DECATUR -- The Decatur School Board convened May 15 for its regular session in the media center at Decatur Middle School. Topping the agenda was the Decatur athletic director's report presented by John Unger.
The 2016-17 Decatur sports program began with the first full year of the volleyball program coached by Jessi Castagna. Eleven girls made up the senior high team, which posted a 2-16 overall record this season.
The school board decided Aug. 15, 2016, to continue the football program one more season. A week before, only nine players showed up for practice. Thanks to recruiting efforts by senior Brandon Coker, coaches Shane Holland and Unger, the team grew to 17, more than enough players to continue the program. The team went 1-8 overall, with the only win coming on homecoming night against Western Yell County.
"It was a struggle," Unger said. "But we got through the season in football."
Nine senior girls went out for the Lady Bulldog basketball program this year. This year's team posted a 4-19 overall record, which was better than the 1-19 record during the 2015-16 season as they entered the new 1A conference. On the senior boys' side, 13 players made up the 2016-17 roster for the Bulldog basketball program. Going into the 1A conference this season meant the team faced new opponents, new styles and new courts. They finished the season with a 2-15 record.
With 13 players on the roster this season, the Decatur Bulldog baseball team had one of its best starts in several years, finishing 2017 with a 5-4 record in its first appearance in the 1A conference. Because of the changes to the number of teams in Decatur's district, they received automatic byes in both the district and regional tournaments. Unfortunately, the baseball Bulldogs were eliminated in their first games of both tournaments, held in Harrison this year.
Soccer had its share of problems this season, the biggest of which was not finding a coach until January. James Garner, who coached the team in 2011-12, was recruited to take over the program vacated by Barry James at the end of the 2016 season. With the help of Uli Moreno, youth soccer coach, the Bulldogs managed to post a 1-10 overall record. This soccer team was made up of 17 players, four of them girls (Heidi Rubi, Deysi Rubi, Dania Uribe and Jacqueline Hernandez).
The 2017 Lady Bulldog softball team had one of the best seasons in more than 10 years. The 10-member team finished with a 3-10 overall record. Two key wins sent Decatur to the state play-offs in Pine Bluff May 11. The first came during the opening round of the 1A-1 Regional tournament in Harrison, which gave the Lady Bulldogs an automatic berth in the first round of the 1A state tournament. Decatur's opponent in state play was the Scranton Rockets, the second best team in the 1A. The girls were eliminated from the state tournament with a 16-0 loss. However, the Lady Bulldogs' second tournament win was the consolation round of the regional tournament, which gave the softball team a third place finish. Unger took the opportunity to announce that Cameron Shaffer, Decatur's pitcher for the last four years, was named to the 1A all-state softball team.
Unger was pleased with the junior high program, with 48 boys and 30 girls going out for volleyball, football, basketball and track this season. Both the junior high boys' and girls' track teams won this year's district meet in Harrison. Joseph Armstrong was the individual high-point leader at the district meet, as well as Destiny Meija who was the runner-up high-point individual for the girls.
For the final portion, Unger turned his presentation over to Holland, Decatur track coach, who talked about this year's 1A senior girls' championship and the senior boys' 1A runner-up track teams. He opened by directing the board members to a pair of trophies sitting on a table to the left of the board platform. Holland turned the board's attention to several members of each team sitting in the back of the room. He introduced each member, which included Cameron Shaffer, Desi Meek, Destiny Meija, Ryan Shaffer, Bracy Owens, Taylor Haisman, Leng Lee, Jimmy Mendoza and Cayden Bingham. As each member stood, Holland explained how each's gold-, silver- and bronze-medal performances contributed points to the team's overall scores that led to Decatur taking both titles.
The Decatur School Board meets every third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the media center at Decatur Middle School in Decatur. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information, go to www.decatursd.com.
General News on 05/24/2017