SPORTS - WRESTLING
THE STORY OF BILLY SHANE KERR
Sunday, November 22, 2009
While the tape holding down a newspaper clipping on his desk is torn and withered, El Reno High Scho... read more
WRESTLING KICKS OFF OPEN SEASON
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Following the first open tournament of the wrestling season, El Reno High School head coach Shane Ke... read more
MOGG SCORES ALL-STATE WIN OVER TULSA UNION GRAPPLER
Sunday, August 02, 2009
TULSA – Austin Mogg added yet another chapter to his storied high school career here last week, addi... read more
HILEMAN COMES FULL CIRCLE WITH ALL-STATE NOD
Sunday, July 26, 2009
When Brandon Hileman steps on the mat Tuesday night for the 2009 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-St... read more
MOGG HOPES TO CARRY ON EHS TRADITION AT ALL-STATE
Sunday, July 26, 2009
On the silver screen it was a mysterious baseball field rising out of the corn fields of Iowa that u... read more
EL RENO MISSING SUMMER WRESTLERS
Sunday, June 07, 2009
A sense of disappointment could be heard in Shane Kerr's voice as he talked about El Reno High Schoo... read more
El Reno lands two on all-state team
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Though neither knew for sure how the future would unfold, El Reno High School wrestling coach Shane ... read more
El Reno matmen second in bittersweet state tourney
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY – It was a bittersweet ending for Shane Kerr's first year at El Reno High School as hi... read more
Mogg proves experience pays off
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY – If there was ever a classic example of the old saying, “If at first you don't succee... read more
Indians second in regional race
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
EDMOND – El Reno High School wrestling coach Shane Kerr scoffs at the old saying about “No prize for... read more
Six wreslters headed toward state
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
EDMOND – The quest to join the elite club of four-time state champions remains intact for the Dauphi... read more
Wrestlers stunned at dual state
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY – The meet in which it ruled for over a decade has now become an albatross around the ... read more
Wrestlers prepare for dual state run
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Just three short years ago, Austin Mogg stood next to the mat weeping after Catoosa dethroned El Ren... read more
El Reno wrestling fourth in Suburban Conference Duals
Sunday, February 08, 2009
“It's not acceptable.” These were the first words uttered by El Reno High School wrestling coach Sh... read more
Indians matmen fourth in PC North event
Sunday, February 08, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY – El Reno High School's wrestling team placed six of the eight matmen taken to the 200... read more
El Reno seventh in tough OCU Nationals
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
At first glance, El Reno High School wrestling coach Shane Kerr was not happy with his team's sevent... read more
Indians win District mat title
Sunday, January 25, 2009
GUTHRIE - Picking up valuable bonus points from its underclassmen, El Reno High School's wrestling t... read more
El Reno grapplers down Jets
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
OKLAHOMA CITY – Senior Brandon Hileman pinned James West in the final match as the top-ranked El Ren... read more
El Reno matmen earn top 10 at Geary
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
While tweaking remains to be done at key weights, especially in the consolation rounds, El Reno High... read more
Wrestlers place in Reno rumble
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
El Reno High School wrestling coach Shane Kerr had never been to the famed Reno Tournament of Champi... read more
Little League wrestling earns medals
Sunday, December 21, 2008
El Reno's Little League wrestling program churned out two more solid performances at the recent Gear... read more
Wrestling fifth in Union Tourney
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
TULSA - Rolling off its first dual victory of the season, El Reno High School's wrestling team took ... read more
Kerr ready to restore tradition
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Shortly after being named head coach, Shane Kerr walked down the stairs leading to the El Reno High ... read more
THE STORY OF BILLY SHANE KERR
BY GLEN MILLER
Edition:Sunday, November 22, 2009

While the tape holding down a newspaper clipping on his desk is torn and withered, El Reno High School wrestling coach Shane Kerr still draws inspiration from its words.
It's a story about a boy named Kaleb, born two months premature, who spent the first five weeks of his life in an intensive care unit at OU Medical Center.
While the story is not uncommon, the little boy has a special place in Kerr's heart. The struggles of that tiny 2-pound, 15-ounce child and the love and support shown by friends, family, his church and even strangers in a time of need still brings tears to Kerr's eyes.
The same eyes, which for the past six years have watched Kaleb Duncan Kerr grow from that ICU unit to a high-spirited grade schooler, now face another challenge.
Kerr was scheduled to undergo surgery Friday to remove a tennis-ball sized tumor on the right side of his brain. The mass, said Kerr, is pushing on the ocular nerves of his right eye – forcing blurred and slight loss of vision at times.
“Things are a little crazy now in the Kerr family. It reminds me of about six years ago when they put our son in the hospital. That's the closest I've come to something like this, and I think that was even tougher then than it is now,” Kerr said.
The mass on his brain was found shortly after Kerr returned from coaching his team at the Lawton MacArthur Open on Nov. 7.
“Connor Howard said my eyes were crossing and I didn't notice it. I actually made him do 25 pushups because he kept saying it and looking at me funny,” Kerr said.
Kerr went to a local optometrist, who quickly referred him to a specialist in Oklahoma City.
“I knew it was kind of bad because everyone was acting very strict and stern about things,” Kerr said. “They did a bunch of tests there and then sent me to a guy in Oklahoma City. He did an MRI and then they told me I had a tumor the size of a tennis ball.”
The hopscotch between the local doctor and the news from the neurologist, in a span of just three days, caught Kerr by surprise.
“I wasn't out of the parking lot from the MRI when the retina specialist called and told me about the tumor and said we were operating on Friday.
“I hugged my wife because she started bawling. I knew that people cared about me, but it's been awesome the way people have been calling and being supportive and praying for me,” Kerr said.
Kerr said his faith and the prayers of everyone around his family has allowed him to take a somewhat light-hearted approach to a serious situation.
“The way I'm looking at this is that things happen for a reason and hopefully we can make it a positive reason,” Kerr said. “I'm going to joke and have fun. If the good Lord takes me, he takes me, if he doesn't, I'm still going to make jokes and have fun in life.”
Kerr puts the joking aside when it comes to thanking the people that have shown support.
“I want to thank everyone for praying for me and my family,” Kerr said.

Keeping a clean head

Kerr wanted his team to feel a part of the situation, so he allowed them to shave his head. He now sports a low-cut Mohawk in the middle and shaved on the sides.
“I keep scratching my head, but I think it's the short haircut,” said Kerr, who said he cannot feel the tumor. “Some people say they can see a bump on the side of my head, but I can't see anything.”
Kerr said the procedure would take close to three hours and that he would be in recovery for three to four days.
“The doctor said it was a routine surgery for him,” Kerr said. “I sort of gave him a look and he said, 'I know it's not routine for you.'' It seems about as good of news as it can be from my end.”
Kerr said surgeons will make a reversed question mark incision starting near the right temple, reaching back around the ear and ending around his forehead.
“After that I'm not sure what they are doing to get to the tumor,” Kerr said.
The 35-year-old Kerr, who has never been hospitalized before and doesn't have a family physician, said he doesn't know how the tumor formed. He said the doctors tell him the mass has not fingered out and that it doesn't look to be cancer.
“They said it does not have cancerous characteristics,” Kerr said. “They are not ruling it out until they can get it out and run the tests.”

Reason to be thankful

Kerr will miss the large Thanksgiving feast held every year by his mother's side of the family in Minco.
“Hopefully I can get someone to bring me up a plate,” Kerr said.
However, by catching the tumor in time so it can be removed has left him plenty of reason to be thankful.
“I know it sounds weird, but things like this are good for a person. It makes you realize that losing that dual or your schedule at work is really not all that important. It makes you realize the people around you and that you need to cherish them and be a little more thankful for them,” Kerr said.

Time away from the mats

Kerr jokes that he will be back to work in a week, but coaches and wrestlers are leaning toward the first of the year.
“They say I will be off work for three to four weeks. I can have no contact sport or live wrestling for a year, which is the really long part,” Kerr said, who often gets on the mats with his wrestlers to teach techniques.
While Kerr is on leave, assistant coach Jay Howard will assume the head coaching duties. Joe Dauphin will be the head junior high coach.



“I just want to be coaching. I will miss about a quarter of the season, but the early part of the season is really important,” Kerr said.
Plans are in place to keep Kerr informed about dual and tournament results, but that's not what he wants.
“The live wrestling is not that big of a deal. But being here and coaching is what I want to be doing. I don't want to have to call up and see how they are doing. You know what it''s like to see Cory Dauphin wrestle, I don't want to be sitting in my house thinking about it. That's what's going to be eating me up the most, not being around the guys,” Kerr said.

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Upcoming Events
Family Game Night
Friday, November 20, 2009
An evening of fun with video games, board games, door prizes, and raffles. El Reno elementary school....read more
Otis Watkins Band Performs in El Reno
Friday, November 20, 2009
OTIS WATKINS TO PERFORM IN EL RENO The VFW Post 382 of El Reno will host the Otis Watkins band in t....read more
Christmas On The Western Frontier
Thursday, December 03, 2009
An old fashioned Christmas parade, trolley rides, Santa, strolling carolers, Christmas treats, light....read more
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Breakfast with Santa-Saturday December 5th 8:00-11:00 in the Sacred Heart School Gym. $5 admission f....read more
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