Athletics
Home of the Bearcats
The Mena Bearcats scrimmaged Bismarck & Poteau on Thursday, August 20th at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
The season opener is Friday, August 28th @ DeQueen.
https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=19617
The Mena Ladycats played a benefit game against Van Buren on Thursday in the Union Bank Center.
The season opener is Tuesday, August 25th at Greenwood.
https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=19738
Little Rock, Arkansas (19 August 2026) – The Team Arkansas Committee today announced the 4 boys and 4 girls who were named to the 2027 Team Arkansas roster as part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program (USNDP).
“We’re incredibly proud of these eight players and excited to see them represent the state through Team Arkansas,” said Carson Roberts (ASGA Executive Director). “This program is a tremendous opportunity for them to grow, compete, and continue developing both on and off the golf course.”
The roster was selected by the Team Arkansas committee based on players’ performances throughout the 2026 season. The Team Arkansas committee includes representatives from Fort Smith, Maumelle, Little Rock and Rogers.
Team Arkansas is one of 30 states in the USNDP’s State Junior Team program – designed to expand, strengthen and diversify the American junior golf pipeline. The USGA announced 14 new states to the program in October of 2025, with goals to expand to all 50 states by 2029.
2027 Team Arkansas – Boys Roster
Rich Davis, 2028 – Mena, AR
Knox Stephens, 2028 – Magnolia, AR
Laken Silkwood, 2027 – Conway, AR
Jack Denery, 2027 – Little Rock, AR
Team Arkansas will be headed by Coach Jack O’Keefe of Little Rock, alongside Team Captains Emily Laskin and Carson Roberts.
All athletes named to a state team will receive at least two days of in-person athlete development per year, access to webinars led by the USNDP’s coaching and athlete development team, consideration for USNDP-sponsored tournament exemptions, and a streamlined grant application process for families demonstrating financial need, among other benefits.
Announced in 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations, and financial support.
The State Junior Team Program focuses on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game. The U.S. National Development Program is supported by philanthropic giving and secured resources to fulfill the USGA’s commitment to providing pathways to elite levels of the game, regardless of financial situations.
To be eligible, a player must be a U.S. citizen, cannot be enrolled in college, must be 13 years old by Jan. 1 and not reach his/her 19th birthday by July 19 of the year in which they would compete on a State Junior Team.
https://www.asga.org/about/news/team-arkansas-press-release?fbclid=IwY2xjawTz_6NwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUZTT1A3NTRxMGdUaWlrblNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKCMSCAko7I7Kefl6uzxQM2_VaJl8ABtgytyvULr31lmsOj9vl7gBQJpd75A_aem__3OWQHuK_1DpIUvC2YtEOQ
“We’re incredibly proud of these eight players and excited to see them represent the state through Team Arkansas,” said Carson Roberts (ASGA Executive Director). “This program is a tremendous opportunity for them to grow, compete, and continue developing both on and off the golf course.”
The roster was selected by the Team Arkansas committee based on players’ performances throughout the 2026 season. The Team Arkansas committee includes representatives from Fort Smith, Maumelle, Little Rock and Rogers.
Team Arkansas is one of 30 states in the USNDP’s State Junior Team program – designed to expand, strengthen and diversify the American junior golf pipeline. The USGA announced 14 new states to the program in October of 2025, with goals to expand to all 50 states by 2029.
2027 Team Arkansas – Boys Roster
Rich Davis, 2028 – Mena, AR
Knox Stephens, 2028 – Magnolia, AR
Laken Silkwood, 2027 – Conway, AR
Jack Denery, 2027 – Little Rock, AR
Team Arkansas will be headed by Coach Jack O’Keefe of Little Rock, alongside Team Captains Emily Laskin and Carson Roberts.
All athletes named to a state team will receive at least two days of in-person athlete development per year, access to webinars led by the USNDP’s coaching and athlete development team, consideration for USNDP-sponsored tournament exemptions, and a streamlined grant application process for families demonstrating financial need, among other benefits.
Announced in 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations, and financial support.
The State Junior Team Program focuses on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game. The U.S. National Development Program is supported by philanthropic giving and secured resources to fulfill the USGA’s commitment to providing pathways to elite levels of the game, regardless of financial situations.
To be eligible, a player must be a U.S. citizen, cannot be enrolled in college, must be 13 years old by Jan. 1 and not reach his/her 19th birthday by July 19 of the year in which they would compete on a State Junior Team.
https://www.asga.org/about/news/team-arkansas-press-release?fbclid=IwY2xjawTz_6NwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUZTT1A3NTRxMGdUaWlrblNzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKCMSCAko7I7Kefl6uzxQM2_VaJl8ABtgytyvULr31lmsOj9vl7gBQJpd75A_aem__3OWQHuK_1DpIUvC2YtEOQ
Mena Tennis played Arkadelphia on Thursday at Tapley Park.
Ladycats
Macy Herod, competing in her very first match, won 6-2 in the #2 singles spot. Paeyton Hostetler and Mollee Sharp, both three year varsity players, won 6-0 in the #2 doubles match. Camilla Ashcraft and Hollie Hamilton, also competing in their first varsity match, won 6-2 in the #3 doubles spot. The ladies won 3 of 5 matches and competed well across the board.
Bearcats
Brady Jones won his first career varsity match, 6-2, in the #3 singles position. Hank Rose and Luke Rowland played a very competitive and spiritied #1 doubles match but eventually fell 7-6 (7-4) in a tiebreak. The Bearcats won 1 of 6 matches on the day and showed good improvement from the beginning of the practice season in June.
Ladycats
Macy Herod, competing in her very first match, won 6-2 in the #2 singles spot. Paeyton Hostetler and Mollee Sharp, both three year varsity players, won 6-0 in the #2 doubles match. Camilla Ashcraft and Hollie Hamilton, also competing in their first varsity match, won 6-2 in the #3 doubles spot. The ladies won 3 of 5 matches and competed well across the board.
Bearcats
Brady Jones won his first career varsity match, 6-2, in the #3 singles position. Hank Rose and Luke Rowland played a very competitive and spiritied #1 doubles match but eventually fell 7-6 (7-4) in a tiebreak. The Bearcats won 1 of 6 matches on the day and showed good improvement from the beginning of the practice season in June.
Jr Ladycat Preseason Competition Week!
The girls were split into teams and spent the week competing in different challenges, dressing up in a new theme each day, and having plenty of fun along the way! After a great week of competition, the Red team came out on top!
Throughout the week, the girls were challenged to pay attention to who was consistently being a great teammate and who always brought a positive attitude. At the end of the week, they voted for their teammates in both categories.
🏆 Best Teammate: Skylar Bahr
🌟 Best Attitude: Macy Flores
The girls were split into teams and spent the week competing in different challenges, dressing up in a new theme each day, and having plenty of fun along the way! After a great week of competition, the Red team came out on top!
Throughout the week, the girls were challenged to pay attention to who was consistently being a great teammate and who always brought a positive attitude. At the end of the week, they voted for their teammates in both categories.
🏆 Best Teammate: Skylar Bahr
🌟 Best Attitude: Macy Flores
Mena football held their Red/BlackScrimmage on Monday at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Mena will scrimmage Bismarck/Poteau on Thursday, August 20th and the season opener is Friday, August 28th at DeQueen.
Monday was the first day of fall camp for Mena Jr. High & Sr. High Football.
Monday, August 10th - Red/Black Scrimmage 5:45pm at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Thursday, August 20th - Sr. High & Jr. High Scrimmage vs. Bismarck/Poteau 5:30pm at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Thursday, August 27th - 7th/Jr. Football vs. DeQueen 5:00pm at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Friday, August 28th - Sr. Football @ DeQueen 7:30pm
Monday, August 10th - Red/Black Scrimmage 5:45pm at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Thursday, August 20th - Sr. High & Jr. High Scrimmage vs. Bismarck/Poteau 5:30pm at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Thursday, August 27th - 7th/Jr. Football vs. DeQueen 5:00pm at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium.
Friday, August 28th - Sr. Football @ DeQueen 7:30pm
Sr. Ladycat Volleyball found time for some team bonding on Monday!
Thursday, August 20th Sr. Volleyball vs. Van Buren (benefit game) 5:30pm in the Union Bank Center.
Tuesday, August 25th Sr. Volleyball @ Greenwood 4:30pm.
Thursday, August 20th Sr. Volleyball vs. Van Buren (benefit game) 5:30pm in the Union Bank Center.
Tuesday, August 25th Sr. Volleyball @ Greenwood 4:30pm.
Jr. Ladycats volleyball had a team bonding swim party recently. Thank you to the Plunkett’s for hosting!
Tuesday, August 25th - Jr. Volleyball vs. Greenwood 4:00pm
Tuesday, August 25th - Jr. Volleyball vs. Greenwood 4:00pm
7th grade and Jr Ladycat’s finished their summer camp season for the year at Prairie Grove on Tuesday. We saw a lot of growth over the last three weeks facing good competition at each camp.
Mena High School's Rich Davis competed in the opening round of the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Davis shot a 74 in round 1, 8 strokes off the lead. Rich was paired with Dawson Lew and Drue Sanchez, competing in a field of 264 of the world's top junior golfers. Tee time on Tuesday is 12:54pm.
The championship also features nationally recognized players such as Charlie Woods, highlighting the elite level of competition. Rich is proudly representing Mena High School and Arkansas on one of junior golf's biggest stages.
Fans can follow Rich's scores, pairings, and tournament progress throughout the week on the USGA's U.S. Junior Amateur Championship website.
https://championships.usga.org/usjunioramateur/2026/articles/patel-jones-first-round-leaders-saucon-valley.html
The championship also features nationally recognized players such as Charlie Woods, highlighting the elite level of competition. Rich is proudly representing Mena High School and Arkansas on one of junior golf's biggest stages.
Fans can follow Rich's scores, pairings, and tournament progress throughout the week on the USGA's U.S. Junior Amateur Championship website.
https://championships.usga.org/usjunioramateur/2026/articles/patel-jones-first-round-leaders-saucon-valley.html
Mena Bearcat Basketball hosted a team camp in the Union Bank Center on Wednesday. Check the 26-27 Jr. High and Sr. High schedule on the website at the link
https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=20089,41092,20091,41091
https://www.menaschools.org/o/athletics/athletics?filter_ids=20089,41092,20091,41091
The Bearcats hosted the Mena Jr. Football Team Camp on Tuesday at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium. Teams from Booneville, Mansfield, Waldron & Cossatot participated.
The Jr. Bearcats will scrimmage Bismarck & Poteau on August 20th & the season opener is August 27th against DeQueen,
The Jr. Bearcats will scrimmage Bismarck & Poteau on August 20th & the season opener is August 27th against DeQueen,
A very successful Day 1 at NCA Cheer Camp!.
A special congratulations to our senior captain, Avery, for receiving Pin It Forward pins! We can’t wait to see what Day 2 has in store !!
Be looking for the article on Mena Bearcat Football in this years edition of Hooten's Arkansas Football on stands July 6th & 7th. To bad this is the only place to find the soon to be famous Mena cover
Mena football is hosting the Joe Bunch 7 on 7 Tournament at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium. Teams from Foreman, Hackett, Cossatot, Bismarck, Waldron, Pocola OK. and Glenbrook from Minden LA. are competing.
Mena golf recently attended their first team camp of 2026.
Ladycat basketball recently competed at a team camp in Ft. Lake. The Mena basketball season begins on November 5th with the Red/White Scrimmage.
Congrats to Tripp Hensley and Coach Arnold on their participation in the FCA All Star Game on Friday in Texarkana.
Congratulations to BRYNLEE BAHR on earning 2026 All-State Track & Field!
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