jamall Johnson – 18’10”	Daniel Albert – 16’3.75″
Triple Jump	Datre’vien Bowie – 44’7.75″	Ty Simonelli – 36’5.5″
Pole Vault		Hunter Folks – 9’6″
Shot Put	Chase Bryant – 43’7″	Bailey Keys – 39’1.25″	Rylee McBride – 39’3″
Discus	Chase Bryant – 102’8.5″	Jamikel Moffett – 90’2.5″
Javelin	Kolby Mitchell – 139’2″	Bailey Keys – 117’9″

2021 Girls Track and Field

Event	JHHS	QHS	WHS
100M	Zymea Hoggro – 13.46	Clara Womack – 13.86
200M	Laila Johnson – 27.20	Grace Sharplin – 30.14	Jacie Ledford 32.05
400M	Yahzmynne Andrews – 1:12.38	Emma Carter – 1:11.60	Josie Irvin – 1:13.02
800M		Faith Odom -2:57.28	Josie Irvin – 3:01.99
1600M		Faith Odom – 6:34.32
3200M		Faith Odom – 14:42.52
100Hurdles	Yahzmynne Andrews – 21.31	Maddie Giddens – 19.78	LaKerria Austin – 18.19
300Hurdles	A’Joriana Hoggro – 57.42	Maddie Giddens – 56.21	LaKerria Austin – 55.55
4x100Relay	52.71	56.53	1:01.26
4x200Relay	1:52.92	2:04.80
4x400Relay	4:52.32
High Jump	Xabrianna Jackson – 4’10”	Emma Carter – 4’6″	Briley Peterson – 4’10”
Long Jump	Zymea Hoggro – 18’3″	Bethany Leach – 15′ 11″	Lakerria Austin – 14’2.50″
Triple Jump	Xabrianna Jackson – 34’11”	Bethany Leach – 30′ 11.5″
Pole Vault		Clara Womack – 8’0″	Carroll Foshee – 5’6″
Shot Put	Chamya Waters – 27’3″ (LSI)	Lajaesha Bailey – 27’2.5″	Jalexia Claridy – 31’9.5″
Discus	Chamya Waters – 66’10.5″	Lajaesha Bailey – 65’4.5″	Jalexia Claridy – 96’7.50″
Javelin	Chamya Waters – 77’7″	Jamine Pittman – 110’2″	Mallory Tolar – 122’5″