Reserve Christian is coming back and Pulaski Academy is considering a return to the Rumble on the Ridge tournament next year.
Reserve Christian, from Reserve, La., finished sixth in this year's Rumble, losing to Lanier, Miss. in the fifth-place game.
The Eagles have already committed to be a part of the 2005 tournament field. Of the five Eagle starters, Reserve should return four, including Demond Carter and Kevin Branch.
Also in place for the 2005 Rumble is Raytown South High School from Kansas City, Mo., which produced former Arkansas Razorback center Steve Schall and Huffman High School from Birmingham, Ala.
Raytown South is coached by the legendary Bud Lathrop, who has more than 900 coaching victories.
Possibilities for next year's Rumble include Pulaski Academy, the 2003 tournament champions, Mitchell High School from Memphis, Jonesboro, Searcy and Northside High School from Lafayette, La.
Tournament organizers are also talking with Piney Woods Boarding School from Jackson, Miss.
Poplar Bluff, Mo. defeated Bolivar, Tenn. to win this year's Rumble. Bolivar, which took home the Jimmy Williams Memorial Sportsmanship Award, could return in 2005.
Tournament Founder Bill Baxter said while the main goal is to bring in the very best teams available, the committee is also putting more emphasis on booking teams which always have a following wherever they go.
"We had some good crowds this year and we would like to continue that," Baxter said.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Rolling a 300 game is to a bowler what hitting a hole in one is to a golfer -- the ultimate high.
At age 68, Forrest City's Vernon Manley has experienced that high twice.
There are many bowlers who have never tasted the thrill of rolling a "perfect game" and there are those who probably never will.
Even if Manley never does it again, his two 300's (12 strikes through 12 frames) will remain etched in his memory and in the American Bowling Congress annals, which sanctions such feats.
Manley, who did not take up the sport of bowling until 1977, when he was into his 40s, rolled his first 300 game on Sept. 22, 2000. He rolled his most recent perfect game last week. Both 300 games were bowled at Wynne Lanes. Last week he used a Vortex V2 clean 14 pound ebonite ball.
He says he didn't think much about his first 300 game, even when it became apparent that he was on the way to accomplishing the feat.
"I was just going along and rolling the ball real good," Manley said.
His second 300 was a little different.
"I was so nervous, I was shaking," Manley said. "I rolled every ball in the pocket except for the eighth frame when I threw a Brookland and I thought, 'it's over.'" A Brookland is the term for a ball thrown to the left side of the head pin and in most cases, does not go in for the strike.
Manley was fortunate when his Brookland did go in for the strike with some help from a swisher pin. He went on to complete the perfect game.
"There are more 300 games being thrown now than there were a few years ago, simply because of the technology that is now part of the game," Manley explained. "That technology affects the balls as well as the way they are drilled to fit the hand."
Manley said while bowling keeps a person active, the game is a lot more mental than physical at times.
"It definitely makes you use your mind," Manley added. "You have to work at it because a person's game changes from week to week and from lane to lane. You just try to adjust."
Manley works several nights a week at the game. He bowls for three different league teams on no less than three different nights during the week at different lanes. He bowls singles and doubles games.
He also finds the time to get in tournament play.
"Bowling gives me a lot of enjoyment and I have a lot of fun, because it is a fun sport," Manley said. "But what really gives me pleasure is working with St. Jude Hospital and the Special Olympics."
Manley helped organize the annual St. Jude Trail Ride, held each year at Village Creek State Park and he also plays a major role in making sure the Special Olympics Rodeo is an annual success.
"Those two events are what I really love to do," Manley said.
Each time a 300 game is rolled, the American Bowling Congress gives a gold ring in honor of the event. Manley now has two of those.
Is there a third perfect game in his future?
"I don't know," Manley said. "I never thought I would have one, much less two. You just never know until it happens."
Besides the two 300 games, Manley has also rolled one 290 games, which is also sanctioned by the ABC. During the 290 game, he rolled 17 consecutive strikes through two games.
His average is about 184 at the lanes in Jonesboro and hovers around the 170 mark at the Wynne Lanes.
Manley said that while rolling his second 300 game last week was thrilling and just an "awesome feeling," his overall series (three games) score wasn't that impressive.
"I rolled the 300 in the second game after I threw a 159 in the first game," Manley added. "After rolling the perfect game, I was so excited, the best I could do in the third game was a 139. That's not a very good series to have which includes a 300 game."
Manley is owner,operator of Manley Printing in Forrest City.