Panola College
November 17, 2015 - Panola College rodeo team traveled to Conroe, TX this weekend for the fifth and final rodeo of the fall season. The rodeo was held indoors the ground was good and dry and made for a very even competition. The rodeo at Conroe was the first of the year to have a short round, where the top ten in each event come back for a second run. This makes for a two head competition, which pays an average and increases the very important team points.
Taylor Gooch started the women’s team off with a great run in the goat tying by posting a 7.7 run on her goat in the long go. The time was fast enough to secure a eighth place split and qualify her for the short go round. In the short round she made another great run of 7.3 seconds, winning fourth in the short go. The total time of 15 seconds moved her to fifth in the total average. Taylor returned to Panola College after a two year break from competition. She is returning to winning form and is expected to be among the leaders for the rest of the season.
Cody Wright just keeps on coming, this week it was in the team roping. Cody and his partner knocked out a fast time of 7.3 seconds fast enough for a fourth place split in long go round. The team then posted a time of 11.4 seconds in the short go round, good enough to hang on to fourth in the short go. The total time on two head was 18.7 seconds and was strong enough to win fourth in the average. Wright is an all-around cowboy, entering on both ends of the arena, rough stock and timed events. Cody is a great athlete that will be heavily counted on in the Spring to help the men’s team reach their goal by qualifying for the CNFR in Casper, WY.
In the world’s most dangerous event, the bull riding, Fulton Rutland really shined. Fulton was the only man to ride his long go round bull with a score of 73 points. The only competitor to achieve success in the long go gave him the automatic win in the average, but there where points left on the table for the short-go round. The short go, well known for having the rankest stock, was a one man show. Rutland was able to capitalize and ride his short go round bull for a score of 77 points. Fulton, who has been extremely focused this year, moved himself to number three in the regional standings. Fulton has a very good work ethic and has set his goal for a regional title.
The Panola College rodeo team has some time to heal up and prepare for Spring semester. The next competition will be in Athens, Texas. Feb. 12-13.
November 16, 2015 Carthage, Texas - In the first game of the newly renovated Arthur Johnson Gymnasium, the Panola College men’s basketball team defeated Creative Young Minds (CYM), 86-64. With the win, the Ponies improve their record to 5-2. “It was a really awesome experience for our team. The gym looks amazing and it was good to win the home opener.” Stated Head Coach Grant McMillan. “We did a good job in the second half holding our opponent to 27 total points and we found ways to share the ball on offense.” He added.
Panola jumped out to a 33-23 point lead with just under 7:00 minutes to play in the first half but CYM closed the gap to 41-37 heading into the locker room. CYM tied the ball game on two separate occasions to start the second half but could never take the lead. Panola gradually pulled away throughout the rest of the game.
The Ponies were led by Devyn Wilson (Brooklyn, New York) with 20 points. Other scorers in double-figures where Tope Arikawe (Nigeria) with 15, Chan Williams-Bey (Hartford, Connecticut) with 14, Terry Holt (Nashville, Tennessee) with 12 and Charles Tucker (Lansing, Michigan) with 11. Arikawe chased down 11 rebounds and Tucker dished out 10 assists to record double-doubles. As a team, Panola shot 52 percent from the field and passed out 27 assists.
Next in action, Panola travels to Levelland, Texas to take on nationally ranked South Plains College on Monday, November 16th. Tip-off is set for 6:30 PM on the Campus of South Plains College.
November 16, 2015 - Panola College defeated Collin County College 90-88 in triple overtime on Friday.
Fillies fell behind early, trailing 36-33 by the half, only to come back strong in the final two quarters, with a game-high 21 points in the third quarter. After being up by 11 with just four and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter the fillies lost the lead and ended the quarter being tied 69-69 to end regulation. Panola College gained some momentum late in the game and was able to battle through three overtimes and come out with a win.
Laura Chavez had a good game managing to score 33 points, which twenty-four of those points came from behind the arc. She was also strong from the line, sinking 70% (7-for-10) of free throws attempted.
Two other players also added ten or more points for Panola College. Kia Fisker contributed 20 points and 7 rebounds. J'Lene Martinez put up three, three-pointers and scored 14 points total. Also helping the effort for Panola College were Amanda Cruz (8 points),Raemeisha Claxton (5 points, 9 rebounds), Charlynn Perry (5 points), Genesis Riveria (3 points), and Teanna Frances-Henderson (2 points).
The Fillies look to take action again tomorrow November 14th against Cisco College at 12pm in the TJC Classic in Tyler, TX..
Panola College defeated Collin County College 90-88 in triple overtime on Friday.
November 16, 2015 - Fillies fell behind early, trailing 36-33 by the half, only to come back strong in the final two quarters, with a game-high 21 points in the third quarter. After being up by 11 with just four and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter the fillies lost the lead and ended the quarter being tied 69-69 to end regulation. Panola College gained some momentum late in the game and was able to battle through three overtimes and come out with a win.
Laura Chavez had a good game managing to score 33 points, which twenty-four of those points came from behind the arc. She was also strong from the line, sinking 70% (7-for-10) of free throws attempted.
Two other players also added ten or more points for Panola College. Kia Fisker contributed 20 points and 7 rebounds. J'Lene Martinez put up three, three-pointers and scored 14 points total. Also helping the effort for Panola College were Amanda Cruz (8 points),Raemeisha Claxton (5 points, 9 rebounds), Charlynn Perry (5 points), Genesis Riveria (3 points), and Teanna Frances-Henderson (2 points).
The Fillies look to take action again tomorrow November 14th against Cisco College at 12pm in the TJC Classic in Tyler, TX.
November 16, 2015 - Both teams went toe-to-toe on Saturday, with Panola College outlasting Cisco College 62-59. Charlynn Perry was strong from the field for Fillies, ending the game with 12 points. Also contributing for Panola College were Laura Chavez (10 points), Raemeisha Claxton & Amanda Cruz both had 8 points apiece, J'Lene Martinez & Genesis Riveria goes for 7 points apiece, Kia Fisker (6 points), Teanna Frances-Henderson (2 points), and Denasia Watson (2 points). Destiney Johnson was a big defensive contributor as well, racking up four rebounds.
The Fillies look to take action again November 17th against UT Tyler at 6pm in Tyler, TX.
November 13, 2015 - The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved Panola College’s request to offer Urban Forestry for the Spring Semester 2016. Panola College will offer a certificate in Urban Forestry, said Natalie Oswalt, Dean of Professional and Technical Programs. The two-semester certificate offered through the Department of Workforce & Continuing Education will prepare students for the fastest growing segment of the forestry profession: urban and community forestry. The program supports House Bill 5, passed by the Texas Legislature to encourage technical education.
Panola College is working with a team of forest industry leaders to develop additional concentrations in Forest Management, and Forest Fire and Protection.
Panola College invited representatives from industry, state and federal agencies to serve on an advisory board when planning the new program. Serving on that board are Jim Crooks, U.S. Forest Service; Ken Smith, Hancock Forest Management; Chris Adams, Bird Forestry; Justin Penick, Acorn Forestry; Rodney Schroeder, American Forestry Management; Ron Hufford, Texas Forestry Association; John Boyette, Texas A&M Forest Service; John Beasley, Forest AFC; Loren Risner, Texas Forest Service, retired; James Houser, Farmers National Co.; Wanda Risner, Risner Forestry; Todd Springer, Crest National Resources; David Grassi, Crest National Resources; Phil Gates, Texas Forest Service; Stephen McInnis, Southern Power; John Lock, Campbell Global; Joe Shaw, The Davey Tree Expert Co.; Jack Swayze, The Davey Tree Expert Co.; Hans Williams, Stephen F. Austin State University, and Gordon Holley, Louisiana Tech University.
The U.S. Forest Service says Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) focuses on stewardship of urban natural resources, including parks, landscaped streets, public gardens, river and coastal greenbelts, wetlands, nature preserves, natural areas, shelter trees and other natural areas. According to the U.S. Forest Service, trees cool cities, save energy, improve air quality, strengthen local economies, reduce storm water runoff, improve social connections, and create walkable communities.
Currently, 80 percent of the nation’s population resides in urban areas. Conserving natural resources can make a positive impact on the environment, social and economic issues in these densely populated areas.
“This new certificate will provide students with the necessary credentials to find jobs in this growing field,” said Dr. Joe Shannon, Vice President of Instruction. “Graduates qualify for positions as natural resources technicians in outdoor national venues including city parks and recreation, state governmental agencies, industrial parks, corporations, master-planned communities, and timber companies.”
Coursework will teach students how to manage and produce forest resources, tree identification, timber measurement, logging and timber harvesting, forest propagation and regeneration, forest fire-fighting, equipment operation and maintenance, record-keeping, sales, purchasing, operations, and personnel supervision.
Government agency and industry support for the program is strong. Advisory board members cited an aging forestry workforce and the need for new forestry technicians, especially those with field experience and skills in fire management.
“If we receive an application that has a two-year degree in forestry, they go to the top of the list,” said John Beasley, Forest AFC.
Phil Gates, Texas Forest Service, said, “I did a job search before I came to this meeting and 150 technician jobs were shown. There are jobs out there and the students need to be mobile. Fire training is a main skill they would need.”
Davey Tree’s Joe Shaw said, “Urban forestry and herbicide training is a huge need. We have 8,000 employees and our goal for 2020 is to have 11,000 employees. As of right now, that is impossible because we would not be able to find educated applicants. I see a need for this program.”
Dr. Hans Williams, Interim Dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry & Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University, encouraged Panola to establish a program with transferable hours. “The job market in forestry is good. We are getting calls for urban foresters. We have 10 to 15 students in the Urban Forestry Program and as soon as they graduate they obtain a good job. We have a 100 percent employment rate.”
In spring 2016, students may take Plant Science, Natural Resource Communications, Introduction to Forestry, Energy Math and Computer Skills, and Wildlife Conservation and Management. For more information about enrolling in the forestry program, contact Dr. Joe Shannon at 903-693-2033 or via email at jshannon@panola.edu or Dean Natalie Oswalt at 936-591-9075 or via email at noswalt@panola.edu.
November 12, 2015 - James Suber has signed a National Letter of Intent to Cal State University at Bakersfield. The Road Runners are a Division One Program that plays in the WAC Conference. James is a forward for the Ponies this season and is a Division One Transfer from Niagara University in New York. Suber is originally from Philadelphia, PA where he was an All City player his Senior Year for Philadelphia E&T High School.
This is Panola College’s first Division One Signee since 2010.
"Our staff is so happy for James. He has put in a tremendous amount of work in the pre-season to get to this point, and this is a testament to all that work. He is a junkyard dog that will have a big impact on the glass and in the post in the WAC Conference. He will be an outstanding ambassador for Panola College for years to come," stated Grant McMillan, Men’s Head Basketball Coach for Panola College.
November 10, 2015 - The Panola College Men's basketball team split their games this weekend at the Trinity Valley Classic. On Friday night the Ponies defeated Southwestern Christian Community College 95-73. In the second game, Panola was upended by Dodge City Community College 72-54. "Earning a split during a classic is always a positive." said head coach Grant McMillan. "If we continue to grow from our mistakes we have a chance to put together something special." he added. After this weekend’s games the Ponies bring their record to 4-2.
Game 1 - Verse Southwestern Christian CC
Panola jumped out quick and took a 14-5 lead to start the game. They pushed the lead to 24 points in the first half before going to the locker room with a lead, 53-33. Southwestern closed the gap to 14 points with just under 8:00 minutes to go but never got any closer.
Five separate players scored in double figures. Leading the way was Chan Williams-Bey (Hartford, Connecticut) with 17. Other in double figures include Charles Tucker (Lansing, Michigan) scored 16, Terry Holt (Nashville, Tennessee) with 13, and Jonathon Wiley (Houston, Texas) with 11. Devyn Wilson (Brooklyn, New York) had his best scoring of the game of the young season, netting 13 points off the bench. Williams-Bey recorded a double-double adding 10 rebounds and Tucker led the team in assists with seven. All 11 Ponies who suited up scored. As a team, Panola shot 56 percent from the field and forced Southwestern into 17 turnovers.
Game 2 – Verse Dodge City CC
In a game where offense was lacking, Panola found themselves down 39-33 at halftime. Panola scored the first two points of the second half but could never gather enough momentum to inch any closer. Panola shot an ice cold 26 percent from the field and 17 percent from the three point line for the game.
Tucker had a team high 17 points in the defeat on 6 of 7 shooting. Holt and Williams-Bey also scored in double-figures with 11 and 10, respectively. Wiley recorded a team high 10 rebounds. Panola's bench only scored four points in the loss. As a team the Ponies gave up 19 offensive rebounds.
After playing six D1 junior colleges in nine days, Panola gets to open up the newly renovated Arthur Johnson Gym this upcoming Friday, November 13th. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm on the campus of Panola College.
November 10, 2015 - Panola Volleyball is proud to announce several Fillies received all-conference accolades this season, and freshman Morgan Currie (College Station, TX) was named Libero of the Year for Region XIV-North.
Currie, a former Rouse High School standout, established her presence early with her big-time defensive plays, earning 4.48 digs per set, 53 assists and 20 aces on the year. She posted 15 or more digs in 22 of 35 matches played in this season, with a season-high of 34 digs coming in a 5-set victory against Brookhaven. In conference she took her game to a new level, recording 20 or more digs on eight different occasions against Region XIV opponents. Currie is the first Panola player named Libero of the Year since Nausheen Merchant received the honor in 2012.
Joining Currie on the 1st Team All-Conference list is fellow freshman right side hitter from South San Francisco, CA, Sharon Tukuaoga. Tukuaoga led the Fillies offensively this year in total kills (371) and kills per set (2.88), while also contributing 88 total blocks and 55 digs. She reached double-digit kills in 22 of 36 matches played including a season-best of 22 kills against Wharton County Junior College, and hit .300 or better in 18 different contests.
Freshman Ana Carolina Oliveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) made an immediate impact for the Fillies in multiple areas this year, earning 2nd Team All-Conference honors for her efforts. Oliveira was second on the team in total kills this season with 329, but she was all over the Fillies stat sheet with 374 total digs, 39 total blocks, a team-leading 41 aces, and 202 assists. She saw her role increase from outside hitter to also include setter when a devastating injury sidelined sophomore setter Sierra Moses for the Regional Tournament, but she responded admirably with a gutsy performance against Wharton County in the opening round that included 19 kills on .421 hitting, 28 assists, 12 digs and a solo block to prove instrumental in the Fillies thrilling comeback win. Her all-around performance secured her a place on the prestigious 2915 Region XIV All-Tournament team.
Joining Oliveira on the 2nd Team All-Conference list was sophomore Brittany Lampkin after receiving the same honor as a freshman. Lampkin was fourth on the team with 235 kills on the year, and was second in the entire Region XIV-North conference in blocks per set with 1.06. Her best match of the season came in the team's first battle with Wharton County, when she notched 12 kills on .375 hitting.
Rounding out All-Conference awards, the Fillies also had several players receive Honorable Mention recognition for their efforts this season. Sophomores Adriana Skipper (Grand Prairie, TX), Sierra Moses (Round Rock, TX), and Leiyona Young (Las Cruces, NM), along with freshmen Victoria Baptista Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Rachel Henderson (Fort Worth, TX). Skipper led the team with 756 total assists this year, 251 digs and 20 aces. Moses added 613 assists, 166 digs and 17 aces. Young led the entire conference with 1.16 blocks per set along with 117 total kills. Baptista Santos was another crucial all-around player for the Fillies, tallying 187 kills, 385 digs, 59 total blocks and 24 aces. Henderson was third on the team in total kills despite missing two conference matches with an injury, tallying 250 on the year in addition to 45 digs, 135 total blocks and a 1.05 blocks per set stat good enough for third overall in conference.
"We always preach a team-first mentality, but individual accolades are a strong reflection of a program as well," said Fillies volleyball Head Coach Amber McCray. "We get to witness first-hand all of the hard work these student-athletes put in every day, so it's great to see them rewarded for their efforts."
November 10, 2015 - The Panola College Volleyball team put together another solid run this past weekend at the Region XIV Conference tournament at Tyler Junior College, but finished third place and just one win short of extending the season by earning a bid to the NJCAA National Tournament after falling to San Jacinto-Central College Sunday afternoon, 13-25, 25-18, 11-25, 25-17, 12-15.
The Fillies opened the tournament Friday with a thrilling come from behind victory against Wharton County Junior College: 16-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-19, 18-16. Freshman outside hitter Ana Carolina Oliveira led the Fillies with 19 kills on .421 hitting, 28 assists, 12 digs and a solo block.
Freshman Sharon Tukuaoga and sophomore Brittany Lampkin joined her in double-digit kills with 15 and 11, respectively. Sophomore Leiyona Young posted an impressive 8 total blocks for the match, while the background defense was anchored by the freshman trio of Morgan Currie leading with 25 digs, followed by Victoria Baptista Santos (17) and Oliveira (12). Sophomore Adriana Skipper led with 30 assists.
The Fillies then had to bounce back quickly from a 0-3 sweep in the Saturday morning match against eventual tournament champion Blinn College to take down Lee College in three sets, 25-22, 25-23, and 25-23. Tukuaoga led a balanced Panola attack that match with 11 kills, followed by Lampkin (9), Oliveira (8), freshman Rachel Henderson (7) and Young (4). Four players tallied double-digit digs: Currie (18), sophomore Kendal Savarino (13), Oliveira (12), and Baptista Santos (10).
Panola then found themselves in another elimination game for their third contest of the day, this time matched with conference-rival Tyler Junior College. A strong, balanced performance gave the Fillies the victory in four sets: 25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19. All six Panola hitters tallied 6 or more kills led by 12 kills on .333 hitting from Tukuaoga, followed by Henderson (9 kills on .320 hitting), Young (7 kills on .400 hitting), and Oliveira, Lampkin, and Baptista Santos all adding 6 kills apiece. The Fillies were a dominant blocking force at the net, tallying a season-high 30 block assists and 11 solos to TJC's 14 block assists and only 2 solos. The staggering blocking numbers included 8 block assists and 4 solos from Young alone, in addition to 7 block assists from Lampkin, 5 from Baptista Santos and 5 solo blocks from Henderson. Panola was stellar behind the block as well, receiving 25 digs from Currie, 11 from Savarino and 11 from Baptista Santos. Oliveira led with 22 assists, followed closely by Skipper chipping in 20.
With only three teams left standing in Region XIV, Panola returned to action in a Sunday afternoon showdown with San Jacinto-Central in a fight to earn the second bid to Nationals after Blinn College punched their ticket with a straight sweep over the Ravens Saturday evening.
It was a game of momentum, and after the Fillies struggled early, both teams traded sets to force a decisive fifth and final set to 15. The two evenly-matched squads traded points again and were tied as late as 11-11, before the Ravens composed a 4-1 scoring run to finish the match and earn a spot in the conference championship that also guaranteed a trip to Casper,Wyoming for the NJCAA National Tournament November 19-21.
Oliveira led the Fillies offensively in the 5-set heartbreaker with 15 kills, followed by 11 from Tukuaoga and 10 from Rachel Henderson. Four Fillies tallied double-digit digs, led this time by Baptista Santos with 21, followed by Oliveira (16), Currie (14), and Skipper (12).
The all-around performance of freshman Ana Carolina Oliveira all weekend secured her a place on the prestigious Region XIV All-Tournament team, one of only seven players in the entire tournament to receive such recognition.
The Fillies finished the 2015 season with an overall record of 30-9, with 7 of 9 losses coming to Top 20-ranked opponents, and a 3rd Place overall finish in the competitive Region XIV conference.
"It's disappointing falling short of nationals when we were just a game away for the second year in a row," said Head Coach Amber McCray. "But our girls battled so much adversity to play their hearts out all weekend, and I'm very proud of the way we competed and represented Panola College these past few days and all year."
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