Ruston Police arrested a local woman last Wednesday after stopping her for speeding and determining she was wanted on several warrants.
Dasha M. Burks, 28, of Ruston, was stopped for speeding 50 in a 35 mile per hour zone on West California Avenue about 5 p.m. Aug. 28. A records check revealed three warrants for her arrest for failure to appear in Ruston City Court.
While arranging for someone to assist her with her children, Burks allegedly began talking loudly and using profanity. She refused to stop when she was directed to lower her voice.
Burks was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for speeding, disturbing the peace, and the warrants for failure to appear on speeding, no insurance, and no driver’s license charges.
Bail was set at $6,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Bass fishing can be frustrating and winning tournaments is even more frustrating. But when it comes to anglers helping one another, that’s a whole different story. Today, I’ll give you an angler’s perspective on why tournament bass fishermen don’t like to give away or share information on how they are catching bass.
The main reason for angler secrecy is because in today’s bass tournament world that is so competitive, it’s hard to make a top 10 and tougher to get a win. There are times when an angler might be catching fish and doing good enough to get a check but not good enough to win. The difference between getting a check or winning can be something as subtle as what size line you might be using.
Example, if you’re doing good and catching fish in 10 to 12 feet of water on a crankbait and using 17-pound test line, but you find out after the tournament that the guy who won the event, also caught his fish on the same crankbait using 12-pound test line. Why did line size make a difference? It’s because 12-pound test allowed his bait to dive down deeper into the 15-foot range where the bigger bass were set up. But I was catching smaller bass higher in the water column at 12 feet The bigger fish were deeper in 15 feet of water.
When it comes to sharing, tournament anglers are worse than a kid sharing his new toy on Christmas morning. They laugh at the idea of sharing their new toy! It’s like asking Vice President Kamala Harris a difficult political question. All you’re going to get is a kackling laugh. Anglers are no different; they are the worst at giving out any type of information that they feel might give their opponent an advantage or a leg up on their competition. When I say it’s every man for himself in tournament bass fishing, that’s exactly what I mean!
Now there are few exceptions on information sharing and this is where the buddy system kicks in. I’ve got a small clique of three or four anglers that I trust when it comes to information. These are usually guys that I room with on the road or have been friends with for a long time.
These are guys that I eat dinner with and if I have a mechanical break down on the lake, I can make one phone call to any one of these guys and they will come to my rescue. But these are guys that I trust and would like to think won’t lie to me. Now they might leave out a couple of key details on what they are doing, but that’s just the way ALL anglers are when it comes to information. They’ll share, but only in small amounts.
I have other friends who I fish against, and most are great guys. While they won’t necessarily lie to you, they will send you down a rabbit hole with bad information. Oh, they’ll give you information, it just won’t be anything that will really help. We as anglers call this information “dock talk.” This is what tournament anglers want to stay away from because the information they are giving out is designed to throw you off.
I’ve also learned over my 34 years of tournament fishing, that the only person you can really trust is yourself. Don’t rely on other anglers to feed you information that might or might not help you land more fish. Do your homework (scouting) and trust yourself to go out and find your own fish. Because at the end of the day, once all the fish are weighed in and you’re in line to get a check, the only name on the check…. is yours!
Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take advantage of some great fall fishing while all the deer hunters are in the woods and not on the lake.
The Louisiana Tech Volleyball Team had an all-around performance to dominate Alcorn State in straight sets, 25-13, 25-15, and 25-14, Tuesday night inside the Thomas Assembly Center.
LA Tech (3-1) held Alcorn (0-3) to a .012 hitting percentage, the lowest allowed since holding Mississippi Valley to a -.024 on October 19, 2021. The Bulldogs offense finished with their best hitting mark since 2022 with a .383.
“It felt great to be back at the TAC in front of our home crowd, and I’m thankful to all our fans who came out to support us tonight,” said head coach Amber McCray. “I’m pleased with our offense overall as we continued to see solid production from our right side attack, along with seven different players all notching a .300 or higher hitting clip.
“There were definitely moments I felt we could be more disciplined to clean up some areas we know we will need to be significantly better in heading into an extremely tough weekend ahead at Arkansas, but we still found a way to take care of business with a variety of different lineups on the floor gaining valuable experience that will aid us in the long run.”
With the scored tied at two apiece in the first set, the Bulldogs reeled off a 9-1 run to take control of the set. The Lady Braves would keep up with Tech the rest of the set, but the Bulldog lead would be insurmountable.
The second set was a battle from the beginning, as the lead changed hands three times. With the score tied at six, the Bulldogs looked to pull away with four straight points, but the Lady Braves responded with three straight of their own to pull within 10-9.
From there, Tech started to assert their dominance. Grace Luevanos accounted for three kills during an 8-0 run for the Bulldogs. LA Tech cruised to the set win 25-15.
Alcorn took an early 2-0 lead in the third set, but again, the Bulldogs started asserting dominance. An 11-4 run, during which three of the Lady Braves points came off service errors by Tech, sealed the match in the Bulldogs’ favor.
Giulia Bonifacio, Rori Gray, and Jailen Hurley led the Bulldogs offensively. Bonifacio finished with nine kills on a .571 hitting clip, Gray had seven kills and a .545 hitting percentage, and Hurley had six kills and a .625 hitting mark. Lauren Albrecht has 17 assists, and McKenzie Johnson chipped in 16 digs for the Bulldogs.
Sydney Valentine and Erin Mims had five kills each to lead Alcorn. Harmoni Carswell has nine digs, while Ramona Pulu finished with eight assists.
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Louisiana Tech Bowling head coach Matt Nantais announced the Bulldogs’ 2024-25 schedule on Tuesday. The schedule features 12 regular season tournaments, including the return of the Bulldog Classic and the CUSA Championship.
LA Tech opens the season looking to defend their crown at the SWIBC I and II in Dallas on Oct. 8-9. The Bulldogs’ first NCAA event will occur from Oct. 18-20 at the Destination Orlando, hosted by Sacred Heart University.
November has LA Tech participating in tournaments during the first three weekends of the month. The Bulldogs travel to Houston from Nov. 1-3 for one of the biggest events of the year, the Track Kat Klash, hosted by Sam Houston. They then travel to Kenosha, Wis., for Stephen F. Austin’s Ladyjack Motive Classic. The fall portion of the schedule concludes with the Colonial Lanes Classic hosted by Tulane in Harahan, La.
The first tournament of 2024 will have the Bulldogs travel to New Castle, Del., for the Northeast Classic hosted by Sacred Heart from Jan. 17-19. The following week, Tech travels to Arlington, Texas, for the Prairie View A&M Invitational, where the top teams in the nation compete. The Bulldogs flip the schedule from January to February with the Columbia 300 Saints Invite on Jan. 31-Feb. 2 hosted by Maryville.
LA Tech travels to Jonesboro, Ark., on Feb. 14-16 for the Mid-Winter Invitational before hosting the Bulldog Classic in Dallas from Feb. 28- March 1.
The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Singles (ISC) and Intercollegiate Team (ITC) Sectionals will take place at select sites on March 7-9. The final regular season tournament will occur from March 14-16 in Smyrna, Tenn., at the Music City Classic put on by Vanderbilt.
Postseason gets underway with the Conference USA Championship in Harahan, La., from March 21-23.
The Bulldogs will look to reach the NCAA Regional for a fifth straight season from April 3-5, with the sites to be determined. The top teams from the four regionals will advance to the NCAA Championships in Las Vegas from April 10-12. The top four teams and six individuals from the USBC ISC/ITC Sectionals will advance to the USBC ISC/ITC Championships in Reno, Nev., from April 16-19.
The Grambling State University women’s volleyball team secured its first victory of the 2024 season in dominating fashion, sweeping Centenary College 25-11, 25-8, 25-12 on Tuesday evening at the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The Tigers improved to 1-3 on the season.
Grambling State wasted no time asserting dominance in the first set, quickly pulling ahead and maintaining their lead throughout. Led by Essence Allen, who recorded nine kills and a .438 hitting percentage, the Tigers took control early with an aggressive offensive display and solid defense, allowing them to close out the set 25-11.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Grambling tightening its grip on the match. Madison Reagins and Jazmine Binion made significant contributions, each finishing with 4 kills, while Ana Zink facilitated the attack with nine assists. The Tigers’ defensive efforts, highlighted by 6 blocks. Centenary, allowing them to cruise to a 25-8 victory.
In the third and final set, the Tigers showcased their depth as Kenya Lucas stepped up with three kills on a .600 hitting percentage. Grambling maintained its intensity, preventing any rallies from Centenary, and comfortably closed out the match with a 25-12 win.
Grambling State dominated across all statistical categories, highlighted by a .323 team hitting percentage compared to Centenary’s negative hitting percentage of -.180. The Tigers registered 28 kills to Centenary’s 12 and committed only seven errors, showcasing their efficiency. On the defensive side, Grambling collected 41 digs and seven blocks, suffocating Centenary’s offense and allowing them to score only 31 total points over the three sets.
Allen led the Tigers with 9 kills, while Reagins and Jazmine Binion contributed significantly with 10.5 and four points respectively. Zink and Letícia Correa each added nine assists, ensuring a balanced and effective attack throughout the match.
The Tigers will head to Thibodaux, La. to take on Nicholls State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
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Funeral Services for William Don Smith, age 75, of West Monroe, will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 03, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Dubach, LA. Rev. Paul Watts will officiate the service. He will be laid to rest at Hamilton Cemetery, in Dubach, LA under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Ruston, LA.
Visitation will be prior to service, Tuesday, September 03, 2024, in First Baptist Church of Dubach, from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
William Don Smith was born on January 30, 1949, to Morgan Bryan & Mary Faye Smith in Dubach, LA. He passed from this life on August 31, 2024. He spent his life as a Member of The Episcopal Church, served his country in The U.S. Navy, aboard The U.S.S. Meyerkord, and was a Vietnam Veteran. William is preceded in death by his parents, Morgan Bryan & Mary Faye Smith, and his brother, Morgan Bryan Smith, Jr.
He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and friends.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Robison, Ken Moore, John Drury Cook, William Andrew Cook, Henry Watts, Buddy Cook, and Steve Cook.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made, in his honor, to Dubach Legends.
(This is one of our profiles on this year’s recipients selected by an anonymous committee out of an extensive list of nominees for the 2024 Lincoln Leader Award. The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce for their support of this award. We would like to thank Kevin Hawkins at HawkinsPhoto.com for the headshots).
_________________________________________________
Name: Ashley Owen
Age: 35
Employer: Louisiana Tech University
Title: Director of Counseling Services
Hometown: Farmerville, La.
Years Living in Ruston: 14 years
Civic Volunteer Organizations: Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Scholarship Organization, Director; Farmerville Junior Chamber of Commerce, President; Miss Louisiana Organization, Local Director recognized for ten years of service
Professional Highlights: Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, March 2022; National Certified Counselor, June 2020; Professional Teletherapy Designation, March 2020; Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, December 2019; QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor, November 2019; Certified in Psychological First Aid, November 2019; Red River Institute Certified Supervisor Certification, May 2019; Director of Counseling Services, Louisiana Tech University; Peer Leadership Council Staff Advisor, Louisiana Tech University; University of Louisiana System Mental Health Advisory Committee, Member; Louisiana Tech University Threat Assessment Team, Member
Dr. Dickie Crawford, Vice President of Student Advancement, on Ashley Owen
In a time when mental health services have become more important than ever, especially on a university campus, Dr. Owen continuously looks for innovative approaches to meet the needs of our students. She has worked to both build and strengthen relationships with community partners, providing access to additional resources for the Louisiana Tech student body. I am so appreciative of her dedication to student development and am grateful for her leadership of Counseling Services. She recently oversaw a state-funded complete renovation of the department’s office space, resulting in additional capacity of 100 hours per week of face-to-face counseling hours.
Q&A with Ashley Owen:
What makes Lincoln Parish special? Lincoln Parish is incredibly special to me for so many reasons. At the core of our community is Louisiana Tech University, which attracts brilliant minds from around the globe. This institution not only boosts our local economy, but also infuses our parish with vibrant energy through its focus on education and innovation. The beautiful landscapes here, from parks to trails, offer a serene escape and endless recreational opportunities. The collegiate sporting events we get to enjoy are exhilarating and a highlight for my family. These opportunities bring everyone together, creating an electric atmosphere of camaraderie and local pride. Beyond the sporting events, our parish is a cultural gem. Local artists showcase their talents, adding unique charm to our area, and the culinary experiences here are simply delightful, offering a variety of flavors and fostering even greater friendships. One of my favorite times of the year is the Louisiana Peach Festival, a cherished tradition that unites us all to celebrate with arts, crafts, music, and food. This festival perfectly embodies the strong sense of community that defines Lincoln Parish, where neighbors are always ready to lend a hand and support local initiatives. All these elements make Lincoln Parish not just a special place, but a great place to call home.
How do you see your role/place in making our parish such a wonderful place to call home? As a mental health counselor, I view my role as essential in making Lincoln Parish a wonderful place to call home. By offering support, guidance, and therapy to individuals and families, I help build a healthier, more resilient community. Addressing mental health challenges and promoting well-being significantly enhances the overall quality of life for our residents. In my work, I strive to create a safe and welcoming environment where people feel heard, understood, and empowered. I believe that strong mental health is the foundation of a thriving community. By helping individuals manage stress, overcome obstacles, and build stronger relationships, I contribute to the social fabric of our parish. Ultimately, my role as a mental health counselor is to support and uplift our residents, ensuring that Lincoln Parish remains a wonderful place to live, work, and thrive.
Who has played a role in your professional development and why? Rick Emerson and Ron Cathey have played pivotal roles in my professional development from a clinical perspective. Their expertise and guidance have been invaluable in shaping my approach to therapy and counseling. Rick Emerson’s deep understanding of mental health issues and his compassionate approach have taught me the importance of empathy and individualized care. Ron Cathey’s clinical insights and practical advice have been transformative for me. His guidance has not only refined my therapeutic techniques but also deepened my ability to truly connect with and support my clients. His wisdom and experience have been invaluable in helping me grow as a counselor, allowing me to offer more effective and compassionate care.
From a leadership perspective, Dr. Dickie Crawford and Dean Stacy Gilbert have been instrumental in my growth. Dr. Crawford’s visionary leadership and commitment to excellence have inspired me to strive for continuous improvement and innovation. Dean Stacy Gilbert’s mentorship has provided me with the skills and confidence to take on leadership roles and advocate for mental health awareness and education. Her mentorship has equipped me with the tools to effectively communicate, collaborate, and lead initiatives that make a positive difference.
Together, these mentors have significantly influenced my professional journey, equipping me with the clinical skills and leadership abilities needed to have a meaningful influence as a mental health counselor in our community.
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Cedar Creek junior Blake Robinson holds a photo of he and his late brother, Owen, embracing following a 2022 playoff loss at Vermilion Catholic. (photo by Josh McDaniel)
by Malcolm Butler
Football has a little different meaning for Blake Robinson this year.
For that matter, life does too.
The Cedar Creek junior has always enjoyed competing on the gridiron for the Cougars, ever since he suited up in the green and gold in third grade. And he was already eager to represent the interlocked C’s.
But after a life-altering tragedy this past summer, Blake – and the entire Robinson family – has a different perspective, on a lot of things.
Two months ago, Blake’s older brother, Owen, was killed in a single vehicle wreck in the early morning hours of July 7 while traveling north on Louisiana 33. He was driving north from Ruston to Farmerville heading to his grandmother’s house.
It is something no parent, and in Blake’s case no sibling, should ever have to experience. The accident has left a void in little brother’s everyday life.
A void that he tries the impossible task of numbing these days with football, family, and friends.
_______________________________
“In tough times we always turned to each other.”
Owen Robinson had just turned 20 years old in April.
The oldest son of Jeff Robinson and Brooke Preaus St. John, Owen had spent his elementary and high school days at Cedar Creek.
He played football for the Cougars and was an integral part in the boys powerlifting team winning the state title in 2021. Owen still holds the school record in the deadlift in the 165-pound weight class at 530 pounds.
Pretty strong.
But, according to those who knew hm, one of Owen’s biggest strengths was being a big brother to Blake. And according to little bro, he excelled at it.
“We were tight,” said Blake. “If I ever needed anything, I would text him. If he ever needed anything, he would text me. We would call just about every night and talk. I would text him every night to check on him.
“In tough times we always turned to each other. We have always been there for each other no matter what happened. We never judged. We would lock arms and go. That’s just how we would go.”
They were almost inseparable despite the four-year age difference.
“Typical brother relationship,” said Brody Soto, one of Owen’s best friends. “Love and hate. They would get into fights every now and then like brothers do, but I’ve never seen two brothers that were closer. They always had each other’s back. Blake was Owen’s best friend.”
“They were by far each other’s biggest fan, even bigger than probably us as parents,” said Jeff. “They fought hard and loved harder. They went through a lot together. They had a really neat brother relationship.”
The two brothers were on opposite ends of the spectrum in physical build. Owen stood 5-foot-7, 165 pounds and Blake measures 6-foot-3, 245 pounds.
However, they both possessed a competitive spirit and a love for athletics.
In 2022, they shared that love on the football field. It was Owen’s senior season while Blake was just a wet-behind-the-ears freshman for the Cougars.
Blake has wonderful memories from that time together.
“Around half of the ball game, we would be on the field at the same time,” said Blake. “It was surreal. Me always looking up to Owen, I never thought I would get that chance to be on the field with him. That just drove me to work harder to make sure I was on the field with him that year.”
It is a season and a memory that will be forever embedded in the minds and hearts of the Robinson clan.
“I will never forget 2022,” said Jeff. “Down in the north endzone someone blocked a punt and Blake jumped on it in the endzone for a touchdown. Owen came (sprinting) across the field, and he was the first one to Blake.
“He wasn’t nearly the closest one to him when (the play) happened, but he was the first one to him and they jumped up into the air (and collided). They did whatever the guys call it where they bump hips and cross their arms.
“In that moment Owen was happier for Blake to score that touchdown than Blake was about scoring it. He was excited for him.”
Par for the course for Owen. That one moment was just a microcosm of his personality when it came to his family and friends.
“Owen was everybody’s best cheerleader,” said Brooke. “He would come home and say, ‘Mom, so and so did this. Can you believe it?’ Somebody being better than him at something didn’t matter to him. They were doing their best, and he was happy for them.”
Although the two boys were similar in many ways, they also had their unique differences that maybe only a mother truly understands.
“When they were babies, I would sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Owen and You are My Sunshine to Blake,” said a teary-eyed Brooke. “And it’s still the same thing. That’s how they were. Owen was the star of the show and the high maintenance child, and Blake was just the sunshine all the time.”
_______________________________
“He was really my best friend. No one really gets losing a big brother until you do.”
Blake was sound asleep at his father’s house the morning of Sunday, July 7.
Like many teenage boys do, he was taking the opportunity to play catch up on the Z’s before getting up for church.
Little did he know the life he knew was about to change.
According to Blake, he reached out to his brother that night before the morning of the wreck.
“I texted him the night before, and he didn’t text me back,” said Blake, who recently turned 16 years old. “It was weird. About 4 a.m. he finally texted me back and said, ‘It’s okay’ or something like that. It was weird.”
It would be the last time the two would communicate.
The state troopers came to Jeff’s house around 8 a.m. to relay the news. Brooke was driving in from Warren, Arkansas, with her husband John after visiting family over the weekend.
“It was the longest drive ever,” said Brooke.
Blake’s parents decided to let him sleep until Brooke could arrive at the residence to help deliver the news.
“It was a long two hours,” said Jeff.
Once Brooke arrived, Jeff summoned Blake downstairs.
“I saw my dad and my stepdad there,” said Blake. “My mom is crying. I am only thinking the worst. And it was the worst.
“They said, ‘Owen passed away in a car wreck last night.’ I just went right back upstairs. I didn’t want it to be real. I still don’t. He was really my best friend. No one really gets losing a big brother until you do.”
“He was devastated,” said Jeff. “I remember Blake just saying, ‘He was my everything.’”
It did not take long for the news to spread throughout the Ruston community that morning. And as it did, the support for the Robinson family came rolling in.
“When we got home (the morning of Owen’s death), I had a garage full of Owen’s classmates and my friends and Blake’s friends,” said Brooke. “It was really amazing.”
According to Blake, one of the first people to come to see him that day was Cedar Creek head coach William Parkerson.
“What William Parkerson did for us …,” said Jeff. “When we lost Owen, he did the best coaching job that he will ever do without any preparation. He stepped in and was a true coach to Blake through this tough time. He wrapped his arms around him.
“He did things he didn’t have to do. He did things you can’t be trained to do. What he did was he showed us his heart.”
According to Jeff, Parkerson and Jacob Angevine and many of the Cougars coaches have helped Blake through the past two months, especially when he is at school.
“(Coach Parkerson) stamped his way into our hearts,” said Jeff. “Blake has two years left at Cedar Creek and if they don’t win one more game, you won’t hear a word from me because that guy showed up when it mattered.”
These gestures were not lost on Blake.
“Coach Angevine and Coach Parkerson have been close to me,” said Blake. “They were the first two to text me when they found out. Coach Parkerson even came to my house.”
Anyone who knows Parkerson, knows he is a man of few words. But at that moment, he was there for his star player.
“I implored our coaches to wrap their arms around Blake,” said Parkerson. “We probably won’t see the same version of Blake that we saw before that day. We just want to wrap our arms around him through all of this.”
Mama Robinson said she also has her own village watching out for Blake.
“Cedar Creek is family,” said Brooke. “We have friends there. His stepmother is there. Most of the teachers are my friends. Most of the teachers are Owen’s classmates’ mothers. And they are watching. And I have told them to watch.
“If they see something going wrong with my baby, they will let me know. I think you realize what your school means when something like this happens.”
Almost two full months have gone by since his brother’s passing, and Blake said he is still trying to adjust to life without Owen.
“I still text him,” said Blake. “Just because. I’m hoping he may answer but knowing he won’t. If I can tell him something that I want to share with him, it still gives me a little bit of comfort.”
_______________________________
“I had one big brother. Now I have 10 or 12.”
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Jeff Robinson has dealt with a close family loss.
Fifteen years ago, Jeff lost his little brother, Andy, to a rare autoimmune disease called Goodpasture’s Syndrome.
That was in 2009. Andy was 29. Jeff was 31.
Jeff said the loss of his brother sent him into a tailspin.
“It took me to a deep, dark place,” said Jeff very candidly. “For the next four years I struggled with my life. I held everything in and didn’t talk about it. I just internalized everything and tried to suppress it. I didn’t lean on family or friends. I didn’t ask for help, and it liked to kill me. I self-destructed during that time.”
Fortunately for Jeff, he was able to overcome this tough time in his life. And now he is using his own experiences to help with his son.
“Blake is my No.1 priority,” said Jeff. “He is what my eyes are focused on, making sure he is okay. I am literally doing the opposite with Blake (of what I did with Andy). If I can remember how I handled something with the loss of Andy, I just do the opposite with Blake. What I did simply didn’t work. What I did was terrible. I didn’t do anything right.
“I guess that was God’s little way of teaching me … almost killing me … but teaching me 15 years ago what not to do.”
Blake will readily admit that his tendency is to also internalize things.
“When I found out, I just shut down,” said Blake. “I’m really not an emotional person. I just don’t like showing emotions. Once I heard the story, it just really sucked.”
The good news is Blake has an army on his side from family to friends to coaches to even strangers.
He said some of Owen’s best friends have stepped in since the accident, and he admits it has been a tremendous help.
“Owen had so many good friends,” said Blake. “You could see that at the visitation and funeral. I have relied on his friends, and they have stepped up as big brothers.
“No one really got Owen (like) his friends and me. I had one big brother. Now I have 10 or 12.”
Austin Webb was part of the same graduating class at Cedar Creek as Owen. They played football together and competed on the school’s powerlifting team together.
“It’s made us all realize how important everyone is to each other and how we can’t take things for granted,” said Webb. “Blake has a lot of Owen in him. It’s one reason we really like to hang out with him.”
Webb said spending more time with Blake has been therapeutic for him and so many of Owen’s friends.
“None of us are the same since this happened, but we like to hang out with Blake because we know he is hurting more than anybody else,” said Webb. “It helps us, and I know it helps him. We still get to see a part of Owen every day.”
“That’s what a number of his buddies have said,” said Blake. “They say ‘We love hanging out with you because it shows us, he is still with us.’ There’s always going to be part of him in me. That’s what they are seeing.”
Soto is one of those buddies.
“I see a lot of Owen in Blake,” said Soto. “They are so much alike in so many ways.
“We have been trying to keep Blake busy and keep him around us in case something does happen. If all these emotions catch up to him, he knows he has someone to talk to about it. We let him know he has people to fall back on when he needs it.”
Brooke said she will be forever grateful for the caring actions of these young men during this time in her baby boy’s life.
“I had two kids who were always going to have each other, and now he is by himself,” said Brooke. “Those boys stepping up means everything because now he knows if he needs to talk about something, he can go to those boys.
“I want Blake to realize that friendship is reciprocal. You get out of it what you put into it. Friends are sometimes more important than (even family) depending on what is going on with you.”
Brooke said Blake has shown interest in joining some of Owen’s friends in a group counseling session as they all try to navigate through unchartered waters.
It is a game plan that should benefit all of them.
“We men are made out in a way that we act tough and don’t like to show our true emotions,” said Webb. “We are trying to help Blake understand that he must be able to let it out. We know he is hurting. We are all hurting.”
Brooke recently purchased 25 Yappy bracelets for Blake and many of Owen’s friends to remind them to rely on their faith in this tough time.
“You scan (the bracelet) every day with your phone, and it shows a different bible verse,” said Brooke. “I want him to see it every day because God is on time. I want him to see the verses because I don’t want his faith to change. I want him to know there is a plan. There is a reason. We may not understand it on this Earthly side, but we will. If we can keep going, we can grieve with faith.
“We can be sad, and we can still miss him, but because we know where he is, we are going to be okay. I don’t want Blake’s faith to be hindered by this.”
Jeff and Blake are both wearing chains with crosses that contain Owen’s name. They also plan to get tattoos together in memory of Owen.
“He and Owen had been begging for tattoos,” said Jeff. “Blake asked the other day, ‘You going to let me get a tattoo now?’ I said, “Sure. A tattoo ain’t never hurt nobody.’”
_______________________________
“I want to make him proud and football gives me that opportunity.”
Blake was already going to be one of the keys for the Cougars football team this year.
After earning multiple awards on the gridiron as a sophomore last season, the impressively built linebacker is a year older and stronger.
And he should be a force to be reckoned with on Friday nights.
“He is big, and he is pretty physical, and he has good instincts,” said Parkerson. “He has definitely matured and is much more consistent in his practice habits and what he does in his everyday life.”
However, after the tragedy of this past summer, not only is Blake bigger and stronger and faster … but he is also much more motivated.
“I’m playing with a whole different mindset this year,” said Blake. “I know (Owen) would want to be out there and see me go crazy. I know he would want to see me make every play. Make every tackle. I’m going to be a whole different player.”
If his jamboree performance against Ouachita Christian last Friday was any indication, Blake is a young man of his word.
In just two 12-minute quarters against the Eagles, Blake recorded five tackles, one sack, and two pass breakups.
Expect to see No. 8 all over the field.
“I think we are going to get the best possible version of Blake moving forward,” said Parkerson.
The football field will serve as a sanctuary for Blake this year, a place where he can get away from everything for a few hours.
“There is no other way to describe it,” said Blake. “Honestly, since the passing of Owen, I have turned to football. That’s my first instinct. All of this is really hard to accept. So, football is an escape for me.”
The Cougars are honoring the memory of Owen by wearing a sticker on their helmets that contain the initials OR.
“The sticker on our helmet with Owen’s initials means a lot to me, to our family,” said Blake.
Jeff will have a sideline view to all of Blake’s ball games as he serves as the team’s official in-game statistician. He stands alongside the Cougar sideline, just like he did when Owen suited up.
Brooke will watch from the stands, but she said she will not be hard to find.
“I just plan to be his biggest cheerleader all season long and all life long,” said Brooke. “I told him, I am going to be pretty obnoxious because he is all I have now. I will be an even more obscene cheerleader than I have ever been.”
Mama will be the one wearing the ‘Be Great Number 8’ glitter T-shirt and making plenty of noise.
And while she wants Blake to have a great season on the football field, her desire for her son goes beyond just one sport.
“This year more than anything I want him to be driven by what has happened, not be defined by it,” said Brooke. “I want him to do better in school. I want him to study harder. I want him to play harder. I want him to lift heavier. I want him to be a better friend. I want him to emulate the best parts of Owen …”
Jeff agrees.
“I can see Blake trying to emulate his brother in heart and as a good teammate,” said Jeff.
This season as No. 8 runs out to the field on Friday nights, he will not only be playing for his school but also for the memory of his big brother.
“I am just excited for us to come together as a (football) family and go to war every day, and just show what we can do on Friday nights,” said Blake. “It sucks that (Owen) is gone … I want to make him proud and football gives me that opportunity.”
Louisiana Tech alumni are invited to help welcome the freshman class to campus this Wednesday as the students deposit their Tenet Medallion into the Lady of the Mist at 7 p.m., signifying their investment into their education.
Alumni will line the walkways in the Quad to create a passageway for the freshmen to walk through on their way to the Lady of the Mist. School administrators stated that alumni participation is what makes this tradition special.
This annual event, marks the official start of the academic journey for first-year students.
A symbolic introduction to Louisiana Tech’s rich traditions and values, university leaders, faculty and staff will gather to offer words of encouragement and inspiration, ensuring that the incoming students feel the support of the Tech family. The Louisiana Tech Alumni Association is excited to involve the Ruston community and alumni in this milestone event, highlighting the connection between the campus and its extended family.
Heath Tims, CEO of the Alumni Association, said, “This is a special time to welcome the newest members of our Tech family, and the presence of alumni and local supporters adds an extra layer of significance.”
Before lining the walkways, the Alumni Association will host a casual reception in University Hallstarting at 6:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear Tech Blue, creating a special pathway as the new students begin their journey.
Tims added, “Everyone is welcome to attend and show their support for the next generation of Tech students. This event is a perfect opportunity to showcase the spirit of Louisiana Tech to our newest students and to celebrate the start of another academic year.”
Former Tennessee All-American and two-time Olympian Monica Abbott will be the guest speaker at the inaugural “Dinner on the Diamond” hosted by Louisiana Tech Softball.
Dinner on the Diamond is scheduled for Saturday, October 19 at 7 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field at the Origin Bank Softball and Soccer Complex. The event will take place on the turf field at the home of Bulldog Softball.
Individual tickets for the Dinner on the Diamond are $35 each while tables start at $350 with one table available for a party of four to sit with Bulldog Head Coach Josh Taylor and keynote speaker, Monica Abbott. The Davison Athletic Complex will be reserved for a weather-related change of venue. To purchase tickets for Dinner on the Diamond, go to LATechSports.com/DinnerOnTheDiamond.
The fundraising event will serve as an opportunity to meet the 2024-25 Bulldog Softball team as well as hear from both Abbott and Taylor.
The evening will include a formal program, dinner with a cash bar, silent auction, raffles and more. Gates open at 7 p.m. and dinner along with our formal program will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Head coach Josh Taylor will introduce this year’s Bulldog softball staff and players and will provide insight into the 2025 season. A two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year, Taylor is entering his fourth year at the helm of the program after leading Tech to the 2022 CUSA regular season title.
Monica Abbott starred for the Lady Volunteers (2004-07) and is still the NCAA Division I leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and innings. She is a 2-time Olympic silver medalist for Team USA (2008, 2020) and a 5-time National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) champion and 6-time Japanese Softball League champion.
She was the first pitcher in NCAA Division I history to record 500 strikeouts in all four years of her collegiate career. She was Tennessee’s first All-American and led the Lady Volunteers to three Women’s College World Series appearances.
Dinner on the Diamond is the second half of a “weekend doubleheader” as Abbott will conduct a softball clinic on Friday (Oct. 18) from 5 to 9 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. Abbott will be joined by Tech pitching coach Chelsea Cohen for the pitching aspect of the camp while Taylor will serve as the hitting instructor. Tech assistant Tyler Krobetzky will serve as the catching instructor. Tech softball players will also assist throughout the clinic.
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $200 in cash … with the potential to make it $400 if you are perfect on the week (including predicting the No. 1 tiebreaker exactly right).
The Lincoln Parish Journal is proud to host the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy.
If you live in the deep south, you know College Football is King!
Readers are eligible to participate and each week one lucky winner will go home with a $200 cash prize (maybe $400). Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of the predetermined 15 college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
Only one entry per participant will be accepted each week.
The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Northern Louisiana Medical Center and Johnson Physical Therapy will be conducted for 14 regular season weeks of the college season starting with this week’s games.
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to SUBSCRIBE to the Lincoln Parish Journal where it will come to your inbox every weekday morning at 6:55 a.m. It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $200 each week!
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A Ruston Police officer arrested a local man while out on his lunch break Wednesday.
Jamarius O. Williams, 34, was taken into custody in the cafeteria at the North Louisiana Medical Center after the officer recognized him and knew he was barred from the property.
The officer wrote in his report he was having lunch at the hospital cafeteria when he saw Williams walk in. He knew Williams had been barred from the hospital with the exception of seeking medical treatment. The officer confirmed the ban with the police station, learning it had been in effect since June 2023.
While Williams was escorted out of the cafeteria, he began yelling profanities, disturbing the numerous employees and guests in the room.
Williams was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for criminal trespass and disturbing the peace.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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The front bed at Jan Grigsby’s house after Custom Curbing installed a concrete landscape frame around the flower bed in her front yard.
Jan Grigsby is one happy client.
The longtime Ruston native recently hired Custom Curbing to add a concrete landscape border along her flower beds in both her front and back yards.
And Grigsby is happy she did.
“I saw it from one of my neighbor’s house, and I loved it,” said Grigsby. “It has defined my yard. I can’t tell you how many people have come by and said ‘Your yard looks so good.’ It has really defined my yard. I also got him to do my backyard. It has really made all the difference.”
Custom Curbing is owned by Aaron Cash and is based out of West Monroe. The company has been around for almost three decades and is making a splash in Lincoln Parish recently.
“Basically, we put really nice borders around flower beds,” said Cash. “The business was established in 1996 so we have been serving northeast Louisiana for almost 30 years. It’s like adding a beautiful frame around your landscape. Our longtime slogan is ‘Frame Your Landscaping.'”
Cash said much of the business comes from neighbors seeing the finished product at other neighbors’ houses. And based on Grigsby’s satisfaction, it’s understandable.
“I am so pleased,” said Grigsby. “When I go outside, I look at it and just smile. They did such a super job. So many people have said, ‘Oh, Jan. Your yard looks so much better.’ And Aaron and his guys were so pleasant to work with during the process.”
Cash said that at the end of the day, it’s all about the client being happy with the finished product.
“We typically stick with earth tones; tans, and browns, and greys and charcoals,” said Cash. “We want to use colors that will be in style for years to come. Typically, that is earth tones. I see what their needs are and give them my advice on what would look better and how to alleviate some problems such as beds washing out or the grass encroaching in the beds.
“We also remove lots of dangerous metal edging that has become rusty and jagged and replace it with our concrete border system. We figure out the best designs and go from there.”
According to Cash, a “typical” job costs between $1,200 and $1,500, but the price can vary depending on style/color of curb, amount of ground prep, drainage work, root work, travel distance, number of areas, etc.
An average job can be completed within a day.
For more information, individuals can call 318-598-YARD or click on the CONTACT link on the website.
On Sunday, September 1, 2024, shortly before 6:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. Hwy 80 east of LA Hwy 601-2. The crash claimed the lives of 20-year-old Kayden Acuff of Tallulah and 21-year-old Jamicha Lovings-Smith of Vicksburg, MS.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Acuff was driving west on U.S. Hwy 80 in a 2015 Nissan Altima. For reasons still under investigation, the Nissan ran off the right side of the road. Acuff attempted to regain control of the Nissan by steering to the left but overcorrected. As a result, the vehicle crossed the west and eastbound lanes of U.S. Hwy 80 and struck a tree on the eastbound shoulder.
Acuff, who was unrestrained, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Lovings-Smith, who was the front seat passenger and unrestrained, also suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Impairment is a suspected factor in this crash. Routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Nearly half of the fatal crashes in Louisiana are caused by impaired drivers. Alcohol and other drugs affect your visual ability, fine motor skills, and reaction times. Drivers should have a plan for a safe ride home before consuming any alcohol and/or drugs because if you feel different, you drive different.
Additionally, taking just three seconds to buckle up can greatly increase your chances of surviving a crash. It is important for drivers to make sure that both themselves and their passengers are safely secured in every seat, whether it be day or night.
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In the symphony of life, moments occur when one chapter ends and another begins, each note a testament to divine orchestration. As I reflect on my 35 years of singing in a women’s a cappella chorus, I am reminded of the profound gift that music is – truly, a gift from God that transcends time and space, a gift that can unite hearts and souls in harmony.
It’s a gift I want to keep in my life. So, when my longtime chorus, Piney Hills Harmony, recently dissolved, my singing sisters and I sprang into action. We decided to form a new women’s a cappella community chorus – and even became our own 501(c)3 organization.
Ta da! Meet Southern A’Chord – North Louisiana’s newest chorus. The spirit of song in our hearts lives on in this new ensemble.
We are eager to share our music with the community and remind everyone of the beauty that exists in music overall, and especially in our four-part brand of a cappella harmony.
To introduce ourselves to the area’s female singers, we’re hosting a Welcome Night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in the fellowship hall of the Presbyterian Church of Ruston, 212 N. Bonner. Please consider this an open invitation to all area women singers who feel the call of music in their hearts.
But Southern A’Chord is more than just a chorus. It’s a singing sisterhood. With members from several parishes, some driving an hour to join us, we are bound by our shared love of music and commitment to creating something beautiful together. Our directors, with decades of musical and vocal training experience, guide us with wisdom and grace, ensuring that each voice finds its place in the harmony.
Even our name, Southern A’Chord, reflects our mission and our music. And so does our logo. The “S” of “Southern” is formed from intertwined treble and bass clefs – to symbolize unity and harmony. This mingling of the clefs also symbolizes that we sing in both the treble and bass clefs – lead and tenor, baritone and bass. Indeed, this unity is not just musical but almost spiritual, as we come together to create a sound that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Please note: You don’t need to be an experienced singer to join us. Whether you have years of experience or are just starting your musical journey, we welcome you. We are an educational organization, ready to provide guidance and support. The love of singing is the main thing, and we have vocal tracks and other teaching methods to help you learn your part.
You don’t need to be a solo singer either; most of us are not. But when we blend our voices in those four-part harmonies juuussssst right, it feels like heaven reverberating in the air, producing overtones that can send chills down your spine.
For me, singing is in my blood, a part of my DNA. My mother was an alto a cappella singer, and her love of music was passed down to me. Being a part of Southern A’Chord is an integral part of my life, a source of immense joy and gratitude. I’m thankful every day for this gift from God, a gift that allows us to connect with each other and with the divine through the universal language of music.
As we embark on this new chapter, I invite you to join us and experience the grace and beauty of a cappella harmony. Let us come together, not just as singers, but as a community, united in our love of music and our desire to share it with the world.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
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A Choudrant woman was arrested Wednesday after she was stopped for a violation and drugs were found in her vehicle.
Alana Marie Howard, 30, was charged with possession of methamphetamine on August 28 by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy stopped Howard because her Buick SUV was not displaying a license plate. When asked for her driver’s license, the deputy noticed she appeared very nervous and was shaking. She denied having any drugs in the vehicle.
A subsequent search located methamphetamine in a cup in the vehicle. Howard was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Follow the Lincoln Parish Journal each morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. It’s FREE! Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
Ruston High earned nine first place votes in the first released poll of the 2024 season. Acadiana, ranked third with two first place votes, comes to James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium Friday night in what will be billed as a marquee matchup for high school football in Louisiana.
Ruston High’s Mandy Cauley is appreciative of playing last season at the Ruston Sports Complex while the high school’s main gymnasium was undergoing major overhauls and renovations.
But you can tell she’s excited to have her team back at home with the 2024 season beginning tonight — especially after the show of support she’s already seen in a home scrimmage last week against Airline.
“I’m absolutely excited because it’s just our turf– it feels different,” Cauley said, returning to the helm of a program she helped begin nearly a decade ago. “We got to run out of the locker room (last week), and the student section really showed up. We had football players walking over after practice to come support their friends, because our girls show up for them on Friday nights. It’s one big Bearcat family.”
The Lady Bearcats will be taking on Haughton tonight, hoping to continue to build off of last season’s team that made the 2023 LHSAA state tournament in Lafayette, La., for the first time after a program-defining year.
“This Haughton team is scrappy,” Cauley said. “They have some athletic girls that are going to get out there and dogfight it out.”
Ruston will be looking to new leadership this season as five seniors graduated off of last year’s squad in seniors Shelby Freeman, Allie Richardson, Hannah Rollins, Jade Smith and Cala Wilson. And for Cauley, she’s expecting big things out of her current veteran group, particularly seniors Rilee Atwood, Harper Cauley, Mariah White, Ellie Koonce and Katelyn Rollins.
“They’ve been great,” Cauley said of her returning group. “Rilee has stepped up, because last year she was mainly a junior varsity player with limited varsity time. She’s really turning into a six-rotation player. I can ask her to do anything and she’ll do it — she’s become a well-rounded player. Harper brings continued leadership and steady play. She knows how to get the younger girls fired up. She’s their biggest cheerleader, but she also is that one that’s urging everybody to work hard and uphold the standards.
“Mariah has shown steadiness on serves. Everything I’ve asked her to work on in the offseason was evident because her serve is really fast and flat — she can keep the other team out of system. That what I’m hoping for her and from Katelyn with her steadiness on serve receive. And Ellie may not see a lot of court time, but she’s very vocal on the bench. She’s ready if I need her. They all lead in a different way.”
Varsity tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in the Ruston High main gym.
JJ Hoover received congratulations from meet referee Lomax Napper after earning numerous awards at the state meet in Baton Rouge.
by Malcolm Butler
JJ Hoover had quite the performance in mid-July during the Louisiana Summer 14 and Under State Championship meet in Baton Rouge.
Hoover, one of a number of local swimmers competing at the event, garnered plenty of hardware and honors, including the Swimmer of the Meet Award, the High Point Award, and all-state awards.
The 14-year-old Hoover won six state championships in his age group, including the 400m individual medley, the 200m butterfly, the 200m breaststroke, the 100m butterfly, the 50m butterfly and the 200m individual medley.
Hoover also set state records in the 50m butterfly, the 100m butterfly, and the 200m butterfly.
“JJ (Hoover) winning Male Swimmer of the Meet was great,” said Bulldog Aquatic Club coach Paulette Butterfield. “This is our fifth High Point winner in the last five state meets. That is the longest streak our team has ever had.”
Hoover and his teammates were competing against the fastest 14 and under swimmers in the entire state in age groups of 10 and under, 11 to 12, and 13 to 14.
“The athletes really competed well that weekend,” said Butterfield. “We sent 21 kids to compete in this meet. It was a good mix of experience and youth within each age group. Our team’s finish was a complete team effort.”
Jackson Smith joined Hoover with all-state awards, finishing third in the 50m breaststroke.
Hoover and Smith were also joined by Joseph “G” Amiano (13) and Emily Xu (13) as Louisiana Zones All-Star team qualifiers.
“I am so proud of these athletes for their hard work and dedication,” said Butterfield.
The Bulldog Aquatic Club accepts new members at any time of the year. For more information about the Bulldog Aquatic Club swim team and their other programs, go to bacswim.net or https://www.teamunify.com/team/labac/page/home.
The athletes competing are as follows (note by age group and events are in performing order):
10 and Under Girls
Destin Bell, 9, was 20th in the 100 Backstroke, 12th in the 100 Freestyle, 7th in the 50 Backstroke, and 8th in the 50 Freestyle.
Naomi Huenefeld, 10, was 10th in the 100 Backstroke, 16th in the 200 Freestyle, 15th in the 100 Freestyle, 12th in the 200 Individual Medley, 14th in the 50 Backstroke, and 12th in the 50 Freestyle.
Solae Woods, 9, was 23rd in the 200 Freestyle, 20th in the 100 Freestyle, 26th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 15th in the 50 Freestyle.
11-12 Girls
Lauren Becks, 12, was scheduled to compete the 50 Backstroke.
Mikayla “MJ” Colvin, 12, was 17th in the 100 Backstroke, 18th in the 200 Freestyle, 20th in the 100 Freestyle, and 10th in the 50 Freestyle.
Naomi Huenefeld, 12, was 19th in the 100 Backstroke, 15th in the 200 Freestyle, 11th in the 100 Freestyle, 18th in the 400 Freestyle, 21st in the 200 Individual Medley, and 11th in the 50 Freestyle.
Emma McDonald, 11, was 25th in the 200 Freestyle, 25th in the 400 Freestyle, and 33rd in the 200 Individual Medley.
13-14 Girls
Jesse Groce, 13, was 34th in the 100 Backstroke and 27th in the 50 Backstroke.
Julie Groce, 13, was 29th in the 100 Backstroke and 22nd in the 50 Backstroke.
Abby Huenefeld, 14, was 34th in the 100 Breaststroke, 32nd in the 100 Backstroke, 26th in the 50 Backstroke, 23rd in the 200 Breaststroke, and 30th in the 100 Breaststroke.
Emily Xu, 13, was 21st in the 100 Freestyle, 18th in the 100 Butterfly, 10th in the 50 Butterfly, and 9th in the 50 Freestyle.
Girls Relays
12 and Under Girls were 9th in the 200 Freestyle Relay (K. Huenefeld, Woods, Bell, McDonald) and 9th in the 200 Medley Relay (McDonald, Woods, N. Huenefeld, Bell)
14 and Under Girls were 18th in the 400 Freestyle Relay (Julie Groce, A. Huenefeld, Jessie Groce, Xu), 15th in the 400 Medley Relay (Jessie Groce, A. Huenefeld, Xu, Julie Groce), 16th 200 Freestyle Relay (Colvin, A. Huenefeld, N. Huenefeld, Xu), and 15th in the 200 Medley Relay (Colvin, A. Huenefeld, Xu, N. Huenefeld)
Boys
10 and Under Boys
Mason Morrow, 9, was 18th in the 100 Backstroke, 11th in the 50 Breaststroke, and 9th in the 100 Breaststroke.
Peter Pendley, 10, was 25th in the 50 Butterfly, 20th in the 50 Breaststroke, 15th in the 100 Breaststroke.
11-12 Boys
William Cloutet, 12, was 11th in the 200 Freestyle, 14th in the 100 Freestyle, 11th in the 50 Breaststroke, 10th in the 400 Freestyle, 11th in the 100 Breaststroke, and 13th in the 50 Freestyle.
Mason Moreno, 11, was 17th in the 200 Freestyle, 20th in the 100 Freestyle, 12th in the 50 Breaststroke, 18th in the 200 Individual Medley, 7th in the 100 Breaststroke, and 16th in the 50 Freestyle.
Jackson Smith, 12, was 13th in the 100 Backstroke, 11th in the 50 Butterfly, 3rd in the 50 Breaststroke, 8th in the 50 Backstroke, 4th in the 100 Breaststroke, and 11th in the 50 Freestyle.
Joseph Swearengin, 11, was 19th in the 50 Breaststroke, 36th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 25th in the 100 Breaststroke.
Michael Wall, 11, was 21st in the 50 Breaststroke and 17th in the 100 Breaststroke.
13-14 Boys
Joseph “G” Amiano, 13, was 5th in the 100 Backstroke, 16th in the 200 Freestyle, 11th in the 100 Freestyle, 5th in the 100 Butterfly, 9th in the 200 Individual Medley, and 9th in the 50 Freestyle.
John “JJ” Hoover, 14, was 1st in the 400 Individual Medley, 1st in the 200 Butterfly, 1st in the 200 Breaststroke, 1st in the 100 Butterfly, 1st in the 50 Butterfly, and 1st in the 200 Individual Medley.
Mathew Roach, 14, 18th in the 100 Backstroke, 11th in the 50 Backstroke, 19th in the 100 Butterfly, 6th in the 50 Butterfly, 14th in the 200 Backstroke, and 14th in the 50 Freestyle.
Relays for the Boys
12 and Under Boys were 8th in the 200 Freestyle Relay (Smith, Swearengin, Wall, Moreno) and 11th in the 200 Medley Relay (Wall, Moreno, Swearengin, Morrow).
14 and Under Boys were 6th in the 400 Freestyle Relay (Roach, Smith, Amiano, Hoover), 7th in the 400 Medley Relay (Roach, Hoover, Amiano, Smith), 7th in the 200 Freestyle Relay (Hoover, Cloutet, Roach, Amiano), and 7th in the 200 Medley Relay (Amiano, Smith, Roach, Cloutet)
Mixed Relays
200 Medley Relay was 8th (N. Huenefeld, Hoover, Amiano, Xu)
Louisiana Tech’s middle blocker, Rori Gray, was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week, announced by the league on Monday.
Gray helped the Bulldogs to two wins at the Fullerton Invitational over the weekend, giving Tech their best start since 2019 when they started 3-0.
The Washington D.C. native started to make an impact in the Bulldog’s four-set win over Cal State Fullerton on Friday. She finished second on the team with 11 kills on a .455 hitting clip while adding two blocks.
She was instrumental in LA Tech’s sweep of Fullerton on Saturday by igniting a 26-11 run that spanned the second and third sets. Gray would finish with nine kills and four blocks, again finishing with a hitting percentage over .400 at .444.
Louisiana Tech’s home opener is tonight against Alcorn. The first serve is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
