Lauren - Senior Year

Last month we watched Lauren march her last half time show. Senior years are full of "last" events and we crossed another one last Saturday as Lauren marched in her last Christmas parade. Arkansas weather is funny, sometimes at the parade it's freezing cold and sometimes it's muggy and sweaty, this year it was perfect fall weather.

The first semester of her last year of high school is almost over. No more marching band or summer band practice, no more ACT testing...just ahead: soccer season.

Lauren - Senior Year

 

 

Not even sure how this happened, but Lauren is a senior. I know because I ordered her cap and gown this week, then took her to a senior picture appointment.

More Grad pics

5-18-12

Diamondbacks 2012

Cannot find adequate words to express my feelings about these boys. The Diamondbacks were a competitive baseball team from age 7 - 12. Five years of going to weekend tournaments and summer vacations spent at ball parks from Orlando to Kansas City made a lot of wonderful memories and good friends. All these young men are good guys, have stayed out of trouble and have been making good decisions. All but Jordan are seniors and this may be the last time we are all in the same place at the same time. I hope not but I started envisioning this senior picture last semester and this is exactly what I had in mind. I'm so thankful that our family got to be a part of something so special.

It's Official

Fortunately his picture goes with the Commencement article and not the Sheriff's Report.

High School Sports - Senior Year

Can't put into words what it means to know Ryan is wrapping up his sports as a high school senior. Last night was Senior Night, it was a simple ceremony but meaningful for all involved. 6 of these boys have played ball together since they were seven years old. I've got to say that although we have district, regionals and state tournament to go, it will be good to continue closing the door on high school for my very determined son.

Last week we learned he won one of the ROTC scholarships to U of A. He interviewed and applied for this scholarship at the end of last year. We've been "on hold" waiting for news about this full-ride scholarship. When he got the official offer, we learned it is a three-year scholarship.  We'll continue applying for what we can receive for his first year. School fees for a year are around $21,000. We're all relieved and happy that he has chosen to pursue an education in Fayetteville. It's one hour and 15 minutes from our house, and he'll be a third generation graduate from the University.

PROM - Ryan 2012 - Senior Year

Ryan deserves his own post for Prom. He asked a wonderful girl to go with him, independently chose a tuxedo in silver, and had a fabulous time! Most importantly, I did not have to fix his hair or glue his nails on. Because of that, I happily offered to return his tux on Monday.

The Mockingbird Lane guys...

DBACKS - Trenton, Andre, Trey, Ryan, Michael and Dillon...all playing CHS baseball this season together. Ahhh.

All State Choir - Senior Year

Hot Springs Convention Center...Ryan had a great weekend learning 4 pretty impressive songs for the concert on Saturday. I love a kid who loves to harmonize just as much as he loves to hit someone on the football field or hit one over the fence. His teacher is an inspiritaion because she believes in the kids and she encourages them all to do their best. Ryan didn't place where he wanted to at All State, but he was there and it was awesome.

College Visit

I did not take pictures of us on the campus tour, or talking to the lady in the financial aid office, or even in the honors college. The funniest moment of the day came in the cafeteria sitting in the middle of a packed room of college kids. Richard asked Ryan if he was more uncomfortable that he was new in the room, or if he was more uncomfortable sitting with his parents. While Ryan was trying to decide if he was going to be honest or kind, I mentioned that we could do a flash mob to make him more conspicuous. We laughed out loud and the tension was gone. We had a good day and really enjoyed spending the time together.

I didn't go to Princeton last September when Richard and Ryan visited there. (although I did get a t-shirt)  I also didn't go with Richard and Gramps when they took Ryan to baseball camp at Baylor. It was a totally new experience for me to go to ASU and ask "Mom questions" to my hearts content.

About college, I'm really excited for Ryan to be able to go and have a great college experience. He's a mature 18 year old, has a great work ethic and moral code and will be successful wherever he goes. However...I predict that when we take him to college and I walk away from him toward our car, I will cry.

We're waiting on a few scholarships to come through to make some final decisions. I'm a little ticked that U of A won't give him more money. Evidently, they don't want kids who are class presidents, are All State in both sports and choir, have a 4 point,  and have received multiple senior awards even before the year is over.

We didn't do the flash mob in the cafeteria, but I did take this picture.

Post Season Awards

 Senior Ryan Rogers (Clarksville), WR/CB/K — All-conference, all-state; 72 catches, 822 yards, 7 TD, 11.4 YPC; 27 rushes, 162 yards, 3 TD; 70 tackles, 4 INT, 4 PB; 29 PAT, 11 TB (played all but 4 minutes)

Post Season:

 Fort Smith Radio Club, River Valley Team: 24/7 Steve Rinke  Hussle Award

KARV Dream Team; Scholar/Athlete Award

 Clarksville Coach, Michael Banning; Ryan, Skylr (Defensive Award), Andre, Trenton, Colton

SENIOR FOOTBALL

Senior Stats: Senior Ryan Rogers (Clarksville), WR/CB/K — All-conference, all-state; 72 catches, 822 yards, 7 TD, 11.4 YPC; 27 rushes, 162 yards, 3 TD; 70 tackles, 4 INT, 4 PB; 29 PAT, 11 TB (played all but 4 minutes)


Read more: The Courier — Your Messenger for the River Valley - The Courier announces tri county football team

Last Monday we went to Ft Smith to attend the Ft Smith Radio Club Football Awards for Western Arkansas and Eastern OK. Ryan was the Clarksville Offensive Player of the year and Skylr was the Defensive Player of the year from Clarksville. Incidentally, Ryan met Skylr on his first day of First Grade when he enrolled in January after being homeschooled. They hit it off then and are still friends today!

Ryan was also awarded the first ever Steve Rinke Hustle Award. Steve was a sportscaster from Clarksville who had worked in Ft Smith the last few years before passing away earlier in 2011. It was especially nice to bring the award to Clarksville and Ryan definitely hustled this year!

Tony Cherico, former Razorback, All American, All SWC player was the keynote speaker and presented Ryan with the award. Good stuff, now if the college coaches would just call with an offer!

Senior year: Madrigal Feast

Can't say enough about a program that keeps the bar high in excellence, student involvement and hard work. Ryan loves singing as much as his football games and it's because the choir teacher is great at getting the most out of students and encouraging them to do their best. Earlier in the year he qualified for All State choir and earned 2nd chair in the regional choir.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: Game 7 at home, vs. Waldron

HIGHLIGHT #1: Family! Dave and Rhea Lana from Conway. Ashley and cousins Titus, Audra, Justus, and Annaliese from NWA. Mimi and Gramps from Heber. Grandma and Grandpa from Mtn Home. ALL here to celebrate Ryan's Senior Night.

 

 HIGHLIGHT #2: Walking with the family across the field celebrating Ryan's year.

HIGHLIGHT #3: Ryan's group of senior boys are so special to us. Several of them have grown up with us playing baseball, going to church, and playing in our yard! They wore orange tape to honor Tyler D who passed away over a year ago but would've been a senior this year.

HIGHLIGHT #4: Winning the game and securing a home playoff game next week.

SENIOR FOOTBALL: GAME 5 vs Mena

from our local paper

Clarksville Dominates Bearcats,

Improves To 2-0 In Conference

by Janice Penix

The Clarksville Panthers earned their second conference win in as many weeks with a 40-14 decision over Mena Friday, Sept. 30, to move to the top of the 4A-4 rankings.

“It was an all-around great effort,” Coach Michael Banning said. “There was a lot of energy on the football field. We’re 2-0 in conference and we’re right where we want to be, winning conference games. But we’re not satisfied. We know we need to continue to improve because we want to win conference.”

CHS scored twice in the opening quarter to take a 12-0 lead, then outscored the Bearcats 14-7 in the second to lead 26-7 at halftime.

The Panthers scored seven points in both the third and fourth periods while allowing just seven second-half points by Mena for the 40-14 win.

Clarksville finished the night with 224 yards rushing and 214 through the air.

Jeremy Larkin led the rushing effort with 175 yards on 30 carries and had one touchdown. Trenton Lax carried seven times for 21 yards, Andre Redman had 15 yards on four carries and two touchdowns, and Ryan Rogers carried one time for eight yards. Brandon Lovell had five yards rushing on four carries.

Redman completed 14 of 20 passes for 214 yards and three of the Panthers’ touchdowns. Receivers included Colton Smith with four catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, Skylr Grace with 59 yards on two receptions and Rogers with eight catches for 55 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

“Any time you have backs run over 200 yards and you pass for more than 200 yards, you know you’re doing something right,” Banning said. “I’m very proud of how our offensive line played. I’m very proud of the way we continue to get better rushing and protecting the passer.”

Defensively the Panthers had a balanced effort. Smith led with seven tackles, including four solo, while Rogers and Grace finished with six apiece. Rogers had three solo tackles, while Grace had two.

Ronnie Green, Yoni Garcia and D’aundra Cain each recorded five tackles, and Lax and Nick Mitchell finished with four apiece. Green, Grace and Cain each recorded sacks.

Rogers picked off two interceptions and Mitchell and Smith had one pick each. Grace recovered a fumble for CHS.

Lax punted three times for 125 yards and Rogers recorded 286 yards on seven kickoffs.

Clarksville will be on the road this week at Subiaco.

“We have Subiaco on the road this week and it’s their homecoming,” Banning said. “It’s very important that we stay focused and come back ready to play after an excellent effort Friday night.”

SENIOR FOOTBALL: GAME 4 at Dardanelle

If you didn't know us, you'd think we had just won the state title. BUT, when we won last Friday night, it was our first win of the last three we thought we ought to have won. The boys played hard the ENTIRE game and they were down from the very beginning. It was a fun night to be a Panther and even more fun to celebrate. We've talked a lot about winning and losing for their entire life and they know that "you don't always win."  I'd much rather my kids win at LIFE more often than at sports, but it's a special night when their hard work pays off and they get to do both.

Special handshakes for special girls...

We're currently 1-3; 1-0 in conference.

http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/15659199/article-Panthers-edge-Sand-Lizards-on-road?