Dexter, Missouri - If you look around these days at MMA teams throughout southeast Missouri you will find different sizes, areas of expertise, training methods, and records. In one respect, Dark Horse Mixed Martial Arts is no different than any other team from the area.
Dark Horse has around 10 active members. They train three days a week and focus on both their stand-up and ground games. They look to their coach for leadership and have a very strong work ethic.
What makes Dark Horse special is that they take that work ethic one step further. Joe Davis, coach of Dark Horse, not only puts a strong emphasis on coming to class three times a week, he encourages his team to put in the extra mile.
Athletes learn technique and put in a tremendous amount of sparring and rolling time. Dark Horse fighters have an excellent reputation for outstanding cardio work-outs as well.
They have earned this reputation because of the extra effort and work they put in taking cardio classes, running, weight training, and fight camps. It is through this extra work and dedication that Dark Horse has earned another distinct characteristic.
Out of the last four fighters on the team who have completed their first full-contact MMA match, four of those fighters have come home with a win!
To have a small MMA team and earn four wins in their amateur début is a feat that any team would be proud of and they are very proud to a part of Dark Horse. It shows tremendous dedication by the fighters, but by the coach as well as the entire team and management staff.
On March 21, 2015 at the Prime FS event in St. Louis, Missouri, Tina Brown, fought in the 135 lb weight class won her match in the first round with a TKO in 2:07 time.
Michael Wind followed on April 4, 2015 fighting at 170 lbs in Paragould, Arkansas by Unanimous Decision after three rounds of dominating his opponent.
Lance Hoffmeister and Kara McSpadden fought at the Brawl Inc. event in Branson, Missouri on May 23, 2015. Hoffmeister weighing in at 165 lb weight class won his match in the first round at 2:12 by Americana Submission. McSpadden fighting at 125 lb weight won her fight in the third round by the Rear Naked Choke Submission.
These four fighters along with their lead man, Frank Cortez, and the rest of the team who have yet to fight, make up the Dark Horse team. Cortez has a record of 9-3.
These athletes have shown hard work, dedication, and team unity and that is what makes Dark Horse who they are as MMA Fighters. This is only the beginning for them and what they may accomplish in the future. It’s going to be BIG!
Dexter, Missouri – The boys of winter took time out of their summer schedule to participate in the 80+ team Rib City Boys’ Basketball Shootout in Dexter this past week.
Athletes from Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri descended upon Dexter, Bernie, Essex, and Bloomfield gyms to battle against the best of the best.
The Charleston Bluejays defeated Ridgeway, Tennessee 43-40 in their semifinal and West Plains, Missouri 50-45 in the Championship of the 7-team bracket played on Court #2 of the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.
Scott County Central Braves beat Mexico, Missouri in their quarterfinal, then defeated Dyer County, Tennessee in their semifinal before winning their Championship game against Herrin, Illinois 58-42 in their 8-team bracket on Court #1 of the Bearcat Event Center.
Calvert City, Kentucky beat Greene County Tech of Paragould, Arkansas 58-32 in the semifinal and Trigg County, Kentucky in the Championship game 44-32 in their 8-team bracket played on Court #3 of the Bearcat Event Center.
The last boys basketball Rib City Shootout of the summer will take place on July 10th and 11th.
There is also a girls basketball Rib City Shootout slated for July 17th and 18th.
Dexter, Missouri – Starla Pulley, head softball coach for Dexter Senior High School brought top coaches from Murray State University to a one-day softball camp held on Monday in Dexter.
Softball may be a spring sport at Dexter High School; however these girls have been training hard all summer long in preparation for their upcoming season.
Coaches from Murray State University were on hand Monday for the one-day camp for softball athletes from Dexter, Puxico, Malden, Bell City, and Sikeston. Twenty-three athletes attended the camp in Dexter.
“This is our first time hosting a collegiate camp,” stated Pulley. “I am sure we will host another one.”
Each athlete experienced an intensive program allowing them to improve their game. Each player received individual instruction on batting skills like stance improvement, hit and runs, pull hitting, bunting and hitting for power, pitching skills that included pitching motions, release points, and communication between the pitcher and catcher, fielding skills for catching pop-flies and groundballs, performing relay throws and turning double-plays.
It was a very hot day in the Heartland and the girls learned about hydrating, drinking plenty of liquids as well as having a balanced meal during their work-out.
“The girls had a great time,” commented Pulley. “They all left learning something new to make their game and respective team better.”
“In the fall I am hoping to have them back and work with our high school team as a whole to work on situational plays and individual positions,” continued Pulley.
The Dexter Lady Softball Cats are slated to play Oran on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at the softball field on Grant St. across from Keller Public Library. The public is encouraged to attend and enjoy an afternoon of softball fun!
“We are playing more summer ball and having camps to improve our program. It is a work in progress. The girls are invested and working very hard, that’s always nice to see. WE have a lot of younger girls interested in softball and it’s important to keep young talent interested and love the game. This will help build our program.”
Dexter, Missouri - High Power Soccer Camp hosted by Risen Church in Dexter is back for its 7th year! More than 100 children and adults participated last year and this year will be even more exciting.
All boys and girls ages 5-10 (or entering 6th grade) are invited to come out July 26th - 30th at East City Park for soccer, food, music, bible lessons and lots of fun!
Camp runs nightly from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
No special equipment is required just clothes to play in, tennis shoes and lots and lots of energy. Parents are encouraged to stick around for the fun as well.
Registration is FREE! Please register by July 10th for a FREE High Power Soccer Camp T-shirt by clicking HERE.
For more information about the camp click HERE.
Risen Church is located at 15 East St, Francis Street in Dexter. Contact them at 573-624-4641 or send an email to office@wearerisen.org. You can also find them on Facebook or check out their website www.wearerisen.org.
Perryville, Missouri - The 7th Annual Perryville Volleyball Subway Shootout is slated to begin Friday, June 19th. There will be 33 varsity teams and 27 junior varsity/freshman teams competing on Friday and Saturday.
Each team should have 3 pool play games and then be placed into a pre-determined tournament bracket. Pool play results have no bearing on tournament placement.
All games will start with a 4-4 score with all games going to 25 points on the scoreboard. Tournament play matches will be best two of three games. The first two games of tournament play will be to 21 points (25 points on the scoreboard). If a third game is tournament play is needed, it will be to 11 points (15 points on the scoreboard). There will be no cap on any game. Must win by 2 points.
Warm up will be 6 total minutes. Each team will have 3 minutes total to use the court for hitting and serving. One time out per game, per team.
The High School Gym is located on College Street. From Highway 55 take Exit 129 and go past McDonald's. Make a Right turn on St. Joseph Street and then a right turn on Rolla. Turn Right on College to get to High School. Turn left on State, left on Schindler to get to Elementary Gym. The Middle School Gym is located behind the High School on Campus Drive.
The varsity teams will play on Friday with junior varsity and freshman teams competing on Saturday.
Dexter varsity volleyball Cats plays Arcadia Valley at 9:15 a.m. at the Perry Park Center court #2.
They then play at 11:30 a.m. at the same location against Poplar Bluff.
At 2:00 p.m. they play Liberty Mt. View at the same location.
Then the Dexter Lady Cats will play Perryville at 3:30 p.m. at the Perryville High School in tournament play.
For Tournament Brackets on Friday CLICK HERE!
