Moore ready to lead experienced squad

Talent and effort are two of the biggest things that help define how a team fares in high school athletics but there is also no substitute for experience and the understanding of a game as sophisticated as softball can be sometimes. (February 22, 2012, Page 7)

LHS captures Region 1-4A powerlifting title Thursday

Four first-place winners propelled the Lafayette Lady Commodores to the Class II, Region 1-4A powerlifting championship Thursday at Itawamba AHS. (February 17, 2012, Page 7A)

LHS girls powerlifters claim second place

The success Lafayette’s powerlifting team had in its first meet last week paid dividends on Monday with a second-place finish in the Lady Wildcat Invitational held at Calhoun City.

The Lady Commodores totaled 55 points, second to Charleston’s 63. Oxford finished third with 30 points, while Pontotoc (24) and Calhoun City (10) rounded out the teams at the meet.

Cate Clay lifted in the 97-pound weight class for the Lady Commodores and finished first with a 425-pound total. Meg Norphlet competed in the 105 class and was first with a total of 500. San Hairston competed in the 123 class as did Jada McIntosh. Hairston was second with a 595, while McIntosh totaled 500. (more…) (February 1, 2012, Page 7)

Lady ‘Dores take first meet

Lafayette’s quest to win a Class II state title in girls powerlifting got off to a great start Saturday with a first-place finish in the Pontotoc Invitational hosted by Pontotc. The Lady Commodores scored 54 points thanks to five first-place finishes, three second-place finishes and one third-place finish.

Nettleton finished second in the meet followed by New Albany in third and Pontotoc in fourth. (more…) (January 23, 2012, Page 3B)

Experienced Lady ‘Dores ready to begin season

A roster filled with experience and numbers are just two of the many positives for the Lafayette girls powerlifting team heading into Saturday’s first meet of the season Saturday at Pontotoc.

LHS coach Sandra Smith has 18 girls on her team this year and while a total of 12 can lift in the various weight classes, having competition is a good thing Smith said. (January 20, 2012, Page 7A)

Lady Bruins eliminate LHS from playoffs

MADISON — Rachel Wenzel knew her team had its work cut out for it well before the team bus arrived on the gated campus of St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Madison on Tuesday.

Her assumptions were correct.

The Lady Bruins were as good as their 16-match winning streak suggested and they did just enough to eliminate Lafayette from the first round of the Class I playoffs with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20) victory. (October 5, 2011, Page 6)

LHS overcomes slow start, tops Senatobia

Rachel Wenzel was  momentarily speechless following her Lady Commodores’ volleyball match against Senatobia on Thursday evening.

After dropping the first two sets, Lafayette rallied to claim a 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 15-9) victory at the LHS gym. (September 2, 2011, Page 9A)

Prep volleyball set to get going

While the area football teams are braving the blistering heat, the prep volleyball squads are busting their tails in their respective gyms preparing for their season openers. While Oxford opens its season this weekend in Jackson at the Set It Off Challenge, Lafayette and Water Valley begin on Tuesday.

Water Valley will be led by first-year coach Casey Clouse, who admits it could be an interesting first season with the Lady Blue Devils. (August 5, 2011, Page 9A)

Lady ‘Dores host camp for community

Community service and softball came together beautifully Thursday morning at Lafayette High. In an attempt to give back to the area each month, first-year coach Katie Moore and her Lady Commodores held a morning-long clinic for 38 elementary students that are enrolled in the Lafayette Summer Camp program.

Moore said that she, her assistants and her players enjoyed interacting with the kids, who took swings off a tee and ran bases among other activities. Moore even joked that the community service could lead to her getting a few players in the future. (July 8, 2011, Page 7A)

Hollis was total package for Lady ‘Dores

Leadership is a quality that all coaches, at any level and in any sport, hope to get from a few key players each season. It’s an intangible that helps a team define the path to victory as well as deal with the agony of defeat.

There are years when leadership is harder to muster for a coach, but when it comes time to compete and play the games, leadership is a must. (more…) (June 16, 2011, Page 1B)