Fair Time AgainOfficials Announce Changes In Event’s 92nd Year

By LAUREN KEATON
Entertainment Writer

East Texans should get ready for a bigger and better East Texas State Fair this year, as officials announced changes for the 92nd edition at a press conference Wednesday at the Activities Building on the fair grounds.

“The fair continues to evolve,” said Fair General Manager John Sykes. “Bottom line, the fair needs to be fun (and) we have rearranged a few things.”

The fair opens on Sept. 20 and will end Sept. 29.

Sykes said the fair’s hours will change, new shows and exhibits will be available for the public to enjoy and the stage – previously located at the back of the fairgrounds – will now be moved front and center.

Fair hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

As usual, there will be no admission charged during lunchtime during the week.

Rea vows to come out fighting in title chase

It is now head down and a relentless push for the championship for Jonathan Rea after a day of mixed fortunes in the latest round of the British Superbike at Cadwell Park yesterday.

“My back is to the wall and I intend to come out fighting over the final two rounds and four races,” said Rea after crashing twice in the opening heat and then winning the final race yesterday.In the first Superbike, Rea crashed after leading then crashed again when lying in eighth place. The winner was Leon Haslam with Rea’s team-mate and championship leader Riyouchi Kiyonari in second place and Tom Sykes third.”What a disaster,” said Rea, who badly needed championship points at this stage for he was a close second to Kiyonari.But Rea crashing out gave Kiyonari a major advantage. Although Rea won the second race, the fact that Kiyonari was runner-up meant that with two rounds to go Kiyonari led on 388 points with Rea on 347.”It’s going to be a hard battle. I know it,” said Rea. “In many ways I missed my chance today, but what can you do. You have to pick the cards as they are dealt. I’ve now got to put it all in over the last four races.”Kiyonari second place behind Rea in the second race consolidated the Japanese rider’s position at the head of the field with Gregorio Lavilla finishing third, Cal Crutchlow fourth, Tom Sykes fifth and Chris Walker sixth.So its all nothing as far as Rea is concerned and who knows what may happen in the last two rounds.Meanwhile, in the Supersport 600 Championship there is a rosier scene for Ulster after Michael Laverty won yesterday’s round and is poised to take the title.It wasn’t such a good day for Ian Lowry who fell off and as a result lost his second place in the championship which now goes to Denis Hobbs who is 37 points behind Laverty.Meanwhile, in the Superstock Championship John Laverty finished second to improve his championship hopes. Over on the Isle of Man, Ryan Farquhar won the Senior Manx Classic with race and lap records and could make it a double when he competes later in the week.

Wildcats ready to turn new Page

Page had two coaching stints at Laurel Valley, starting with his first three seasons as a football coach.

After seven years in Louisburg, N.C., he coached again for the Rams the past six years.

Now, Page will be coaching against his father Sept. 29 at Laurel Valley.

Page already is familiar with Homer-Center because he has been a math teacher there for six years. That helped him in recruiting players for the team once he was named head coach.

“Being in the building, you have more contact with the kids,” Page said. “I have some duties where I see a lot of the older kids throughout the day, and you try to grab them and talk to them.”

Page will have a roster of 37 players for this season, including 13 seniors.

He’s pleased with how the players have made the transition to a new coach.

“I like their attitude,” he said. “They’ve embraced the change; they’ve been good about it. We’ve worked pretty well together.”

Page has made a few changes to the coaching staff, but retained some of the previous assistants, including Rob Nymick, who will continue to work with the defense.

“You expect some road bumps, but those guys have helped to make it as smooth as possible,” Page said. “I think the kids saw a little bit of continuity with the previous guys, and I think that made them feel a little more at ease.”

There also will be continuity with the defensive sets, but some changes will occur on offense. Page said the offensive system will be similar to the one at Laurel Valley and will include three backs in the backfield and a lot of running plays.

“We want to be able to run the football,” Page said. “We want to be able to do both things, but I feel like, in this conference, you’ve got to be able to run the football effectively.”

With a new coach coming in, that has created a lot of competition and shared duties at the running back positions. Seniors Josh Smith and Corey Conti should both see time at tailback, juniors Justin Fess and Eric Peroli will play fullback and three different players could man the swingback position — senior Nathan Sykes, junior Rich Petricig and sophomore Ryan Mlakar.

“We’re trying to get a good rotation of some backs,” Page said. “They’re not very big, but they have some ability and some quickness, and they’ve been working very hard.”

A lot of different players are competing for time at the end positions as well. Senior Adam Koren and juniors Patrick Spaid, Mike Walker and Matt Wilden can all play the tight end spot while seniors Andy Bell and Aaron Stultz can play the split end position.

At quarterback, senior Mike Rummell will battle junior Garrett Sisak, who took the majority of snaps last year.

“They’re both picking things up,” Page said. “We’re running some different things offensively, and they’re both working real hard. They’ll both get opportunities for playing time.”

Along the line, junior Nathan Tedjeske will start at center, seniors Bryant Garvin and Tyler Mester will be at guard and senior Jim Gatskie and sophomore Ryan Henry will play tackle.

The defensive line will feature mostly the same players starting on the offensive line, with the addition of senior Nick Tartalone. The linebacking corps will feature Conti, Fess, Petricig and Mlakar.

The secondary has a lot of experience back with Bell, Peroli, Smith, Stultz, Sykes and senior Louis Caruso.

With a strong combination of senior leadership and talented youth, Page hopes the team can be a factor in the Heritage Conference this year.Homer-Center Wildcats 2007