The Mena School District will be adding Coach Jim Pennington to their coaching staff as the Head Senior Boys Basketball Coach and Head Girls/Boys Tennis Coach. Arkansas coaching legend, Pennington, is a member of the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and also a member of the White Hall High School Hall of Fame. With 36 yrs of coaching experience, he is best known for his 18 year tenure at Emerson High School. His overall record is 676-316. At Emerson Jim coached his teams to 15 conference championships, 15 district championships, and one state championship in 2001. In track he led teams that won a total of 13 state championships, and he led a successful tennis program as well. Jim retired from coaching in 2012 and retired from teaching in 2014. Since that time he spent a season volunteering in the basketball program in Doniphan, Missouri and volunteered at Lake Hamilton where his son Scotty Pennington is the head Sr Boys Basketball coach. Another son Chris Pennington is the head coach at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas.
Superintendent Benny Weston said "We are excited to add a coach of Jim Pennington's caliber to the coaching staff in Mena. His expertise will not only have an impact on our athletes but also on our coaches and the community. This hire reflects our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our students high school experience.”
Let's all welcome Jim Pennington to Mena!!!
In 2016 Bearcat Foundation, Inc. partnered with Mena Public Schools to develop a consistent, new funding program for all 13 athletic programs from 7th-12th grade. This allows coaches to supplement their school budget for much needed student expenses. Every team receives funds generated from membership and fund raising dollars. These funds can be used for team needs such as skill camps, equipment, Hudl annual fees, Platform workout, etc. On average, BFI has paid out a total of $18,000 each year distributed among the various athletic programs.
In addition to the new funding BFI made a $125,000 capital improvement pledge to Mena Public Schools to be used for major facility/capital athletic improvements. To date BFI has donated $50,0000 for different needs over the last three years. BFI is now fulfilling the rest of the pledge by donating $75,179.83 to the Mena School District to be used toward stadium upgrades and improvements. Pictured above are BFI Board Members - Aarika Cox, Amy Hernandez, Gretchen Cannon, Mena Superintendent - Benny Weston, and BFI Board Members Mandy Godfrey and Ty Plunkett. This recent donation along with funds received from the Bob Carver Foundation and Union Bank will allow the district to modernize and provide safety upgrades to the Bob Carver Mena Bearcat Stadium.
BFI board is very excited to be able to support our school and athletic program by filling a need. Our hope is to increase our support each year but need continued support from fans, parents and community.
The Bearcat Foundation, Inc. was started in the summer of 2006 with a few simple hopes to help the Ladycats and Bearcats. BFI exists to support the student athletes and activities of the Mena School District by supporting programs, pursuing facility improvements and encouraging community spirit in an ultimate attempt to make our teams more competitive and increase moral, unity and school pride.
Please visit www.bearcatfoundation.com for more information on how you can help and join BFI. We need you! #bearcatproud
Jr Ladycat basketball went 6 and 1 today at Morrilton. The girls played very well, and we couldn't be more proud of how hard they worked. Go Jr Ladycats!
The Mena Jr. Ladycats played in the Morrilton Team Camp Monday & went 5-3.. They will be back in action on Tuesday.. Go Ladycats!!!!
(photos by Linda Lyle)
RED/BLACK SCRIMMAGE!
If you live outside the Mena School District & your child wants to be a Bearcat, or if you missed the school choice deadline, there are some important dates coming up that you need to know about. Applications for student transfers will be accepted Monday, July 29th thru Monday, August 12th. You may fill oout an application at the Mena Public Schools Administration Building at 501 Hickory in Mena. For more information call 479-394-1710 or e-mail sherry.newman@menaschools.org . This also applies to out of district students who would like to enroll in the Polk County Virtual Academy.
The next window for out of district transfers will be December 2nd thru January 17th. Get to know the Mena School District, including PCVA, online via social media & on our website www.menaschools.org
The old & new coaches as well as administrators are together for a meet & greet today in the Bearcat Room. This is their first opportunity to introduce themselves & come together as a staff... GO BEARCATS!
The Bearcat Foundation is excited to provide an evening full of visiting and hearing from Mena Public School coaches at the 2019 Bearcat Bash on August 1st! Tickets are $15 each and includes dinner! They can be purchased at Mena Insurance, First Financial Bank, Shelter Insurance, from any BFI Board Members, or message on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/Bearcat-Foundation-Inc-118823671496553/
Mena hosted a team camp Tuesday evening with Dover, Cedarville & Dover. No score was kept as each team had an equal amount of time on offense defense. The Bearcats will host DeQueen in the season opener on August 30th & they will play Dover on October 11th. Go Bearcats!
The Mena Jr. Girls Basketball Team played at the Acorn Team Camp this afternoon. The Ladycats won 4 and lost 1. Go Ladycats!!
The Mena Jr. High is competing in a team camp at Greenwood today... Don’t forget the Sr. High team camp at Bearcat Stadium starting at 6pm tonight... See you there... Go Bearcats!
19/20 Mena Public School Calendar!
Here is the Schedule for the Mena Team Camp on Tuesday at Bearcat Stadium!
Rotation 1 6:00-6:20
Mena/Dequeen
Dover/Cedarville
6:20-6:25 Break
Rotation 2 6:25-6:45
Mena/Cedarville
Dequeen/Dover
6:45-6:50 Break
Rotation 3 6:50-7:10
Mena/Dover
Dequeen/Cedarville
7:10-7:15 Break
JV Session 7:15-7:30
A total of 14 games were played at Jim Rackley Gymnasium today as the Jr. & Sr. High Boys hosted teams from DeQueen, Wister, Caddo Hills, Cossatot & Acorn. The Jr. High went 3-0 & the Sr. High was 0-3.. GO BEARCATS!
42 Sports previews the 4-4A Football race for 2019!
4A Conference 4 is the next stop on our tour of conference schedules. Ozark and Dardanelle paced the conference in 2018 with 9-3 records. Mena won 8 games last season and has a new leader as Craig Bentley has taken over the team. Elkins was 7-4, while Pottsville fell to 5-6 but qualified for the postseason none the less. Dover, Waldron, and Subiaco Academy combined to win only 5 games, with the Trojans getting a new head coach in the offseason.
Ozark, Dardanelle and Mena are all still looking to be the top teams in the conference while Elkins will look to keep up its positive momentum from 2018. Pottsville hopes to return to its pre-2018 form and a solid sophomore class could help. Dover also has a new head coach as Reed Mendoza takes over the team this season. Waldon will look to improve on its two win season in 2018 and Subiaco Academy will look to improve under new leadership.
The Mena Basketball Team Camp began this morning at JIm Rackley Gymnasium. The Jr. High beat Cossatot 43-17 & the Sr. High lost 22-21.... Teams from around the are participating & games will continue throughout the day.. GO BEARCATS!
The Jr. and Sr. Boys Basketball Teams will be hosting a team camp on Monday! Games start at 9 am and the gym is ready! All games will be played in Jim Rackley Gymnasium at Mena Middle School. GO BEARCATS!
The Mena Bearcat Baseball Team will be having a meet and greet with new head coach Matt Sandifer on Thursday, July 18th at 6pm int the Football Fieldhouse. Coach Sandifer would like to meet the parents, returning players and any freshman or other players interested in being a part of the 2020 season.
The fall/offseason plans for the baseball team will be discussed as well. Please share & spread the word, GO BEARCATS!
Schedule for this week:
Monday:
Everyone is off, no practice. Open Weight room from 8-11:00 AM.
Tuesday:
JH (8th and 9th Grade) Team Camp @ Greenwood. Be at the locker room by 8 AM. We should be back around 1:30 or 2:00.
SH team camp @ Mena. Be at the field house by 5:00 PM. Camp starts at 6:00.
Wed:
7th/JH is OFF
SH practice from 9AM-10.
Thurs:
SH- practice at 7 AM
JH/7th- practice at 9 AM.
Friday
Everyone is OFF!
FASTCATS (3rd-6th Grade)
M-Thurs at 10 AM. Spread the word!
The Mena Volleyball Teams completed the Licking Camp & Tournament on Saturday in Branson MO.
The Sr. Varsity finished 3rd in the tournament. Losing a very close 3 set match to Broken Arrow Oklahoma to fall short of the championship game. This was the top tournament of the camp so out of 100 teams they finished tied for 3rd. Very strong result.
The Sr. High JV finished runner-up in the top JV tournament bracket.
The Jr. High varsity team won the top Jr. High bracket. This is the 2nd time in 3 years for our Jr. High to win the tournament. They defeated Camdenton Mo, Bentonville and Catoosa Mo.
Jr JVa got beat in the semifinals by Fulbright (a Bentonville middle school team)
Jr JVb got beat in the first round by Kirbyville Mo. The two jr high jv teams both lost early in their tournament.
Overall, VERY strong showing for the LadyCats.
