By Richard Searles, Contributor to the Journal

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s congressional district map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, a decision that significantly narrows the application of the Voting Rights Act in future redistricting challenges.

The case, Louisiana v. Callais, No. 24-109, was argued Oct. 15, 2025, and decided April 29, 2026. It centered on whether Louisiana’s redrawn congressional map, known as SB8, violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion for the six-justice court, concluding that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-Black district. Because no such requirement existed, the state had no compelling interest to justify the use of race in drawing the map, making it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

The case has its origins in 2022, when a federal judge found Louisiana’s original congressional map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because it did not include a second majority-Black district. The state subsequently drew a new map, SB8, containing such a district. That map was then challenged by a separate group of voters as a racial gerrymander, and a three-judge federal court agreed, finding SB8 violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

The majority held that states can almost never consider race when drawing maps to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which was enacted to protect minority voters who historically faced discrimination in elections.

The ruling came as the court did not specify what should happen next, even as replacing Louisiana’s map before the 2026 midterms presents a logistical challenge. Louisiana’s primary election is scheduled for May 16, two weeks away.

Longer term, the ruling could lead to fewer majority-minority districts in Congress and in state and local governments, potentially reducing the number of non-white elected officials.

The decision is expected to benefit Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as his legislature considers a new map that would add additional Republican congressional seats. It appears unlikely that other states will pursue major map changes before the 2026 midterms, though significant redistricting changes could follow before the 2028 election, particularly in Southern states such as Georgia and Alabama.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who joined the court’s three liberal justices in a 2023 ruling that upheld a longstanding interpretation of the Voting Rights Act in an Alabama redistricting case, joined the majority Wednesday without issuing concurring opinions explaining the shift in their positions.

Louisiana has approximately 30% Black residents among its population and currently sends two Black members to Congress among its six-member House delegation.

Source: U.S. Supreme Court opinion, Louisiana v. Callais, No. 24-109 (April 29, 2026); NBC News; CNN.

Photo: Courtesy of Democracy Docket

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court Mike Spence was honored today as the recipient of the 2026 Liberty Bell Award from the Shreveport Bar Association.

The Liberty Bell Award is presented to individuals who have made notable contributions toward promoting a better understanding of the law and the justice system.

Mike Spence received the recognition during a recent presentation by the Shreveport Bar Association.

The Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (BOHSEP) hosted the 2026 Louisiana Bankers Association Emergency Preparedness Meeting at its office earlier today.

The annual meeting, coordinated by the Louisiana Bankers Association and requested by Education Administrative Assistant Kim Brown, rotates between Bossier and Caddo parishes. The two-hour session brought together representatives from financial institutions, regulators, emergency personnel, law enforcement, the National Weather Service, and armored carriers.

According to BOHSEP Director Ian Snellgrove, 15 attendees participated in the meeting, focusing on strengthening preparedness and coordination across multiple sectors.

Presenters for this year’s meeting included the National Weather Service, the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, and BOHSEP. Snellgrove said continued collaboration among agencies and organizations plays a key role in ensuring the community remains prepared for potential emergencies.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Calvary began the seventh inning Wednesday in the opener of its state quarterfinal series trailing Dunham by one, but the Tigers broke loose for six runs to post a 9-2 surprise over the third-seeded hosts.

No. 11 Dunham (20-17) carries a 1-0 advantage into today’s Game 2 at 3:30 in a Select Division III best-of-three series. If the Cavaliers (23-14) can take that contest, the decisive Game 3 will follow at approximately 6:15.

Sixth-seeded Benton (29-6-2) begins its Non-Select Division I quarterfinal series today at home against No. 14 Destrehan.

Loyola is on the road to Lafayette where the Flyers (21-14), fifth seeds in Select Division II, play a doubleheader today at Acadiana Renaissance School with the if-necessary Game 3 Friday. 

Local teams in LHSAA baseball quarterfinal matchups 

Non-Select Division I 

Benton (6) hosts (14) Destrehan today (6:00), Friday (6:00), if necessary Saturday (noon)

Select Division II

Loyola (5) at (4) Acadiana Renaissance Charter, today (4:30/7:00 DH), if necessary Friday (4:30)

Select Division III 

Wednesday’s score

Dunham 9, Calvary 2 

Today’s games 

Dunham (11) at Calvary (3), Game 2 3:30, Game 3 if necessary, 6:15

JOURNAL SPORTS

Anticipating bad weather in southwest Louisiana Friday, the LHSAA has decided to push back the state softball semifinals and finals in Sulphur to a Saturday-Sunday schedule.

Calvary’s bid for a sixth straight state title will begin on Field 14 at the North Frasch Softball Complex Saturday at noon against fourth-seeded district rival D’Arbonne Woods. The Lady Cavaliers (35-1) posted a 5-3 regular-season road win March 31 over the Lady Timberwolves (21-11).

In the other semifinal, also at noon, third-seeded Notre Dame takes on No. 2 Parkview Baptist, which lost a one-run decision in last year’s state finals to Calvary.

The championship game is Sunday at noon on Field 17.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Considering the rainy weather Wednesday is expected to continue through Friday, the Red River Athletic Conference has delayed the start of its four-team baseball championship hosted by LSU Shreveport until Saturday.

Texas A&M-Victoria dethroned LSUS as the RRAC regular-season champions, going 21-6 in league play while the Pilots were 20-7. LSUS is one spot ahead of A&M-Victoria, standing 12^th in the final NAIA Top 25 poll of the season.

The Jaguars swept the visiting Pilots in a March 27-28 series (8-6, 4-3, 5-2).

The other teams advancing to this weekend with first-round series wins were Our Lady of the Lake, which tied for fourth in the RRAC standings, and sixth-place Texas A&M-Texarkana. LSUS took 2-1 series wins over both teams.

The Pilots are hitting .348 as a team with 56 home runs. Carlos Sanchez is setting the pace for LSUS, hitting .388 with 75 RBI, 17 doubles, 13 triples, 11 home runs, and 35 stolen bases, while Makana Olaso has 15 home runs and 58 RBI. Landon Hunt has a team-best .429 average.

Brock Lucas has anchored the LSUS pitching staff with a 1.93 ERA, 9-2 record and 102 strikeouts in 79.1 innings. David Hankins is 7-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 55 strikeouts.

The revised schedule for the double-elimination tournament at Pilot Field:

Saturday

Game 1: Texas A&M-Victoria (35-13) vs. Our Lady of the Lake (34-16), 1 p.m.

Game 2: LSU Shreveport (38-12) vs. Texas A&M-Texarkana (29-23), 5 p.m. 

Sunday

Game 3: L1 vs. L2, 11 a.m.

Game 4: W1 vs. W2, 3 p.m.

Game 5: W3 vs. L4, 7 p.m.

Monday

Championship Game: W4 vs. W5, 1 p.m.

Championship Game 2 (if necessary): 5 p.m.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Just about every meet, it seems the Northwestern State sprinters break a school record.

That happened again Saturday — and this time, it was a record that had stood for 50 years.

Will Achee, a sophomore from Bossier City’s Parkway High School, ran a blistering 45.81 in the 400-meter dash, breaking the school record of Andrei Moore that was set April 30, 1976.

That school record was the highlight of NSU’s showing at the LSU Alumni Gold meet at Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

“Overall, it was a great day,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “The weather held out for us, and we had a phenomenal race. Charlie (Bartholomew, 45.82) was right behind Will, so those guys to both break one of the oldest school records on our record board was a phenomenal achievement.

The Demons took third (Achee), fourth (Bartholomew) and sixth (Desmond Duncan, in a personal best 46.21) in a deep 400 meter dash field.

In the field events, Evangel sophomore Roy Morris, an All-American as a freshman, finished second in the men’s long jump, recording a jump of 24-7.25.

Please vote Yes for Constitutional Amendment 5 on the ballot for May 16. The amendment raises the age of retirement for Judges in Louisiana to 75 years, from the current 70-year retirement mandate. The reasons are simple.

• The voters are best suited to decide if a candidate should continue to serve.
• Experienced, highly qualified Judges are being forced into retirement.
• People are living longer productive lives and working longer.
• No other political office has a mandatory retirement age.
• By Supreme Court oversight, incompetent Judges can already be removed.

While the amendment does not put an end to what can only be called age bias, it does soften its effect. Voting Yes to raise the age is simply the right thing to do. In this election cycle alone, some 60 Judges of the approximately 360 in the State are being forced to retire. While some are doing so voluntarily, many others have an earnest desire to continue to serve the people of this great state. They should have the opportunity to do so, and it should be up to the voters to decide if they can continue, not some arbitrary age limit.

Early voting starts May 2 and ends May 9.

For more information go to http://www.yeson5for75.com

Thank you for your consideration.

Judge Van H. Kyzar

Tressie Mabel Robinette Wynn Sepeda, 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 25, 2026. She was born on December 18, 1938, in Bakersfield, California to Harold Robinette, Sr. and Grace Odell Mancil.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church, 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, 307 Hammond St. in Zwolle, Louisiana. A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Rd. in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Father Mark Watson.

Tressie was a woman of strength and dignity, an example to all who knew her. She was an avid reader and a talented seamstress who loved sewing. Her faith was a guiding presence in her life. 

She is survived by her son, Bruce Wynn (Anita); granddaughter/daughter, Dawn Castie (Jeff); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She also loved Ron, Don, James, and Angela Sepeda, as her own. She is also survived by her sisters, Peggy Burkett of Hall Summit, LA; Lanell Hartley of Middleburg, FL; Rita Hernandez of Pace, FL; and Dana Robinett of Pace, FL; and her brothers, Harold Robinett Jr. (Diane), and Douglas Robinett. Tressie was preceded in death by her husband, Pete Sepeda; her daughter, Brenda Williams; her sons, Brett Wynn and Richard Wynn; stepson, Mike Sepeda; sisters, Marydell Grubb and Neva Bonhomme; and brothers, Danny Robinette, Pat Mancil, and Tommy Robinette.

Tressie will be greatly missed, but the family will always love and cherish her memory.

Mary Helen Sessum Hawkins went to her heavenly resting place on Saturday, April 25 2026, while in the comfort of her home in Savannah, GA.

Mary was born in Vivian, LA on September 14, 1947. She was a 33 year employee of Lucent Technologies. After retiring, she and her husband moved to Savannah to be close to their son and family.

Mary and Jerry were avid round dancers, but what she was best known for was her love of sewing and quilting. To say she was a master of her craft is an understatement. She always made sure every stitch was perfect and sewn with love. She loved teaching classes and sharing her knowledge and skills with others.

She developed many close friendships with the ladies in her sewing community, and with her church family at the Sanctuary of Savannah. She always spoke so fondly of her friends, and appreciated the calls and visits as her health declined.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Jerry Sr; her parents, Robert and Lavern Sessum; one brother, Bobby Sesum; and one sister, Joyce McGee.

Mary is survived by her son and daughter in law, Jerry and Kelly Hawkins of Rocky Ford, GA; two grandsons, Thaddaus (Dawn) Deppen and Jordan Hawkins; three great-granddaughters Remy, Daliya, and Hazelee Deppen, and one sister Judy Inman.

Per Mary’s request, the family will hold a private memorial service at a later date to honor her. We appreciate all of the cards, calls, and messages, and ask that you continue to keep the family in your prayers.

In a cute and interesting way of admitting how he dukes it out daily with his ego, our funny friend said, “You know, I’m not much, but I’m all I think about.” 

Laugh every time that crosses my feeble mind. So true of me.  What an impressive bundle of ego and selfishness. I’m not much, but I’m all I think about.

Such is the human condition. We are born selfish, waited on hand and foot. Now and then, a minor miracle takes place and some of us get better. At least a little better. Maybe for a time, maybe for a lifetime.

With graduation looming, a good rule for this spring’s class, for any class, for any of us still enrolled in this School of Life, would be the opposite of anything close to a grandiose attitude.

A great graduation gift would be Golden . . . “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That kind of a deal.

Sounds trite, right?  But so do reminders like, “Say please!” and “Wash your hands before dinner” and “Remember to say your prayers.”  (When all else fails, call on the classics, right?

Say you’re sorry and mean it. Clean up your own backyard. Keep short accounts with others. “. . . in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

If I were giving the commencement address today — we would both be shocked. All we know for sure is it would be short. Extremely. Any commencement speaker could do worse than offer these four pieces of encouragement. Be kind. Get cleaned up. Spend time with your Creator.  Treat others as you wish to be treated.

So pick up the rhythm guitar for a change. Let someone else have the mic. God can work a spotlight. He knows when to put it on you. In the meantime, enjoy his applause for you and his delight in you when you ask, “How can I help make the road less long for someone today?”

Christ really does want to make us a little more like Himself each day and to educate us in the School of Him. Why?  Because of what he did to save us from ourselves, to show us the joy in him available when we move away from me-centeredhearts and closer to the One who lives for “the least of these.”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

A stretch of active weather is expected across northwest Louisiana as Caddo and Bossier parishes move through multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms midweek, followed by a noticeable cooldown heading into the weekend.

Wednesday will feature mostly cloudy skies across both parishes with a morning chance of showers and thunderstorms. Storm activity is expected to become more widespread during the afternoon hours. Temperatures will trend cooler than recent days, with highs in the mid to upper 70s. Winds will shift from light southwest or west flow in the morning to northerly flow by afternoon, helping usher in slightly cooler air.

By Wednesday night, showers are expected to continue, with a lingering chance of thunderstorms as moisture remains in place. Overnight lows will settle into the upper 50s to around 60 degrees, marking the start of a cooler pattern.

Thursday brings continued unsettled conditions with mostly cloudy skies and isolated to scattered showers possible throughout the day. A few thunderstorms cannot be ruled out. High temperatures will remain subdued, generally in the upper 60s to around 70. Northeast winds will pick up slightly at times, with occasional gusts adding to the cooler feel.

Thursday night keeps the chance of showers in place, with additional rounds of rain likely developing. Lows will drop into the mid 50s as cooler air becomes more established across the region.

Friday looks to be the most impactful weather day in the forecast period, with widespread showers expected and a chance for thunderstorms during the afternoon. Conditions will stay cool for late April, with highs ranging from the upper 50s in Caddo Parish to around 60 in Bossier Parish. Rain chances remain very high throughout the day.

Rain will likely continue into Friday night, though coverage may gradually decrease after sunset. Some lingering showers could persist into the overnight hours, with lows holding near 50 degrees.

A noticeable improvement arrives Saturday as drier air moves in. Skies will be partly cloudy with highs recovering into the upper 60s in Caddo Parish and near 70 in Bossier Parish. Saturday night turns mostly clear and cooler, with lows falling into the mid 40s.

Sunday brings a return to more typical spring conditions with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid 70s across the region. Dry weather continues into Monday with sunshine and highs in the upper 70s.

By Tuesday, cloud cover begins to increase again with a slight chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms, though most areas should remain dry. Highs will climb back into the lower 80s as warmer air begins to return.

Students at W.T. Lewis Elementary School were recognized during a recent ceremony marking their completion of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, hosted in partnership with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The event brought together students, families, and school staff to celebrate the program’s conclusion, which focuses on helping students develop decision-making skills and make positive life choices.

The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by 5th grade student Levi Harkins, followed by remarks from School Resource Officer Sarah Laurent and school leadership. Bossier Schools Assistant Superintendent Andrea Spinney spoke to students about using the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model in their daily lives, while D.A.R.E. Coordinator SRO Deputy Cedric Payne encouraged students to carry the program’s lessons forward as they grow.

Several students were recognized for outstanding essays, including Benton Ocmand, Katinie Goodrum, Christopher Woodard, and Carmen Moreno. Woodard also read his winning essay aloud during the ceremony.

Levi Harkins received the Daren the Lion Award, recognizing leadership and positive influence among his peers. Students also performed a musical selection, including the D.A.R.E. Song, under the direction of music teacher Katie Muslow.

School leaders praised students for their effort and participation, and officials with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office extended congratulations to all participants for completing the program and representing their school and families with pride.

By: Jason Pugh, Associate Athletic Director for External Relations

NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State athletic department and Rhodes Properties and Development have partnered to create a unique opportunity for fans and supporters of Demon athletics.

The two entities have combined to present the 2026 Rhodes Properties and Development Demon Dream Home giveaway – a raffle that will see the winner collect a brand-new Rhodes-built home in the Hidden Oak subdivision in Natchitoches, located along Louisiana Highway 3191.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $100 each beginning May 4 and can be purchased through Northwestern athletes or online through www.NSUDemons.com. The live drawing will take place Nov. 6 at Riverside Reserve in Natchitoches with additional prizes awarded at the event.

Proceeds from the raffle will go toward the Northwestern athletic department in support of its student-athletes.

“Working hand-in-hand with Rhodes Properties and Development to bring the Demon Dream Home to life was an easy decision,” Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. “Their support of Northwestern State athletics never has been in question, but it has reached another level with this partnership. We are far beyond grateful for Rhodes Properties and Development for their input and expertise in this process.”

The home, valued at $265,000, is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,450-square foot heated building in one of Natchitoches’ newest subdivisions that Rhodes Properties and Development and Rhodes Realty began developing in early 2026. Hidden Oak subdivision is located near Sibley Lake, west of Louisiana Highway 1 in Natchitoches.

“We at Rhodes Properties and Development, alongside Rhodes Realty, understand the importance of the Northwestern State athletic program to the Natchitoches community,” Rhodes Properties and Development owners and operators James and Justin Rhodes said. “We believe in the vision of Northwestern State athletics and where it is going. We presented this opportunity to Kevin as our way to support nearly 400 student-athletes as well as the coaches and staff members with whom we have developed relationships. The vendors who will help us bring this home to life share that same vision. Being involved in all facets of this project allows us to continue to demonstrate our commitment to Northwestern State and Natchitoches.”

Purchase Raffle Tickets: https://nsudemons.com/

JOURNAL SPORTS

Local action in the LHSAA baseball playoff quarterfinals begins today, weather permitting, with third-seeded Calvary at home against No. 11 Dunham starting a Select Division III best-of-three series.

Calvary is 23-13 after a pair of shutout wins in the regional round over Fisher last week.

Benton’s Tigers (29-6-2), seeded sixth in Non-Select Division I, are home beginning Thursday against No. 14 Destrehan.

Loyola’s Flyers (21-14), fifth seeds in Select Division II, play a doubleheader Thursday at Acadiana Renaissance School with the if-necessary Game 3 Friday.

Benton and Loyola took Game 3 wins to capture their regional round series last week.

Local teams in LHSAA baseball quarterfinal matchups

Non-Select Division I

Benton (6) hosts (14) Destrehan Thursday (6:00), Friday (6:00), if necessary Saturday (noon)

Select Division II

Loyola (5) at (4) Acadiana Renaissance Charter, Thursday (4:30/7:00 DH), if necessary Friday (4:30)

Select Division III

Calvary (3) hosts (11) Dunham today (6:00), Thursday (3:30/6:15 DH if necessary)

JOURNAL SPORTS

Chloe Larry and Mikaylah Williams teamed up in an extremely successful run for the Parkway High girls basketball program, and now they’ll play together again at LSU.

Williams will enter her senior season with the Tigers as the team’s undisputed leader with a long resume of accomplishment at LSU.

Larry – a pivotal figure in two Parkway state championships — was announced Tuesday as a new addition to the program, with two seasons of eligibility left after transferring from Tennessee Tech.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey announced Larry’s addition to the team.

“I’m excited to welcome Chloe to LSU,” Mulkey said. “She brings an incredible work ethic, strong leadership, and a natural ability to elevate those around her. I have no doubt she will work tirelessly to represent the purple and gold with pride.”

In her two seasons at Tennessee Tech, Larry had immediate impact as one of the best freshmen in the Ohio Valley Conference, Larry was named to the 2024-25 OVC All-Newcomer Team after averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest in her opening campaign.

She was OVC Freshman of the Week four times through the season.

Larry made 30 starts in 31 appearances. LSU coaches said Larry has the ability to get her shot off at all three levels, including behind the 3-point arc. In her first collegiate season, Larry knocked down 35-of-98 (35.7 percent) from distance.

As a sophomore, she started 26 times in 27 appearances and averaged 13.6 points per game. Larry was named to the All-OVC second team, ranking ninth in the conference in scoring, fifth in free throw percentage and seventh in 3-pointers made.

Larry combined with Williams to lead Parkway to the 2023 LHSAA Non-Select Division I state championship.

In the following year when Williams moved on to the collegiate ranks, Larry guided the Lady Panthers to a second consecutive state title. She hit a 60-foot 3-pointer to win a semifinal battle in overtime and was a repeat All-State pick after earning state tournament Outstanding Player honors.

The 5-8 guard was a very accomplished three-sport athlete at Parkway, also starring in softball and track and field.

JOURNAL SPORTS

MONROE – Senior Alexander Jayroe of Evangel prevailed in a tight second set after taking control with an impressive first set to upset the defending champion and win the LHSAA Division III boys singles championship Tuesday.

Jayroe won 6-2, 7-5 over St. Charles Catholic’s Brody Matherne in the LHSAA tennis tournament hosted by ULM.

Jayroe earned his spot in the championship match with a grueling 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 semifinal victory over Arjun Walvekar of Newman.

His triumph helped the ECA boys finish fourth in team standings. Calvary’s girls were fourth in their division.

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Assistant AD for Communications

A strong second half of the conference season has lifted the Centenary baseball team into the mix at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament beginning Thursday at La Moderna Field in Cleburne, Texas.

The No. 6 seed Diamond Gents (21-19 overall, 16-14 in the SCAC) will face No. 3 seed Concordia University 25-15, 18-12 SCAC) in the opening game of the tournament at 11 Thursday morning. It is a double-elimination bracket.

Centenary clinched a berth into the SCAC Tournament and completed a three-game series sweep over the University of the Ozarks Eagles with a 16-6 run-rule victory in seven innings on Saturday at Shehee Stadium.

The Maroon and White opened the series with a 6-1 win last Thursday night and followed that with a 15-1 win in seven innings on Friday.

The Diamond Gents, who finished 10-6 at home, rebounded from an 0-3 start to conference play to go 16-11 the rest of the way including winning five of its final six conference series.

Freshman right-hander Garritt Romero was named the SCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week on Monday after he tossed his first-career complete game in Thursday’s win, which set the tone for the Diamond Gents’ series sweep. He allowed just one earned run in his nine innings of work on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. He faced 32 batters and threw just 76 pitches with 49 for strikes.

SOFTBALL: The Ladies (16-22, 14-16 SCAC) have qualified for the SCAC Tournament for the 10^th season in a row and will be the No. 6 seed in the event and will face No. 3 seed Concordia University on Friday at 1:30.

The tournament is set to begin on Friday and will run through Sunday in Abilene, Texas, on the campus of McMurry University.

The Ladies were swept by the University of the Ozarks this past weekend on the road as they fell 3-2 in the series finale on Sunday preceded by a doubleheader  sweep at the hands of the Eagles on Saturday, falling 7-3 and 4-1. 

TRACK & FIELD: The Ladies and Gents capped action in the 2026 SCAC Championships on Sunday in Abilene on the McMurry campus.

The Gents finished ninth with 15 points and the Ladies finished 11^th with three points. The following earned top 10 finishes in their respective events during the weekend:

Sophomore Dwayne Mills Jr. took eighth in the 100-meter dash (10.96);

Sophomore Clayton Hancock, freshman Malcolm Pierce, Bryan Washington, and freshman Zack Wroten ran a time of 3:23.51 in the 4 x 400-meter relay to finish fourth;

Freshman Michael Cunningham captured Centenary’s top finish, fourth in the discus (139-3), and 10^th in the javelin as he threw 133-9;

Sophomore Jay Scott earned seventh in the long jump (21-8 3/4);

Sophomore Grayson Shugart finished sixth in the triple jump (33-8). Sophomore Gabrielle Malagarie finished ninth in the high jump (4-7 3/4).

STUNT: The Centenary STUNT team finished its second season in historic fashion at the National Tournament in Nashville.

USA Cheer hosted the STUNT National Championship Tournament at Lipscomb University. The Ladies entered the tournament as the sixth seed after finishing their regular season with an 8-9 record. 

Six teams were welcomed into the National Tournament for DIII; Muskingum University (1), George Fox (2), Saint Mary’s College (3), Misercordia (4), Maryville College (5), and Centenary (6). The Ladies held the number five ranking for five weeks straight in the regular season and dropped to number six one week prior to the tournament announcement. Final rankings will take place following the tournament conclusion.

“I am extremely proud of this team and the grit that they showed all season,” said head coach Kaylee King. “To make it to the national championship tournament in only their second season, says a lot about the drive and determination that they possess. This season has been a roller coaster of not only emotions but physical abilities, and there were times where we had to question whether we would even qualify.”

LACROSSE: The Gents fell27-4 to the Colorado College Tigers in their season finale on Saturday at Washburn Field in Colorado Springs.

The Gents finished with a 10-4 record, their most successful one in program history, while the Tigers improved to 12-2. 

Centenary finished as one of the top offensive teams in the country this season with 246 goals, 150 assists, and 396 points as the Maroon and White averaged just under 18 goals per game as six players scored 10+ goals each this season.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu