Cyclone Nation Online Version 2013 by Jeff Terry

TRIPP CROOM

NATION

THE MAGAZINE

CYCLONE

DECEMBER 2013

6A Individual State Golf Champion

CROSS COUNTRY 6A State Runner-Up

ARSENAL SOCCER State League Champs

ACADEMICS • ARTS • ATHLETICS • ALUMNI

n a h t e r o M just

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WELCOME LETTER Welcome to ‘Cyclone Nation the Magazine”, your official source for all things Cyclone! Cyclone Nation provides all Cyclones, family, friends, and the entire Russellville community with a comprehensive look into all the positives that Russellville High School has to offer from its athletic prowess to its academic achievement. Whether it is the Cyclones performing in the “Center for the Arts”, floating the Buffalo River, cheering at the top of their lungs, campaigning for student government, setting state records for test scores, or scoring the game winning point, we will be here to get you the information that you need to know both on-line and in print. Through the years Russellville High School has a distinguished list of Alumni who have gone on to have outstanding careers in their chosen fields. We will strive to highlight and recognize their achievements while focusing on the students who are the future of the Cyclone Nation. As fellow Cyclones we should all be proud of the rich tradition of Russellville High School and we should also be honored to carry on that tradition for generations to come. On behalf of “Cyclone Nation”, welcome to the first print edition of Cyclone Nation the Magazine. Be sure to join us on line at www.cyclonenation.us and find us on Facebook - so you too can get first hand news, information, & most of all, hear of the achievements of those in the “Cyclone Nation”!

CYCLONE

NATION

www.cyclonenation.us Publisher

Jeff Terry thewelcomemat1@mac.com

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Disclaimer:

Cyclone Nation Magazine. 2013. The statements and opinions in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the internal staff or any sponsoring organization. The appearance of advertisements in this magazine is not a warranty, endorsement or approval of any prizes or services advertised. Although we make every attempt to ensure accuracy of the content we assume no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. Copyright©. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.

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THE LINEUP

CYCLONE

NATION Contents Welcome Letter

The Lineup

Nutrition 8 Eating For Sports

Cyclone Cheer

Cyclone Dance

Cyclone Golf

Cyclone Tennis

Cyclone Cheerleaders

Cyclone Dance Team

Cross Country

The Russellville High School Dance Team begins its second year as competitive team.

Cyclone Volleyball

The Russellville High School Cyclone Cheerleading squad, under the leadership of first year cheer coach Shirley Carr...

Football Wrapup

Year in Pictures

Swim Team

Ashton Purtle

Grace Roys

Addison Woker

Hunter Standridge

Cyclone Band

Cyclone Basketball

Cyclone Choir

How To Be More Optimistic

Outdoor Club

Club Soccer Arsenal

5 Facts About Goal Setting

Cyclone Generations

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Cyclone Cross Country

Cyclone Volleyball

The Cyclone Cross Country team added another conference title to its list of accomplishments in 2013...

For most athletic programs a run at a state championship comes every 5 or 6 years or when a few good classes combine. As for the Lady Cyclone volleyball program...

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Cyclone Golf

Cyclone Tennis

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Heading into the 2013 season Coach Roy McSpadden’s Cyclone golf team was considered to be working toward the future...

The Russellville High School Tennis Teams concluded their seasons October 9th at the 6A East conference tournament in Searcy.

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Football Wrapup

Cyclone Band

The Cyclones had several exciting wins throughout the season and some heartbreaking losses.

The Russellville High School Band has one of the strongest traditions in the state of Arkansas. Leading the band program is director, Dewayne Dove.

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NUTRITION

EATING FOR SPORTS

THERE’S A LOT MORE TO EATING FOR SPORTS THAN CHOWING DOWN ON CARBS OR CHUGGING SPORTS DRINKS

The good news is that eating to reach your peak performance level likely doesn’t require a special diet or supplements. It’s all about working the right foods into your fitness plan in the right amounts. Teen athletes have unique nutrition needs. Because athletes work out more than their less-active peers, they generally need extra calories to fuel both their sports performance and their growth. Depending on how active they are, teen athletes may need anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 total calories per day to meet their energy needs. So what happens if teen athletes don’t eat enough? Their bodies are less likely to achieve peak performance and may even break down rather than build up muscles. Athletes who don’t take in enough calories every day won’t be as fast and as strong as they could be and may not be able to maintain their weight. Extreme calorie restriction could lead to growth problems and other serious health risks for both girls and guys.

ATHLETES AND DIETING Since teen athletes need extra fuel, it’s usually a bad idea to diet. Athletes in sports where weight is emphasized — such as wrestling, swimming, dance, or gymnastics — might feel pressure to lose weight, but they need to weigh that choice with the possible negative side effects mentioned above. If a coach, gym teacher, or teammate says that you need to go on a diet, talk to your doctor first or visit a dietitian who specializes in teen athletes. If a health professional you trust agrees that it’s safe to diet, he or she can work with you to develop a plan that allows you get the proper amount of nutrients, perform your best, and lose weight.

EAT A VARIETY OF FOODS You may have heard about “carb loading” before a game, but when it comes to powering your game for the long haul, it’s a bad idea to focus on only one type of food. Carbohydrates are an important source of fuel, but they’re only one of many foods an athlete needs. It also takes vitamins, minerals, protein, and fats to stay in peak playing shape.

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MUSCULAR MINERALS AND VITAL VITAMINS Calcium helps build the strong bones that athletes depend on, and iron carries oxygen to muscles. Most teens don’t get enough of these minerals, and that’s especially true of teen athletes because their needs may be even higher than those of other teens. To get the iron you need, eat lean redmeats (meats with not much fat on them); green, leafy vegetables; and iron-fortified cereals. Calcium—a must for protecting against stress fractures— is found in dairy foods, such as low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. In addition to calcium and iron, you need a whole bunch of other vitamins and minerals that do everything from help you access energy to keep you from getting sick. Eating a balanced diet, including lots of different fruits and veggies, should provide the vitamins and minerals needed for good health and sports performance.

PROTEIN POWER Athletes may need more protein than lessactive teens, but most teen athletes get plenty of protein through regular eating. It’s a myth that athletes need a huge daily intake of protein to build large, strong muscles. Muscle growth comes from regular training and hard work. Taking in too much

• WhitsonMorgan protein can actually harm the body, causing dehydration, calcium loss, and even kidney problems. Good sources of protein are fish, lean meats and poultry, eggs, dairy, nuts, soy, and peanut butter.

CARB CHARGE Carbohydrates provide athletes with an excellent source of fuel. Cutting back on carbs or following low-carb diets isn’t a good idea for athletes because restricting carbohydrates can cause a person to feel tired and worn out, which ultimately affects performance. Good sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and grains. Choose whole grains (such as brown rice, oatmeal, and wholewheat bread) more often than their more processed counterparts like white rice and white bread. Whole grains provide both the energy athletes need to perform and the fiber and other nutrients they need to be healthy. Sugary carbs such as candy bars or sodas are less healthy for athletes because they don’t

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contain any of the other nutrients you need. In addition, eating candy bars or other sugary snacks just before practice or competition can give athletes a quick burst of energy and then leave them to “crash” or run out of energy before they’ve finished working out.

can really do some damage.

FAT FUEL

Anabolic steroids can seriously mess with a person’s hormones, causing side effects like testicular shrinkage and baldness in men and facial hair growth in girls. Steroids can cause mental health problems, including depression and serious mood swings.

Everyone needs a certain amount of fat each day, and this is particularly true for athletes. That’s because active muscles quickly burn through carbs and need fats for long-lasting energy. Like carbs, not all fats are created equal. Experts advise athletes to concentrate on healthier fats, such as the unsaturated fat found in most vegetable oils.

Some supplements contain hormones that are related to testosterone (such as dehydroepiandro terone, or DHEA for short). These supplements can have similar side effects to anabolic steroids. Other sports supplements (like creatine, for example) have not been tested in people younger than 18. So the risks of taking them are not yet known.

Choosing when to eat fats is also important for athletes. Fatty foods can slow digestion, so it’s a good idea to avoid eating these foods for a few hours before and after exercising.

Salt tablets are another supplement to watch out for. People take them to avoid dehydration, but salt tablets can actually lead to dehydration. In large amounts, salt can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea and may damage the lining of the stomach. In general, you are better off drinking fluids in order to maintain hydration. Any salt you lose in sweat can usually be made up with sports drinks or food eaten after exercise.

SHUN SUPPLEMENTS Protein and energy bars don’t do a whole lot of good, but they won’t really do you much harm either, but other types of supplements

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DITCH DEHYDRATION Speaking of dehydration, water is just as important to unlocking your game power as food. When you sweat during exercise, it’s easy to become overheated, headachy, and worn out — especially in hot or humid weather. Even mild dehydration can affect an athlete’s physical and mental performance. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for how much water to drink. How much fluid each person needs depends on the individual’s age, size, level of physical activity, and environmental temperature.

GUIDELINES ON WHAT TO EAT AND WHEN: Eat a meal 2 to 4 hours before the game or event: Choose a protein and carbohydrate meal (like a turkey or chicken sandwich, cereal

Experts recommend that athletes drink before and after exercise as well as every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty, because thirst is a sign that your body has needed liquids for a while. But don’t force yourself to drink more fluids than you may need either. It’s hard to run when there’s alot of water sloshing around in your stomach! If you like the taste of sports drinks better than regular water, then it’s OK to drink them. But it’s important to know that a sports drink is really no better for you than water unless you are exercising for more than 60 to 90 minutes or in really hot weather. The additional carbohydrates and electrolytes may improve performance in these conditions, but otherwise your body will do just as well with water.

sauce).

Avoid drinking carbonated drinks or juice because they could give you a stomach ache while you’re competing.

Eat a snack less than 2 hours before the game: If you haven’t had

CAFFEINE

time to have a pre-game meal, be sure to have a light snack such as

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it causes a person to urinate (pee) more. It’s not clear whether this causes dehydration or not, but to be safe, it’s wise to stay away from too much caffeine if you’ll be exercising in hot weather.

and milk, chicken noodle soup and yogurt, or pasta with tomato

low-fiber fruits or vegetables (like plums, melons, cherries, carrots), crackers, a bagel, or low-fat yogurt. Consider not eating anything for the hour before you compete or have practice because digestion requires energy — energy that you want to use to win. Also, eating too soon before any kind of activity can leave food in the stomach, making you feel full, bloated, crampy, and sick. Everyone is different, so get to know what works best for you. You may want to experiment with meal timing and how much to eat on practice days so that you’re better prepared for game day

Although some studies have found that caffeine may help with endurance sports performance, it’s good to weigh any benefits against potential problems. Too much caffeine can leave an athlete feeling anxious or jittery. It can also cause trouble sleeping. All of these can drag down a person’s sports performance. Plus, taking certain medications — including supplements — can make caffeine’s side effects seem even worse.

GAME-DAY EATS Most of your body’s energy on game day will come from the foods you’ve eaten over the past several days. But you can boost your performance even more by paying attention to the food you eat on game day. Strive for a game-day diet rich in carbohydrates, moderate in protein, and low in fat.

This information was provided by TeensHealth, one of the largest resources online for medically reviewed health information written for parents, kids, and teens. For more articles like this one, visit KidsHealth.org or TeensHealth. org. © 1995-2008. The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved.

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CYCLONE NATION 11

CYCLONE CHEER

RHS CHEERLEADERS BEGIN COMPETING STATE WIDE

The Russellville High School Cyclone Cheerleading squad, under the leadership of first year cheer coach Shirley Carr, is beginning a new chapter at RHS. The Cyclone cheer squad is now wearing two hats. They will support and cheer for various RHS athletic teams and they

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will also compete as a team against other cheer squads. Carr says, “The squad strives to improve student morale, boost team spirit, and help the school achieve success on the field and playing court.” The cheer squad is responsible for planning and coordinating pep ral-

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“The squad strives to improve student morale, boost team spirit, and help the school achieve success on the field and playing court.”

lies, decorating locker rooms, and attending all home and away football and basketball games. Just recently, the cheer squad supported the Lady Cyclone Volleyball team at the annual “Dig Pink” night to help support breast cancer awareness. They will also be competing in cheer competitions throughout the state for the first time in 10 years. Carr says, “Competitive cheer is hard work. It requires strength, endurance, teamwork, discipline and dedication. It isn’t easy to throw a girl the same size as you above your head 5 times, do multiple backflips, jumps, cheers, and a dance in one 2:30 minute routine.” Being a part of the Russellville High School cheer squad takes an extremely high level of commitment. Carr has high expectations for her squad. She says, “The cheerleaders have to be 100% committed to the sport. We practice every day-Monday through Friday.” The squad begins practice as early as 6:00 a.m. during the summer months. During the school year, the cheer squad practices during the day and after school for up to 3 hours and on the weekends. One thing that makes this nice is that cheer and dance squads have their own place to practice this year in the new safe room on the Russellville High School campus. This allows the squads to have a place to call home and use as needed, allowing them to prepare for athletic events and competitions. Carr says, “The girls are extremely dedicated and we don’t always

get the recognition and respect we deserve.” Most of the cheerleaders are also involved in academic clubs and organizations at Russellville High School. The RHS cheerleaders are extremely talented this year. There are 9 seniors on the squad and they have been cheering together since junior high. Carr says, “They are all extremely talented, great role models, and effective leaders for our team.” They all serve as the “senior captains” alternating duties. Ashton Purtle received the top AllAmerican award at the National Cheerleading Association summer camp. Purtle was also chosen to be a part of the NCA staff after graduation. Hannah Grace Knight, Mallory Leavell, and Casey Rivas were also chosen as All-American cheerleaders. The remaining seniors are Raigan Purtle, Lindsey Kirby, Tiara Armstrong, Paige Sparkman, and Alex Whicher. Not only are our cheerleaders 100% committed, but the parents are as well. Many of the parents come to the school late at night to help decorate locker rooms, surprise the girls with gifts and motivational cards, and are always there offering their support. The cheerleaders have done amazing fundraising this year for competition expenses. The squad has raised over $5,000 selling t-shirts, spirit ribbons, and hosting a mini-cheer clinic. Carr says, “None of this

could ever happen without the support and willingness to help from the parents.” The RHS cheerleader schedule includes the Fayetteville Invitational on November 9th. They will then travel to the Booneville Classic November 16th, the Arkadelphia Invitational on December 7th, and the Arkansas Cheerleading State Championship on December 21st. The squad will have a community expo before the state competition to showcase their routine and let others see how hard they have been working. The cheerleaders placed 2nd at the Bear Cat Championship in Booneville with Rivas winning an exciting tumble-off competition. Just recently the cheer squad won the 6A co-ed division and best overall stunts at the Jonesboro Invitational. The team also won best overall stunts. Carr and the RHS Cheerleaders are excited about the new direction of the program, which includes the addition of male cheerleaders on the squad. This brings a new strength and dimension to the team and they are hoping to recruit more boys in the future. The team is looking forward to bringing state cheerleading titles to the River Valley for many years to come. The remaining members of the cheerleading squad are juniors Emily Cooper, Allison Biggers, and AJ Clark. The sophomores are Taylor Hathcote, Regan Stringer, Spencer Hurlbut, Kamrynn Bond, and Paige Burris.

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CYCLONE DANCE

RHS DANCE TEAM TAKING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL

The dance team competes in AAA sanctioned invitational competitions around the state.

The Russellville High School Dance Team begins its second year as a competitive team. The team consists of 19 girls in grades 10-12. They attend both basketball and football games. Kris Reed begins her second year as the RHS Dance coach. Reed coached for ten years prior to coming to Russellville, at Greene County Tech in Paragould, AR. Her experience has helped start a strong dance program at Russellville High School. The dance team competes in AAA sanctioned invitational competitions around the state. Last year, we competed in 1 invitational event and the AAA State Dance Team Competition. The dance team won their first trophies in several years earning 1st place in high kick and 2nd in pom at the Jonesboro

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Invitational last year. They achieved the third highest 6A score in the pom category at the state competition. This year, the team competed in 3 invitational competitions. They competed in the North Little Rock Invitational and hosted a competition earlier this year. The girls placed 2nd in pom and hip hop in North Little Rock and 3rd in hip hop in Russellville. The dance team competed against five 7A teams including last year’s 7A champion, Bentonville, in Russellville. The Russellville Invitational consisted of 19 teams from across the state in junior high, JV, and varsity divisions offering team, solo, and ensemble categories. The four categories in which the dance team can compete in are kick, jazz, hip hop, and pom.

Last year, the team competed only in pom at the state competition. This year, Reed says they are planning on bringing four routines and competing in all of the categories. A team must enter at least three routines to be eligible for the state title. Reed says, “I have some outstanding members on my team this year.” Senior Hailey Reed competed in the varsity solo division at our competition and won first place. Junior Emily Autry took third place in the same division. The RHS Dance Team captains are seniors Hailey Williams, Haley Reed, and Tori Muncy. Reed says, “The 3 captains have been exceptional leaders on the team. They work well together and have helped bring this team to a higher performance level.”

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According to Reed, “The girls work very hard and are dedicated to improving their performances every week. As hard as they work, I could not do this job without the support and hard work of their parents as well.” Reed knows that Russellville Invitational was a huge success due in large part to the parent volunteers. Reed said, “The parents consistently support the team and all we do. They encourage and celebrate these girls and are always volunteering to do whatever we need to help out.” The dance team has become a close group. They take turns hosting team dinners in their homes each Thursday night. They team up to sell programs at all home junior high football games. They co-hosted a junior spirit clinic with RHS cheerleaders. The dance team practices as many as 6 days a week and have worked tirelessly, as have their parents, to raise money to purchase extra items to make our girls and dances look as good as possible and to keep the cost of being on the team lower. Reed says, “The girls are always up for whatever challenge I throw at them and continue to improve their technical skills through hard work and dedication to being the best dancers they can be.”

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“The girls work very hard and are dedicated to improving their performances every week. As hard as they work, I could not do this job without the support and hard work of their parents as well.”

Reed knows the importance of having a strong junior high program. Reed says, “The junior program helps build the skills and discipline the dancers will need to move up to the rigorous and high-skill world of competitive high school dance. Just as with any sport, basic skills must be taught first and then built upon each year for an athlete to achieve at the highest level.” Most competitive dance teams around the state have strong dance programs in the community. Reed is working on getting that same training for her girls and she know the teams at the junior high would benefit from it as well. The RHS Dance Team prepared for the Arkansas Activities Association State Dance Championships which was held on Saturday, November 9th at Har-Ber High School in Springdale. Reed expects her team to compete well and hopefully bring a state title to Russellville High School. The remaining members of the dance squad are juniors Kailey Bradley, Montan Crowell, Brittany George, Nathalie Hernandez, Mayzie Miller, and Ashlee Morgan. Sophomores are Bethany Beasley, Lauren Branch, Christina Garcia, Bailey Green, Emily Jordan, Myisha McBrock, Hanna Raines, Spencer Skaggs, and Katie Whitfield.

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CYCLONE GOLF

The Cyclones took the title

CYCLONE GOLF ON A DEFINITE UPSWING

Heading into the 2013 season Coach Roy McSpaddenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cyclone golf team was considered to be working toward the future, but if their 2013 finish was any indication that future definitely looks to be very bright. As the season was winding down the Cyclones were having what could be considered a fairly average season, but as the most important time of year rolled around (conference & state) the team started picking up momentum and caught fire at the perfect time.

at Big Creek Country Club in Mountain Home.

Runner-up, which is quite an accomplishment in what might be considered as a rebuilding year. Ethan Grace, an All-State selection, Seth Grace, Austin Robinson, & Scott Douthit all had nice rounds and kept the Cyclones in the hunt, but it was Tripp Croom who shot the round of the tournament taking medalists honors for the Cyclones and securing himself a spot in the

First it was a big conference tournament win at Big Creek Country Club in Mountain Home. The Cyclones took the title thanks in large part to some timely shots in sudden death as Ethan Grace sank a 30foot eagle on the first playoff hole and then Tripp Croom sealed the deal with a par putt to secure the win against a very tough Jonesboro team. With their conference scores carrying over to the state Championship the Cyclones would once again have to do battle with Jonesboro for a chance to win the state title. The Cyclones once again played some of their best golf of the year but Jonesboro ended up on top leaving the Cyclones as the 6A State

CYCLONE NATION 17

ASGA High School Overalls at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock where he finished in 6th place overall. The outlook for next year is also very positive with some key returners and some underclassmen who will be taking a step forward in 2014. Coach McSpadden is counting on these young men to put in lots of work and have a big summer leading into next season. Returners will include: Tripp Croom, Seth Grace, Peyton Duffield, Ben Griffin, Marty Duvall, Whit Nicholson, Henry Pegg, Rhett Barker, Logan Roys, & David Sisson Jr. The Cyclones head into 2014 with a less overall experience than 2013 but do possess a good deal of talent and potential. After the success of the 2013 team, it can probably be safely said that the Cyclones are no longer rebuilding, they are simply reloading!

Lady Cyclones The Lady Cyclones are definitely in a building mode at the present time, but do have some potential for 2014 as all three ladies return from a 2013 team that showed immense improvement. The lady Cyclones were led by Reagan Stringer, who just missed qualifying for the state tournament this season by one stroke. Coach McSpadden thinks Stringer has the potential to become one of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top golfers and gives the Lady Cyclones hope for the future. Other returners include: Meghan Ketchum, who improved by leaps and bounds in 2013 & Bailey Green, who is a beginning golfer with lots of natural talent. Ketchum will be joining Stringer this summer on the junior tournament trail in hopes of both young ladies moving forward in 2014.

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CYCLONE NATION 19

CYCLONE TENNIS

BUILDING FOR THE

FUTURE There is a definite sense that the Cyclone tennis program will be back stronger than ever in the future.

The Russellville High School Tennis Teams concluded their seasons October 9th at the 6A East conference tournament in Searcy. For the first time in several years, Russellville did not qualify any players for the state 6A tournament, but major strides were made with both the boys and girls teams. There is a definite sense that the Cyclone tennis program will be back stronger than ever in the future. The Cyclones opened the season with losses to Searcy and Mountain Home. Against Searcy, both RHS teams went down with identical 3 to 1 scores. For the Cyclones, Brazilian exchange student Caio Labegalini picked up a win at boy’s #2 singles and Montana Crowell topped her opponent in girl’s #1 singles. Freshman Selby Bailey lost a close match in a tiebreak in the girls #2 singles event that kept Russellville from a tie in the girl’s division. Against Mountain Home, Russellville faced a long bus ride and two NCAA Division 1 level quality players in Christian Mathis, the 2012 overall state boy’s singles quarter-finalist, and Eliska Wurfel in girl’s singles. Mountain

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Home defeated the Cyclones 2 to 1 in the boy’s division with Russellville’s Bryce Johnson and Frankie Williams dominating in the boy’s #1 doubles match. Johnson and Williams also beat the Mountain Home #2 doubles team in an exhibition match that did not count for the team scoring. In the girl›s division, Mountain Home won 4-0 to extend their 6A East conference record to 2-0. The Cyclones played well against Marion in a home match with the boy’s winning 3-1. Marcos Aguilar picked up his first win of the season with an 8-5 score in #1 singles. The girls split 2-2 with Both Montana Crowell and Freshman Selby Bailey winning their singles matches. The Cyclones struggled against Greenwood in an away match marred by a thunderstorm just as play commenced. The boys lost 0-4 and the girls fell 1-3 with Montana Crowell winning 8-4 against her opponent in #1 singles. Conference leader Jonesboro rolled into town

and beat both the Cyclone teams 0-4 to close out the first half of the season. Russellville shut out Benton and Sheridan in a home dual match with two 6A South opponents that was a welcome relief from the strong 6A East schedule the Cyclones had been facing. For the girl’s, Montana Crowell and Selby Bailey won at #1 and #2 singles and the doubles teams of Mae Brown and Madelyn Rose and Paige Havner and Michaela Smith also dominated play. Marcos Aguilar and Siam Hooks led the boys with singles wins and both the #1 doubles team of Bryce Johnson and Frankie Williams and the #2 team of Caio Labegalini and Freshman Carter Thessing cruised to victory. The second half of the season mirrored the first with Russellville losing to Searcy, winning at Marion and losing to Greenwood and Jonesboro. The difference was the greatly improved play of both Cyclone teams. Montana Crowell joined Senior Mae Brown at

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Coach Rowlett was very proud of every Cyclone player. The team was dedicated to improvement and sportsmanship and was fun to be around. There was a bond formed that will follow these players their entire lives. girl’s #1 doubles for the second half to form a formidable team that simply lost a heart breaker at conference. The Cyclones were disappointed with the season’s results, but were much improved over the start of the season. They fought hard all season against the top 6A teams and received praise from the other conference coaches for their strong finish and sportsmanship. Russellville was a young team starting 4 sophomores and two freshmen and should be a much stronger team next year. All the returning players are motivated to work hard during the off season and plan to return as better players. They know what it takes to compete on the state level and plan to raise their game for the 2014 season. Coach Rowlett was very proud of every Cyclone player. The team was dedicated to improvement and sportsmanship and were fun to be around. There was a bond formed that will follow these players their entire lives. The Cyclones will lose 5 special senior girls this year: Mae Brown, Morgan Burris, Cindy Quinteros, Madelyn Rose and Nora Valladares will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

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CROSS COUNTRY

CYCLONE CROSS COUNTRY CONTINUES WINNING WAYS

The Cyclone Cross country team added another conference title to its list of accomplishments in 2013 as they continue to be one of the premiere programs in the state, but as always the Cyclones had their eyes on the big prize and another state title. “Conference is always one of our goals when as we started the season but, of course, the big one is definitely state,” Cyclones Head Coach John Frazier said.

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The Cyclones defeated both Mountain Home and Searcy in the conference championship held at Old Post Park, and had to deal with both again at state plus Lake Hamilton out of the south, which is always tough when state rolls around. The Cyclones’ front runners, Mason Rhodes and Joey Shirley, who have spent the entire season running side beside at the front of the pack, have been dominating this season with Rhodes making big improvements from his junior season and topping his fellow Cyclone running mate late in the season.

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Shirley and Rhodes have been medalists in every meet they have participated and had outstanding careers as Cyclone runners. This season, in every meet they competed in together, they have run less than 30 seconds apart. In the State meet held at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs the Cyclones would have to settle for State Runnersup, but the whole team turned in a top-notch performance. Rhodes led the Cyclones with a time on 16:47 and Shirley was right on his heels with a time of 16:53. As for the rest of the team which includes: Matthew Annis, Steven Cawyer, Rob Jacobsen, Jonathan Chaney, Jared Johnson, Austin Lesser, Chris Newby, Liam Pace, Tucker Rhodes, & Andy Ward, they can all hold their high and be proud of their accomplishments. They kept a championship tradition going by adding to the trophy case and building a foundation that will last for years to come. In the conference meet the Lady Cyclones finished third behind Mountain Home and Greenwood and that was without the services leading runner Morgan Smith, but Frazier was pleased with their performance nonetheless. The Lady Cyclones had one runner place in the top 10. Kenya McDaniel ran a 23:13.90, but other Lady Cyclones contributed to the third-place finish. Kaitlin Walker, Katherine Skartvedt and Brooke Knight all ran well in the conference meet according to Coach Frazier. At the state meet the Lady Cyclones also made a strong showing with a third place showing thanks to a total team effort and the return of Morgan Smith who ran a team best of 21:23 Other top finishers for the Lady Cyclones included: Kenya McDaniel 22:01, Katherine Skartvedt 23:08, Katy Walker 23:40. The rest of the Lady Cyclones who helped the Lady Cyclones to a strong finish in state include: Brooke Knight, Harley Milspap, Kyria Randolph, Samantha Randolph, & Shelby Smith. All of the Cyclone Nation is proud of all these runners and all the coaches who helped make 2013 a very successful one for the Cross country teams.

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CYCLONE VOLLEYBALL

LADY CYCLONE VOLLEYBALL MAKES ANOTHER DEEP RUN For most athletic programs a run at a state championship comes every 5 or 6 years or when a few good classes combine. As for the Lady Cyclone volleyball program each year seems to have potential for a state championship and 2013 was no different as the Lady Cyclones looked to repeat as State Champions. Coach Cindy Jones has built a program that has large numbers of kids out each year and always has the potential to make a run deep in the playoffs. This year’s group was no exception as the Lady Cyclones slammed their way to the semi-finals where they were eventually ousted by the home team and eventual state Champions from Jonesboro High School. The loss to Jonesboro was definitely “gut wrenching” especially after falling behind in the first two games and then battling back and showing lots of heart and determination to force a 5th and decisive game to determine the match. Add to that the distraction of a tornado warning and a relentless Jonesboro team, both were too much for the Lady Cyclones to overcome. The Lady Cyclones finished 24-10 in a season filled with lots of highlights. The Lady Cyclones play many 7A opponents during the regular conference season which always has them ready for a title run. This season was no different as battles with Conway, Fort Smith Southside, & 6A rival Greenwood provided many stern tests during the regular season. The Lady Cyclones will be losing seven seniors to graduation following this season. They include: Sarani Appukata, Grace Roys, who was a team leader and average 8 digs per game, Taylor Bleakley,Allie Green, who averaged 12 assists a game, Dianna Hale,

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who averaged 3 kills & 4 blocks per game,Ashtin Kendrick,who also averaged 3 kills & 3 blocks per game, & Zoey Adkins. For most programs losing seven seniors would be devastating and many of these girls have played key roles throughout their careers and made significant contributions, but there are several returners who contributed as well and several underclassmen that will be coming looking for an opportunity. Returning key contributors include: Hunter Eshnaur who averaged

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15 kills & 2 blocks per game, Meredith Darnell, who averaged 4 kills along with 12 digs per game, and Addy Hipps who contributed an average of 15 assists per game. When it comes to the Lady Cyclone Volleyball team, the phrase “we are simply reloading, not rebuilding,” definitely replies. The entire Cyclone Nation is definitely proud of the 2013 Lady Cyclone Volleyball team and already eagerly anticipating another state title run in 2014!

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CYCLONE VOLLEYBALL

DYNAMIC DUO Senior Lady Cyclone volleyball players Ashtin Kendrick & Dianna Hale have spent a large number of hours together on the court during their volleyball careers, not only in practice, but as three year starters for one of the best volleyball teams in the state and maybe even in Cyclone history. In 2011 as sophomores they were a part of a team that finished a bit early in the playoffs, but in 2012 they would capture the ultimate reward for their hard work by winning the 2012 State championship. This year they were once again destined for another deep run in the playoffs, but fail just short of a second straight state title as they lost in 5 games to the eventual champions from Jonesboro High School. Although the two seniors have similar numbers, they have definite differing styles of play and leadership. Coach Cindy Jones complimented both ladies on their leadership and working toward a common goal, which seems to be winning a state championship as often as possible! “Dianna at times needed to be more vocal and at others, Ashtin could have been a little less vocal”, Coach Jones said with a grin. “They were both so important during our state championship run in 2012 and in our quest to repeat this year.” Both young ladies have been nominated to play in this year’s AHSCA All-Star game

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and will find out in February if they made it. Coach Jones said, “It would definitely be nice to see them on the front row blocking and hitting together one last time!” Both young ladies have not quite finished their athletic careers as Cyclones as Dianna plays for the defending State Champion Lady Cyclone Softball team and Ashtin plays for the Lady Cyclone Soccer Team who has also won a state title in recent years. This Dynamic Duo has definitely had its fair share of success in their careers as Lady Cyclones and Coach Jones and the entire Cyclone Nation wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors!

This Dynamic Duo has definitely had its fair share of success...

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FOOTBALL WRAPUP Highlights • Senior quarterback Cody Jones threw 5 TD passes as the Cyclones defeated the Devil Dogs 43-28 • Fellow senior Jalen Curtis hauled in 210 yards receiving along with a touchdown. • Senior Isiah McGlone picked up a huge fumble that gave the Cyclones the momentum they needed to pull out the 17-7 victory over Alma Airedales • Senior Tony Anderson recovered a fumble on the Wampus Cat goal line • Senior Drew Smith had his best game with 123 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Ft. Smith Grizzlies • In the LIttle Rock Parkview game Jones had a record setting night throwing for 500 yards and 6 TD’s. Smith had another big night with 207 yards and three touchdowns. • Junior Grant Gebhart caught his first TD pass of the season against the Little Rock Hall Warriors • The Cyclone defense forced a season high three turnovers, against the Rebels, thanks to seniors Kyle Roberson, Drew Smith, Hunter Standridge and junior Kentrell Scott. • Senior guards Addison Woker and Tyler Goodman became the leaders of the offensive line for the season.

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2013 CYCLONE FOOTBALL SEASON OF UPS AND DOWNS. The Cyclones had started the season with a 3-0 start in non-conference play. They opened the season defeating I-40 rival Morrilton on their home field. The 2013 Cyclone football season was one of ups and downs. The Cyclones had several exciting wins throughout the season and some heartbreaking losses. No loss was more gut-wrenching than the first round playoff game at Cyclone Stadium on November 15th which brought the season to a disappointing end. The Cyclones had an unbelievable 99 yard drive following an interception by junior Chase Bicanovsky with less than two minutes to play in a 28-28 game. Senior Cody Jones hit junior Co-Cheese Temple-Laws for a 75 yard touchdown putting the Cyclones up 35-28. The Cyclones were 45 seconds away from their first playoff win since 2009 when the unthinkable happened. The Benton Panthers drove 80 yards and it appeared the Cyclones would have to win this one in overtime. But to the surprise of most everyone in the stadium, the Panthers faked the extra point kick and successfully completed a 2-point conversion to win the game 36-35 ending the Cyclone season at 5-6. The entire Cyclone Nation was in disbelief as the Panthers swarmed the field. It was probably one of the most devastating losses in Cyclone history. The Cyclones had started the season with a 3-0 start in non-conference play. They opened the season defeating I-40 rival Morrilton on their home field. Senior quarterback Cody Jones threw 5 TD passes as the Cyclones defeated the Devil Dogs 43-28. In the home opener, the Cyclones took on future conference foe the Siloam Springs Panthers. This was an emotional night as the Cyclone football team honored the late Susie Horton. The Panthers turned the ball over six times helping the Cyclones come away with 45-23 victory. Once again Jones had a big night passing for 448 yards and 5 TD’s. Fellow senior Jalen Curtis had an impressive night as well, hauling in 210 yards receiving along with a touchdown. Next up for the Cyclones was another future conference opponent the Alma Airedales. The Cyclone defense had one of its most impressive nights as they held the Airedales to 7 points. Jones struggled against the Alma defense throwing a season high 3 interceptions. He did however get the job done throwing for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns. Curtis had his second 100 yard plus game as well. Senior Isiah McGlone picked up a huge fumble that gave the Cyclones the momentum they needed to pull out the 17-7 victory. The Cyclones opened up 6A/7A Central Conference play taking on their long-time rival Wampus Cats of Conway. The Cyclones couldn’t

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CYCLONE FOOTBALL overcome 3 key turnovers and fell 38-24. Senior nose guard Tony Anderson recovered a fumble on the Wampus Cat goal line, which was a key play early in the game. Curtis had another nice game with 72 yards rushing and 111 yards receiving. The Cyclones took on the Ft. Smith Grizzlies on Homecoming night. They struggled all night offensively until the fourth quarter falling 27-20. The slow start cost them the game as the Grizzlies were able to hold off an exciting late run by the Cyclones. Senior Drew Smith had his best game with 123 yards receiving and a touchdown. Up next for the Cyclones was a trip to Little Rock Parkview. The Cyclones picked up their first conference victory with a 48-22 win over the Patriots. Jones had a record setting night throwing for 500 yards and 6 TDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Smith had another big night with 207 yards and three touchdowns. Temple-Laws had a 142 yards and a couple of touchdown catches. The Little Rock Catholic Rockets made the trip to Cyclone Stadium the following week. The Rockets put together an impressive rushing night racking up 229 yards on the ground on their way to a 51-21 victory over the Cyclones. The Cyclones got back on track the following week blowing out the Little Rock Hall Warriors 42-7. Junior Grant Gebhart caught his first TD pass of the season. The Cyclone defense, led by senior Hunter Standridge, had and impressive showing shutting down the Warriors.

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The toughest games of the season were coming up for the Cyclones in weeks 9 and 10. Ft. Smith Southside spoiled senior night for the Cyclones knocking them off 45-25. A late surge by the Rebels at the end of the first half was more than the Cyclones could overcome. Curtis threw a beautiful pass to Temple-Laws on trick play for his first TD pass of the season. The Cyclone defense forced a season high three turnovers thanks to seniors Kyle Roberson, Drew Smith, Hunter Standridge and junior Kentrell Scott. Scott also had one of his best rushing games of the season going for 71 yards and a touchdown. The Cyclones wrapped up the conference season becoming the 48th consecutive victory for the back-to-back 6A state champion Greenwood Bulldogs. Standridge had his first rushing touchdown of the season sparking the Cyclones early. Smith had another 100 yard receiving game. The Cyclones finished the regular season 5-5 and 2-5 in conference play. The Cyclone offense had an impressive season led by a group of young men up front that improved from week to week. Senior guards Addison Woker and Tyler Goodman became the leaders of the of-

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fensive line. Junior tackle Sam Dunbar and junior center Shelby Sisco developed all season. Sophomore Drew Turner played tackle for the first time in his career. Jones finished the season completing 68% of his passes for 3531 yards and 117.7 quarterback rating. Curtis finished with 1039 yards and 7 touchdowns receiving. Temple-Laws had 1036 yards and 15 touchdowns receiving. Smith finished up his senior season with 817 yards and 7 touchdowns receiving. Scott led the Cyclones in rushing with 570 yards good enough for a 5 yard average along with 7 touchdowns. The Cyclone defense was led by a strong senior class that included Standridge, Anderson, McGlone, Kyle Roberson and Corbin Zachary. The Cyclones will return several key players for the 2014 season. The new 6A/7A Central Conference will include Van Buren, Siloam Springs, Bryant, Conway, Alma, Greenwood, Little Rock Catholic, and Russellville. Fans can look forward to some exciting football as the Cyclones will begin preparing for next season right away.

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SWIM TEA

Medalists returning from last year: Chris Newby, Andrea Bond and Hannah Ray.

SWIM TEAM NUMBERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB The Cyclone Swim team begins the 20132014 season with the most athletes in school history. Head coach Gary Knudsen has worked hard recruiting more students to the swim team and is beginning to see the numbers rise. The Cyclone swim team finished up last season on a good note. They finished in fifth place in the Central District meet and in 15th place in the state meet. The menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team has several returning from last season.

Marissa Myers

The Cyclones will be led by Caleb Scott, Jenner Robertson, Chris Newby, and Matthew Brown. Three new freshmen, Gabe McVay, Hunter Piearcy and Camron Clark joined the team and should make an immediate impact. Divers Cash Stevens and Ronnie Wells return as well and will be ready to compete from the start. The Lady Cyclones Swim Team finished in 6th place in the Central District meet and in 18th place in the State Meet. The Lady Cyclones return everyone from last season. They will be led by seniors Hannah Ray and Morgan Burris. Sophomore Andrea Bond has developed into a strong swimmer. Juniors Marissa Meyers, Toki Ghafarri, and Tori Luna have been working hard and are improving each day. The Lady Cyclones welcome sophomore Katie Skarvedt, Anna Shingluer and Cat Prater. These ladies have shown the ability to compete at the state level. Six freshmen, Belle Walker, Jennifer Reyna, Kady Phillips, Mellissa Geeo , Graciela and Janet Arquinn, join the team and should add needed depth.

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ASHTON PURTLE CHEERLEADING: A LIFE-LONG PASSION FOR PURTLE Senior Ashton Purtle has entertained the Russellville Cyclone Nation fans over the past several years with her spectacular tumbling. Purtle knew that when the gymnastics program in Russellville came to end that she needed a new way to showcase her talents. She started out her career as a small child at Tena’s Gymnastics in Russellville. Purtle decided to the join the All-Star competitive cheer squad at Tena’s and soon fell in love with the sport. Purtle knows how important it is to have a supportive family while competing in gymnastics and competitive cheer. She says, “My parents have taken me to every practice I’ve had up until I was able to drive there myself. They come to all my performances and almost all of the games they are able to make it to. They both encourage me to do my best. My mom is always there to make sure everything is in place and she pushes me to reach my full potential. Without her I don’t think I would be where I am today.” Being a part of a cheer squad in the Russellville School District since the 8th grade had led to many fond memories for Purtle. She has developed a special bond with several of her classmates which include Mallory Leavell, Tiara Armstrong, Hannah Grace Knight, Raigan Purtle, Paige Sparkman, Casey Rivas and Lindsey Kirby. All of these young ladies have had outstanding cheerleading careers and have represented the Cyclone Nation well for several years both on and off the field and court. Purtle says, “The amount of inside jokes we have because of cheer is ridiculous. I love our trips to the mall before games. Cheer camp is what brought us the closest. Working from dawn to super late at night without a break is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it is worth it to all of us because it betters us in skill and attitude. Cheer for sure wouldn’t be the same if even one of these girls were missing.” Purtle was especially excited to find out last summer that the Cyclone cheer squad would be making the transition to competitive cheer. Cyclone Cheer Coach Shirley Carr took over the squad this past season. Purtle says, “Coach Carr came in with so much enthusiasm and big plans for our squad. She took us from a squad that practiced on a minimal basis to one that underwent intense competition preparation.” This hard work has paid off for Purtle and the rest of the cheer squad as they have had several successful competitions already. Carr says, “Ashton has a great work ethic. She is one of the top students in her class academically while still participating in cheer and track, as well as teaching girls to dance at Just Dance. She always has a positive attitude about everything whether it be conditioning or performing. She has taken on the role as one of our top senior captains because of her great leadership skills.” As her Cyclone career comes to an end, Purtle doesn’t plan on letting graduation stop her from doing something that she is passionate about in the future. She says, “Though I’m still making final decisions about which college I will attend, I hope to be able to be a part of a collegiate cheer squad. I also have plans to become an instructor for the National Cheerleading Association, where I will have the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to future cheerleaders.” Those that haven’t had the opportunity to see Purtle’s tumbling skills should venture out to Cyclone gymnasium this winter.

GRACE ROYS ROYS REFLECTS ON VOLLEYBALL CAREER Lady Cyclone senior volleyball player Grace Roys completed her volleyball career this semester. Roys was the starting libero and a three-year letterman for the Lady Cyclone volleyball team. She had an outstanding senior campaign averaging 13 digs per game. Lady Cyclone Head Volleyball Coach Cindy Jones says, “Grace was a great floor leader, hard worker, and led the team throughout all the drill work in practice.” Roys was always up to the challenge of facing some of the best hitters in the state. Jones says, “she always pushed herself to return every hard hit ball.” Roys started her volleyball career in the 7th grade. Roys was first introduced to volleyball by her coach, Valerie Fetters. Roys says, “she was a great coach and mentor to me and laid the foundation for my love of volleyball.” As Roys moved to junior high volleyball, she was coached by Cindy Williams. Roys says, “I have to thank Coach Williams for encouraging and inspiring me to continue to play volleyball and really begin focusing on my skills.” Roys was introduced to the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Junior Olympic Volleyball program during her junior high playing days. She continued participating in this program throughout her high school career and this helped her become a solid player for the Lady Cyclones. Roys says, “I have been blessed with great coaches throughout my career. They all taught various things that helped my volleyball game develop.” Roys has a very supportive family which has allowed her to maximize her volleyball skills. She says, “My parents have always been there for me. They were always ready to talk, give suggestions, encourage me, drive me to tournaments, and most importantly, love me no matter how I was playing. My parents have always encouraged me to be the best on and off the court.” Roys was a part of the 2012 6A State Volleyball Championship team. She says, “The 2012 team wasn’t just a group of girls, we were a family. Every player had strengths and weaknesses and acknowledging those strengths and weaknesses is what helped us win that title. Winning the title was exciting for our team and our school and brought us closer together. Being part of a State Championship Team is something that I will never forget.” Roys plans on attending Arkansas Tech University after graduation. She will be majoring in business marketing with an emphasis on nonprofit organizations. She says, “My passion for marketing and mission work through the First United Methodist Church has led me to pursue a career that allows me to change lives and that will let me use my major in marketing to help nonprofit organizations.” It is this type of commitment that makes Grace Roys such an outstanding leader with a bright future.

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ADDISON WOKER WOKER TURNED HARD WORK INTO SUCCESS Cyclone senior football player, Addison Woker, completed his football career this fall. He became one of the Cyclone leaders this season with his great attitude and work habits. This led to him being selected as a 6A/7A All-Conference player by the league coaches. Cyclone head football coach Jeff Holt says, “Addison is a coach’s dream because of his effort and tenacity.” Woker began playing organized football in the 4th grade with Greg Standridge coaching the team. Standridge taught Woker and several other future Cyclone football players the basics of football which gave all of them a great start to their careers. During his junior high years, the coaches had a difficult time finding a position to fit Woker’s style of play knowing they needed him on the field somewhere to be successful. He played both tight end and on the defensive line. When Woker moved to the high school, he made the transition back to offense. This time he landed on the offensive line. Woker became one of the key players on the line for the Cyclones. He compensated for his small size with effort and became a two-year starter for the Cyclones at right guard. Woker says, “No other person influenced my football experience like Coach Charlie Goodman.” Goodman has coached the offensive line for the Cyclones the past 18 years and produced several college players during that time. Goodman says, “Addison possesses the intangibles that most people never notice. He always works hard, stays focused, has a great attitude about life, and played above his true talent level. Give me five just like him, every year, regardless of size, and we would always have a great offensive line at RHS.” Woker has the utmost respect for Goodman. He says, “Coach Goodman has done more for me in the 3 years I have played Cyclone football than anybody. He not only taught me how to play the game, but how to be a better person and a good man. I credit him for giving football real-life perspective and for showing me how being a part of the game, working hard and being committed will serve me throughout my life. He is one of the biggest reasons I continued playing football in high school. With his guidance, support, and encouragement, I learned how to handle wins and losses both on and off of the field.” Although the Cyclones did not achieve all of the goals they set out for this season, Woker feels like the season was a success. Woker especially enjoyed the Morrilton game this year. He says, “Being down for most of the game, having a great 2nd half comeback, and rallying for a very exciting win is something I will not forget.” Woker goes on to say, “The highlight of my senior year as a Cyclone, and what I am most grateful for, has been forging very close friendships with my offensive linemen, especially our center, Tyler Goodman.” The two of them have been through everything with high school football and have endured every minute together as a guard and center duo. Woker would do anything for his teammates. He enjoyed his time with his fellow senior Cyclones and will miss spending Friday nights with them in the fall. Through Woker’s leadership, he was able to develop a close bond with the underclassmen as well. Woker left this advice for them and all future Cyclones, “I want to emphasize that it takes dedication and the will to win to become a successful football player AND student. School studies are more important than football; don’t ever think otherwise. If you focus and do your job in school, then you will enjoy football a whole lot more.” Following graduation, Woker plans to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and pursue a career in the business field.

HUNTER STANDRIDGE STANDRIDGE CHERISHES THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Cyclone Senior football player Hunter Standridge just recently completed an excellent high school football career. It was capped off by an outstanding senior season that led to a 6A/7A Central All-Conference selection by the league coaches. Although the Cyclones didn’t reach all their team goals, Standridge feels like the team had a good year. Standridge says, “The biggest highlight of my high school football career was just getting the opportunity to go out there under the lights on Friday nights and lining up side by side with my fellow teammates.” Standridge has a true love for the game no matter the outcome. His father, Greg Standridge, introduced him to the game at young age. Standridge says, “My dad deserves a lot of the credit for teaching me a lot about the game and encouraging me to do my best.” Standridge is especially proud of the fact that his entire family supported him throughout his football career. Playing alongside some of his closest friends was a thrill for Standridge. He says, “My fellow seniors showed me what it took to be a Cyclone and that no matter whether we were winning or losing you should cherish every moment and every snap.” Standridge has lifelong friends thanks to football. Head Cyclone football coach Jeff Holt saw Standridge grow as a football player and leader. Holt says, “Hunter is a good athlete that plays hard every snap. He works extremely hard in practice and leads by example with his passion for playing football.” Standridge started in the defensive secondary and also played on all special teams groups. He saw action at running back as well late in the season. Holt says, “Hunter excelled at every position that he played.” Standridge made some key plays late in the year for the Cyclones which included an interception on senior night against Ft. Smith Southside and a rushing touchdown in the conference finale versus Greenwood. Standridge is already realizing how much he is missing football. He says, “There’s not one thing that I would not give to go back out there and play under those Friday night lights one last time.” Standridge believes that all athletes should make the most of every opportunity that they get to do their best and enjoy the game. He is still deciding what he will do after graduation. With his leadership skills and great work habits, everyone can expect him to be successful at whatever he chooses to do in the future.

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CYCLONE BAND

RUSSELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BAND “THE PRIDE” OF RUSSELLVILLE

The Russellville High School Band has one of the strongest traditions in the state of Arkansas. Leading the band program is director, Dewayne Dove. Dove has been with the Russellville School District for 24 years and has been the director since 2004. One of the unique things about the band is that it is a melting pot of students. According to Dove, “The band has a combination of high achieving academic students, athletes, choir members, drama members, dance team members, cheerleaders, average students and those that struggle academically.” Russellville has an outstanding track record of successful band students, producing numerous all-state musicians. There is large collection of pictures hanging in the hallway outside the band room of each RHS all-state musician since 1953. Many of these students have gone on to be doctors, lawyers and engineers. Several have also become music teachers and band directors themselves. The RHS band has a rich tradition and has been asked to play on many occasions for events around the nation. They performed at the 1977 Jimmy Carter Inaugural Parade and the 1997 Bill Clinton Inaugural

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Parade. The RHS band also had the privilege of performing at the 1980 Cotton Bowl Parade, the 2010 Disney’s Magical Music Days Concert, and the 2012 Disney’s Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade. One of the greatest strengths of the Russellville band program is that the directors participate in team-teaching. Administration and school board members have allowed directors from one building to teach in another. This allows the students to see all of the directors and make connections with them. Directors are able to use their areas of expertise to teach students throughout the program helping to provide a higher level of education for our students. One the main reasons the band has had such success in Russellville is the support of the parents and community. Dove says, “Russellville is blessed to have a great booster organization. The boosters give countless hours to the program working on uniforms, functioning as chaperones, working in the concession stand and being a support group for the program and its directors.”

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“Russellville is blessed to have a great booster organization. The boosters give countless hours to the program working on uniforms, functioning as chaperones, working in the concession stand and being a support group for the program and its directors.” The band program starts in the sixth grade at Russellville Middle School. Students in 6th grade are taught in ten “like” or sametype instrument classes. Seventh grade is a continuation of the sixth grade classes except students are combined into one of two brass/ percussion or woodwind groupings and is considered a training band. Dove says, “The main focus of the middle school band is to teach tone production and to teach funda-

mentals needed for the student’s future in our program. “ Sue Niven leads the sixth grade band and David Gaston directs the seventh grade band. Students begin focusing on performing as they enter the Russellville Junior High Band. Dove says, “The junior high is still considered a training area, but the training changes more towards how to put together

what they have learned into a performance. “ Both eighth and ninth grade bands combine to make the Russellville Junior High Band during marching season. Students are taught basic marching concepts that will help them when they reach the high school. After football season, the bands are divided by grade to create concert bands. Students perform at home football games, concerts, and contests. Students are strongly encouraged to continue

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CYCLONE BAND developing their individual playing ability by trying out for the all-region bands and participating in solo and ensemble contest. The ninth grade band is directed by Scott Johnson while the eighth grade band is led by Jeff Kee. Kim Parker assists both the eighth and ninth grade bands as well as the high school band. The Russellville High School Band is the flagship performance group of the program. All aspects of our program from individual playing to group performance are combined at the high school. Students have numerous performances to showcase their musical abilities. The high school band is made up

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of grades 10 through 12. Students perform at football games, concerts, and contest. After football season, the bands are divided by ability into concert bands. Students are strongly encouraged to continue developing their individual playing ability by trying out for the all-region bands and participating in solo and ensemble contest. High school students are also given the opportunity to try out for the all-state bands. Dove says, “Part of the focus of the high school band is to teach the students about how to have a musical future whether that is in a college band, a community band, church, or some other playing venue.” Brad Coffman assists Dove at the high school and spends time working

with junior high students. Dove is fortunate to have two outstanding adjunct teachers in Rachael Cantu and Hal Cooper. They teach at the junior high and high school a few hours a week as instrumental specialists. Dove is especially proud that the program now has a place to call home. Dove says, “The support of the community of Russellville is outstanding as is evident by the Center for the Performing Arts. The facility is second to none and should be a source of pride for everyone in our community. All ages of the band program use the facility for performances and the high school band is housed in a state of the art facility.”

CYCLONE BASKETBALL

LADY CYCLONES AND CYCLONES UNDERWAY The Lady Cyclone and Cyclone Basketball games are underway and both will be counting on several underclassmen throughout the 2013-2014 season. Steve Wiedower begins his 5th season as the Lady Cyclone Head Coach. The Lady Cyclones have worked extremely hard over the off-season and fans can expect to see improvements in their play throughout the year. They will have 10-11 players on the team this season which means lack of depth could be an issue so staying healthy will be crucial. The team consists of several young players which means they must gain experience during non-conference play. Wiedower will once again focus on playing solid man defense in the half court. This is a system that he brought with him after working with Joe Foley at UALR before coming to Russellville. The Lady Cyclones have shown improvements from last season in their early games thus far. They have been able to score and handle pressure in the full court much better. The Cyclones are off to a slow start this season. They are just now getting their football players adjusted to the new system that Head Coach Codey Mann has implemented over the off-season. Mann begins his 4th season at the helm for the Cyclone basketball program. The Cyclones have gone to an up-tempo dribble drive offense. Defensively, they will use multiple full court presses as well as solid half court man-to-man. The Cyclones will need to be hitting on all cylinders by the time they get to conference play in January. Both teams will be playing in arguably the toughest basketball conference in the state of Arkansas. The 6A/7A Central Conference has several talented college level players which will allow fans to see some great action at Cyclone Gymnasium this season.

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CYCLONE CHOIR

RHS CHOIR

BUILDING A STRONG TRADITION music. Foy says, “I want to help my students accomplish things that they never thought they were capable of accomplishing. I want for my students to qualify for all-region and all-state choirs and to receive superior ratings at Choral performance assessments and state festival, but the most important thing I want for them is to become better musicians.”

The Russellville High School Choir program has become one of the top programs in the state of Arkansas over the past few years. Matt Foy, director of the choir, has been with the Russellville School District for 13 years. He has worked extremely hard at building a top notch program. Since arriving in Russellville, the number of choir students has doubled. One of the main goals for the choir program is to provide students with the best opportunity to create and experience great

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The RHS Choir currently has three performing groups. The Cantate is a select girls’ choir. The Chamber Choir is a select mixed choir. The Chromatic Choir is an ultraselect mixed group of 12 voices. This group performs almost exclusively a cappella music and sings for several events throughout the year. Organizations can contact Foy if they would like this group to come out and perform by calling the Russellville High School office. Foy was pleased with the choir and their resent perfomance. The West-Central AllRegion Choir Concert took place November 2nd in the Performing Arts Center on the Russellville High School campus. This was a huge event in which almost 800 students were competing. The Feast of Carols took place December 13th and 14th at Russellville High School. This was an amazing event where students sang several holiday classics.

Foy is proud of the following students for qualifying for All-Region Choir and will have auditions for All-State Choir. Seniors Brooke Bowden, Jessica Drain, Tori Thomas, Christina Lavendier, Hannah Hines, Evan Hanna, and Cameron Clark, juniors Maddie Smith, Caroline Dollar, Logan Kinkade, Maria Franks, Holly Hines, and Scotty Scott, and sophomores Chase Pyle and Cole Birmingham give the RHS Choir an outstanding chance of having several All-State Choir members this year. Several other RHS Choir students qualified for All-Region this year. Seniors Alyssa Johnson, Grace Hendren, Ruth Lykins, Danielle Milsaps, Andrew Elam, Malik Oliver, Nathan Bell, and Jarod Apple are all very talented and have had several great years in choir. Qualifying juniors are Kori Shaffer, Olivia Stokes, Victoria

• WhitsonMorgan Heinen, Ellie Butler, Katy Tackett, Antwoin Clark, and Corban Gotcher. Sophomores that qualified for All-Region are Kathy Busch, Kyrston Rice, Ashley Lunningham, and Garren Rasden. Foy knows the importance of having parent involvement in the choir program. He says. “We have an active choir booster organization that is made up of parents of choir students from all secondary schools. Our parents help us raise money for conferences, tee shirts, competitions and trips. Our parent organization is a vital part of what we do and contributes to the success of our choir program.” Any great high school choir is dependent on strong junior high and middle school choirs. Foy is able to spend time with both of these choirs which allows him to get to know these students and encourage them to stay active in choir. Foy said, “A wise choir director once said that great teachers at lower grade levels made his job as a college director much easier. The choir directors at our junior and middle school are vital to a successful high school choir program. Cindy Kee built our middle school program so that the RMS choir had its biggest enrollment ever this year.” Kee is now the director of the junior high choir. Foy says, “Mrs. Kee’s choirs are always

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of the best quality due to her excellent teaching.” Katy Yerina is now heading up the choir program at Russellville Middle School and is doing a great job of preparing her students and teaching them the basic fundamentals of singing.

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OPTIMISTIC

PTIMIS

HOW TO BE MORE

Optimism is a thinking style that can be learned, which means that pessimism can be unlearned!

If you tend toward mostly pessimistic thinking, you can get better at seeing what’s good. Here are some things to try: Notice good things as they happen. At the end of the day, take 10 minutes to run through your day and come up with things that you’re grateful for. Write them down in a journal or keep track using a motivational app on your phone or tablet. Train your mind to believe you can make good things happen in your life. Get in a habit of telling yourself specific things you can do to succeed. For example: “If I study, I can get a better grade.” “If I practice, I’ll perform well at the audition.” “If I go on that volunteer trip, I’ll meet new friends.” Don’t blame yourself when things go wrong. What does your inner voice say when things don’t go as planned? Instead of thinking, “I failed that math test because I’m terrible at math,” tell yourself: “I failed that test because I didn’t study enough. I won’t let that happen next time!” Instead of saying, “Grace broke up with me because I’m such a loser,” think: “Now I know why people say breakups are so painful, but hanging out with my friends will help me feel better again.” When something good happens, give yourself credit. Think of what you did to make a good outcome possible. Did you prepare for the test? Practice with dedication? Think of the strengths you used and how they helped you succeed. Remind yourself that setbacks are temporary. As soon as something goes wrong, remind yourself that it will pass — and come up with a plan for making that happen. For example: “My SAT results aren’t what I hoped, but I can study more and take the test again.” Notice how other people talk about themselves. Are friends and family members optimistic or pessimistic? For example, does your dad say, “I burned the hot dogs, I’m just a terrible cook!”? Or does he say: “I burned the hot dogs because I got distracted watching the dog chase a squirrel around the backyard!”? Optimism is a thinking style that can be learned, which means that pessimism can be unlearned! It can take a little while, so don’t feel discouraged. Becoming more aware of the two styles can gradually help you start noticing more ways to be optimistic. Just keep telling yourself, “I can be more optimistic and I’m going to keep practicing!”

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CYCLONE NATION 49

OUTDOOR CLUB

CYCLONE OUTDOOR CLUB NOT JUST A CLUB, IT’S AN ADVENTURE

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The Outdoor Club at Russellville High School combines both adventure & knowledge as students learn first-hand about the great outdoors, nature, and how to enjoy it. Leader Chuck Campbell and fellow teachers Kerry Lowe, Brandon Cooper, & Neal Plummer lead students on a different adventure

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each and every month excluding the month of May. Some of the activities the Outdoor Club has been involved with include: Indoor climbing at the Little Rock Climbing Center, rock climbing at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, trail building on the Buffalo River, Hiking Petit

Jean & Nebo mountains, an Island hopping canoe trip to Lake Ouachita, hiking to Hawk’s Bill Crag, & doing work at Bona Dea for National Public Lands Day. The Club also participates in some major summer activities which have been quite interesting as well. In 2011 they floated the Buffalo River and in 2012 they attended a geology field camp. This past summer the group attended Shark week at the Gulf Coast Research Lab at the University of Southern Mississippi. Plans for this summer include a return to Shark Week & a hike at the world famous Grand Canyon.

Sounds like the Outdoor Club at Russellville High is going places, literally! So if you have an interest in the great outdoors and a sense of adventure, the RHS Outdoor Club is definitely the place for you! Previous Summer Trips: Floated the Buffalo River in 2011 Geology Field Camp 2012 Shark Week at Gulf Coast Research Lab of Univ of Southern Mississippi in 2013

This summer we are planning two trips • Grand Canyon hike for 8 kids • Sharkweek for up to 30 kids.

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CLUB SOCCER ARSENAL

AVSA 97 ARSENAL The Arkansas Valley Soccer Association 97’ Arsenal soccer team has spent the better part of 8 years competing at the highest levels of youth soccer in the state of Arkansas and the surrounding region. The team continued that tradition of excellence with an exceptionally strong 2013 Fall season. The team started the season with it’s annual training camp held in Mid July under the tutelage of University of the Ozarks coach Bryan Drotar .

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The team then worked hard leading up to the opening of the season, the prestigious Super Clubs Little Rock Champions Cup. Arsenal butted heads with two of the top teams in Oklahoma as well as old rival Westside Capitals of Little Rock. Arsenal battled injuries and 100 degree plus temperatures to make the finals against the Tulsa Blitz United. 80 minutes of regulation ended in a 2-2 tie between the two heavyweights. The

game wasn’t settled until late in the second overtime when the Blitz finally scored to win the game. Although the team didn’t bring home the championship, according to the tournament director the team earned something even more valuable: RESPECT at the regional level. The team was down to 11 players for much of the final and the team played with heart and a determination that is seldom seen. “ I was so proud of the

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team” said Coach David Duffield, “ There is no quit in any of these young men. They played through pain, exhaustion and extreme heat because they believe in each other and they refuse to let their teammates down.” Peyton Duffield and Taylor Allen were picked by tournament directors to play on a Super Clubs National Team to compete in England and Ireland in the Summer of 2014 . Other outstanding performances were turned in by David Sisson, Landon Short, Drew Coker,Samuel Pegg, Will Price, William Crisostomo, Dennis Molina, Braden Bennett, Jonathan Meyers, Osballdo Caballero, Mason Murdoch. Seth Grace and Joey Torres.

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Next up for Arsenal was the Arkansas State League where old rivals were seen on a weekly basis. The squad continued its roll by going undefeated in the Gold Division to bring home the title. The league was marked by Arsenal’s stellar defense led by a back line that includes Sisson, Bennett, Crisostomo, Coker, Price, Molina and Grant Gebhardt that gave up an average of only 1 goal per game, controlling Midfield play by Miguel Lozano, Duffield, Caballero, Short, Pegg, Grace and Murdoch and the scoring punch of strikers Allen, Torres, Meyers and Hunter Mayo. “ Winning the State league was a goal of ours in the preseason and through hard work and discipline we were able to achieve it.” Said Drew Coker. Arsenal went into the Arkansas State Championships with some momentum and

played extremely well but the ball didn’t fall their way as the injury bug hit them and they finished in a respectable 3rd place. Next on the agenda is the Sam Shannon Showcase in Tulsa Oklahoma in late November and the Showcase of the South in Little Rock in late January where the best teams in the region get together to play in front of numerous college coaches. For those looking to play college soccer, there’s no better place to be seen. “We have a number of players that have college level ability and several that are already being looked at by several schools” said Coach David Sisson. The Arsenal also welcome back Allen Daiber and Grant Gebhardt after missing many of the fall games due to football. “I love playing with Arsenal and I especially like it when we step up and play Showcases.” Said David Sisson Jr. “ It

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CLUB SOCCER ARSENAL makes us all step up our game because of the tough competition, and I love the tough competition!” Success is nothing new to Arsenal who have almost a decade of soccer experience as a team. There have been 2 state championships, numerous tournament cup championships, state league championships and along the way the boys have played in 6 states against teams from 11 different states. “ We have our rivals in state but it’s always fun to compete against teams from out of state” said Jonathan Meyers. “ It’s especially fun to beat the big city clubs who think we’re just a little Arkansas club.”

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Besides the camaraderie and the winning another thing keeps the Arsenal players loose and always coming back for more: having fun. Having fun doesn’t mean hard work is not in the equation. “ To play for Arsenal means it’s time to bring my determination to the field and focus on what’s ahead. A time where teamwork and hard work pay off.” Said Osballdo Caballero. As to the future: “ We can achieve what we put our minds to and work hard for “ said Samuel Pegg. It’s safe to say that in 2013, that hard work paid off.

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CYCLONE NATION 55

5 FACTS ABOUT GOAL SETTING These practical tips on goal setting can help make it easier to set and reach goals: 1. Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals. “I’m going to recycle all my plastic bottles, soda cans, and magazines” is a much more doable goal than “I’m going to do more for the environment.” And that makes it easier to stick with. 2. It takes time for a change to become an established habit. It will probably take a couple of months before any changes — like getting up half an hour early to exercise — become a routine part of your life. That’s because your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you’re doing is part of your regular routine. 3. Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you’re working for. (Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal, you’re training your brain to make it happen.

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4. Pleasing other people doesn’t work. The key to making any change is to find the desire within yourself — you have to do it because you want it, not because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to. It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you’re doing something out of obligation to another person. 5. Roadblocks don’t mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that’s OK — it’s normal to mess up or give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone slips up and don’t beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back on track.

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CYCLONE NATION 57

CYCLONE GENERATIONS

Corliss Williamson Cyclone Nation Class of 1992

By: Coach Fisher

Cyclone Nation has been well represented in the basketball world for a number of years now by “Big Nasty”, Corliss Williamson. All who know him personally understand that that name refers only to his prowess on the basketball court as there has been no finer individual to represent Russellville basketball in its storied history! Corliss Williamson was not only a world class basketball player, but a world class person as well. I had the distinct honor and pleasure of sitting on the bench for both his junior and senior year’s and the ride that he took me on was simply incredible. No, it was not only me; it was the entire city of Russellville, the surrounding area, & eventually the state in 1994. His high school career was something movies are made of as he was selected as the

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Gatorade National Player of the Year and was a McDonald’s All-American. The Cyclones sold out college arenas and every city they visited the gymnasiums were standing room only. On National Television his junior year, he led the Cyclones and all of Russellville to Pine Bluff to Capture the nation’s most prestigious high school tournament, The King Cotton Classic. Not only did Corliss lead us to victory, but he blocked Jason Kidd’s last second attempt at a game winner to save the day. For many folks that would be one of the biggest highlights ever and it was, but Corliss most impressed me with his character the next year when a return trip to the King Cotton saw us losing in the finals. Corliss & I were the last two in the locker room and I was gathering up leftovers and he

was resting, meditating, or simply exhausted as we were about to take the walk from the convention center to our motel rooms. I went outside and saw several people standing outside the locker room hoping to get a glimpse of Corliss and get an autograph. I came back in and simply asked him how he wanted to try to get out of there? Corliss with that million dollar smile simply said can you find me a chair? Well I did of course, and for the next 30 minutes, I stood in amazement as he visited with and signed autographs for each and every person there. To be honest at that moment, I believed nothing he could ever do in the rest of his career would ever impress me more than what took place that day, but as usual he kept finding ways to impress us all. For many Arkansans their first glimpse of Corliss was shattering a backboard as a

• WhitsonMorgan junior high player during a KARK interview, but the AAU world and every major college coach in the country were aware of our Corliss Williamson. During one week of recruiting, we as a staff got to meet Bobby Knight, Rollie Massimino, & of Course Nolan Richardson, who eventually got Williamson enrolled in school at the U of A and the rest is Arkansas Razorback history. Corliss who now serves as an assistant for the Sacramento Kings, was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1994 NCAA Basketball Championship, as his team the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Duke Blue Devils 76-72, to capture Arkansas’ 1st ever Basketball National Championship.

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Once he left the University of Arkansas Williamson was drafted in the 1st Round of the 1995 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, he went on to play for the Kings for 5 seasons before being traded to the Toronto Raptors. Corliss was then traded to the Detroit Pistons in Jan. 2001, were he flourished for the rest of the 2000-01 season. In the 2001-02 season Corliss lead the Detroit Pistons to their 1st playoff series victory since 1991, oddly enough by defeating his former team the Raptors in a game that Corliss controlled by scoring 23 points. In 2001-02 Corliss was named the NBA’s 6th man of the year. In 2003-04 Corliss was part of the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons, becoming one of a select group of players to win both an NBA & College Championship.

ZACH HOCKER

Corliss retired from the NBA in 2007 after 12 seasons in the league, but his retirement was short lived as he jumped into the coaching ranks rather quickly. Corliss started coaching as an assistant with Arkansas Baptist, eventually becoming their head coach. In 2010 Corliss was hired to lead the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) on their journey into NCAA division 1 basketball. After just three years on the job Corliss has come full circle as His former NBA team decided it was time for Corliss to get back in the league hiring him as an assistant coach for the 2013 season. Without doubt the entire Cyclone Nation and Arkansas are glad to call Corliss Williamson one of their own!

Hocker is currently completing his senior year as a four year starter for the Arkansas Razorback football team

Zach Hocker is one of the latest members of the Cyclone Nation to make an impact not only as a Cyclone, but in the entire state as well. As a Cyclone, Hocker earned all-state honors in 2009 at Russellville High School under Cyclone Head Coach Jeff Holt. As a senior, he was also named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Arkansas DemocratGazette and was ranked as the best kicker in the state of Arkansas by Scout.com. Hocker was also selected to play in the Arkansas High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star game. As a senior, he helped Russellville to an 8-3-1 record and kicked a school-record 15 field goals. All but three of his 61 kickoffs reached the end zone for a touchback, resulting in opponents starting from their 20-yard line more than 95 percent of the time. He finished the season with a 45-yard average on 35 punt attempts. He averaged more than 45 yards in seven games and 14 of his punts were downed inside the 20. He kicked four field goals in a 26-26 tie at Fayetteville, including a school-record 52 yarder. As a junior, he averaged 38 yards per punt. He selected Arkansas over Hawaii, Arkansas State, Memphis and North Carolina. Hocker is currently completing his senior year as a four year starter for the Arkansas

Razorback football team and as he entered the 2013 was breaking Arkansas & SEC records right & left. Hocker has appeared in every single game since becoming a Razorback. Entering the 2013 season, he holds the Arkansas record for career points by a kicker with 287, career made PATs with 143 and career PAT attempts with 145. He ranks second in career field goal percentage (minimum 20 made) at 75.0, his points total ranks second overall in UA history, his made field goals total ranks fourth in school history and his field goal attempts rank as the fifth on the school’s all-time list. He enters the 2013 season as the SEC’s active career leader in PATs made, total points and points per game and has added to several of those totals and records as the 2013 season is coming to a close. Upon the completion of his college football career Hocker will have several records that will take years to be broken, if ever. By all accounts and according to the “talking heads” at ESPN, Hocker’s football career is more than likely to extend to the vaunted National Football League, which would be quite an accomplishment for another of the Cyclone Nation’s best of the best!

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CYCLONE GENERATIONS

Former Cyclone Mallory Hardin now comes to your living room morning, noon, & night. Mallory joined the KARK early morning team in September of 2009, and loves helping Arkansans start their day, but through years her job that started out as a reporter has evolved into many roles. She came to KARK in September of 2007 as a general assignment reporter, covering everything from the presidential election to protecting homes from criminals. Mallory has always had a passion for journalism. After majoring in Mass Communications at the University of Central Arkansas, she began her career in front of the camera as a general assignment reporter at KFSM Channel 5 in Fayetteville. While in Northwest Arkansas, Mallory covered a wide range of events, from Razorback football to a visit from President George Bush. A Russellville native & former Cyclone, Mallory loves the southern charm of the people and the beauty of the Natural State. Since leaving Russellville and attending school she has settled in Little Rock to further pursue her career.

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Mallory is definitely an inspiration to many young people and a former Cyclone that Russellville and the Cyclone Nation are proud to call, “one of our own!” Mallory loves animals; especially those that need to be adopted. She found her dog, Ellie, at the animal shelter when she was doing a story on stray dogs! When she’s not working, Mallory likes to spend her time baking, traveling, running, volunteering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Arkansas, and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks and Chicago Cubs. “Mallory has such genuine personality, she’s upbeat, fun, and just a wonderful person to be around, which makes her a perfect fit for our morning newscast,” said News Director Rob Heverling. Just last year Mallory gave an inspirational and entertaining speech at one of her former schools, Russellville Middle School. The students were definitely excited to learn that she too was a middle school student here just like them, before graduating from Russellville High School.

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JULIE GOODIN OXENDINE “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER”

As a 1987 graduate of Russellville High School Julie Oxendine, then Goodin was quite an accomplished athlete as she excelled on the court in both basketball and tennis. On the basketball court she earned All-Conference honors and on the tennis court she and her partner were the 1987 AAAA State Doubles Champions, but as for her future, basketball and tennis would fall far behind as Oxendine has become one of, if not the, most accomplished amateur female golfers in our state’s history. Oxendine started golf after graduating from high school or there might have been a few more state championships to list on her impressive resume. Learning the game from her Uncle, Oxendine took to it quickly and was playing competitively in tournaments from the start of her career, which is on a slight hold as we speak, as she is currently recovering from rotator cuff surgery. Oxendine, who also served as a Russellville High School assistant basketball and head volleyball for a few years, now teaches physical education full time at Sequoyah Elementary giving her extra time for her golf pursuits when she is not having class.

For the past several years she has had to takes on the likes of former Razorbacks Amanda MC-Curdy, who also played professionally, & Alex Schulte. Despite all the changing competition from year to year though, there has been one constant in Arkansas women’s golf and Oxendine has been it! Oxendine has been named the AWGA Player of the Year eight times now, and is the current ASGA Player of the Year, an honor in which she has held three times. Oxendine has won six AWGA match play championships and will hopefully be returning to defend her current title of ASGA Match Play Champion this summer. She also has 5 Stroke Play championships to her credit, 3 with the AWGA & 2 with the ASGA. Oxendine also has made several teams that have competed & won team championships and has even taken a few shots at qualifying for the U.S. open, which would definitely add a jewel to Julie’s crown. Oxendine has also been nominated for & is currently being considered for induction into the ASGA Hall of Fame. With a resume like hers and the desire to keep competing, the number of accolades will continue to pour in and as far as the Cyclone Nation is concerned, her induction into the Hall of Fame is a no-brainer!

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