Best of the River Valley Preps 2018

KEEPSAKE EDITION | SUNDAY, JUN JUNE UNE E 17 17,, 20 2018 18 A AND ND WEDNESDAY, jun june 20, 2018

HOSTED BY

PRESENTED BY

buy photos from the event at swtimes.com/photos

1 | 2018 best of river valley preps

a night to remember

a

blend of entertainment, amazing stories of fantastic student-athletes, top award winners, special guests and a great crowd lifted the second annual banquet to new heights.

The Best of River Valley Preps event at the Fort Smith Convention center drew the area’s best athletes in an event that included a half hour Question and Answer session with former University of Arkansas great and current Baltimore Ravens starting running back Alex Collins.

Collins answered a set of questions from Fort Smith Athletic Director Dr. Darren McKinney, the moderator for the evening. Collins delighted the audience with a little Irish dancing to highlight some of the techniques he uses for training and agility.

Prior to the start of the show, Collins spent a little one-on-one time in the Sparks Health System VIP lounge, where he signed special football memorabilia and took photos with fans.

But the real focus of the evening was 350+ student athletes who were honored for their hard ^VYR HUK L_JLSSLUJL IV[O VU HUK VɈ [OL Ă„LSK Top award winners for the night included Bryant Burns of Ozark, who was named the Arvest Community Excellence Award recipient, presented

by President/CEO of Arvest Bank for Fort Smith and the River Valley Region. Burns was chosen for his countless hours of community service throughout the River Valley, plus his 4.0 GPA and his standout performances in both football and baseball.

The Shoppers Value Comeback Kid, presented

by Chuck Combs, president of Shoppers Value Food, went to Hannah Ladd of Ozark. Ladd overcame two ACL injuries to make it back to help the Hillbillies during her senior season.

Melissa Vitale of True Grit Running presented Jalen Cloud of Stigler the True Grit Award for his work in overcoming a birth disability to be extremely competitive on the basketball court for the Stigler team.

The top team of the year went to the Charleston Lady Tigers basketball squad. The top male athlete of the year was Greenwood’s Connor Noland who excelled in both baseball and football. The top female athlete of the year was Southside’s soccer star Kelly Carson.

TOP FROM LEFT: The Charleston Pep Band, led by Band Director Jessica Holt, opened the awards ceremony at the 2018 All-Star River Valley Preps Banquet. MIDDLE: Taco Bell representatives Robert Tanner and April Richard take photos with Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins during the Sparks VIP reception. RIGHT: Little VIPs got a chance to take photos with Alex Collins as well, LQFOXGLQJ &RUW +DQVHQ ZKR ZDV SDUW RI WKH +DQVHQ 5RRĂ°QJ WHDP IRU WKH HYHQW %27720 )520 /()7 $UYHVW 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW RI 0DUNHWLQJ %HWK 3UHVOH\ DQG GDXJKWHU 0D.HQ]LH DQG KXVEDQG 'DUU\O WDNH SKRWRV LQ WKH 6SDUNV 9,3 ORXQJH ZLWK &ROOLQV 5,*+7 6SDUNV &OLQLF SK\VLFLDQV 6DODKXGGLQ .DGGRXUD 0' .HQQHWK 7RQ\PRQ 0' 6WHSKHP +HLP 0' <DVPHQH 0F'DQLHO &KLHI $GPLQLVWUDWLYH 2Ď&#x201E;FHU 6SHQFHU 0RUWHQVHQ '30 DQG 7KDQK /H 0' WDNH D PRPHQW WR SRVH DQG JHW PHPRUDELOLD VLJQHG GXULQJ WKH 6SDUNV 9,3 PHHW Q JUHHW ZLWK &ROOLQV

2 | 2018 best of river valley preps

When we make a

SPECIAL BUY We pass the

SAVINGS ON TO YOU!

www.MyShoppersValueFoods.com

8 Locations To Serve You

COMPARE AND SAVE! ALMA, AR

CHOUTEAU, OK

106 Hwy 71 N, Alma, AR 72921 - Phone (479) 632-5992 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

500 N. Chouteau Ave., Chouteau, OK 74337 - Phone (918) 476-6700 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

FORT SMITH, AR #1

MUSKOGEE, OK

3408 Jenny Lind, Fort Smith, AR 72901 - Phone (479) 785-2841 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

615 N. York, Muskogee,OK 74403 - Phone (918) 682-1194 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

FORT SMITH, AR #2

SALLISAW, OK

9401 Hwy. 253 South, Fort Smith, AR 72908 - Phone (479) 648-8788 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

600 E. Cherokee, Sallisaw, OK 74955 - Phone (918) 755-4418 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

VAN BUREN, AR

STILWELL, OK

601 Pointer Trail East, Van Buren, AR 72956 - Phone (479) 471-1212 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

610 North 2nd St., Stilwell, OK 74960 - Phone (918) 696-3350 Store Hours: 7 am - 9 pm, 7 days a week

8 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU! 2018 best of river valley preps |

3

charleston high school

taco bell team of the year 2017 girls basketball team

THE CHARLESTON LADY TIGERS were named the Taco Bell Team of the Year at the 2018 Best of River Valley Preps event June 8 at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just so happy for all of them; the way they practiced and the ZD\ WKH\ ıQLVKHG â&#x20AC;&#x201D;JASON RUCKER

HEAD COACH

4 | 2018 best of river valley preps

T

he Charleston Lady Tigers recovered from a ZVTL[PTLZ YVJR` ZLHZVU [V ZOV^ VÑ&#x153; [OLPY NYP[ determination and never-give-up attitude at the /V[ :WYPUNZ Z[H[L Ã&#x201E;UHSZ ^OLYL [OL` ^VU P[ HSS PU H ]PJ[VY` V]LY 4V\U[HPU =PL^ [OL [LHT»Z Ã&#x201E;YZ[ Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW ZPUJL Hattlie Newhart and Baylee King were able to give the 3HK` ;PNLYZ HU VÑ&#x153;LUZP]L LKNL *VHJO 1HZVU 9\JRLY ZHPK â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought we had a little bit of an advantage with [OVZL [^V Q\Z[ ILJH\ZL ^L JHU ZWYLHK [OLT VWWVULU[Z V\[ ¹ OL ZHPK

CeU[LY 5L^OHY[ OLSWLK PJL [OL ^PU ^P[O MV\Y MYLL [OYV^Z PU [OL Ã&#x201E;UHS TPU\[L ¸0 UL]LY KV\I[LK [OH[ ^L ^LYLU»[ NVPUN [V SVZL [OH[ NHTL ¹ ZOL ZHPK ¸0 RUL^ [OH[ L]LU PM ^L NV[ KV^U ^L ^V\SK Ã&#x201E;UK H ^H` [V NL[ HOLHK >L MV\UK [OL TVTLU[\T HUK JVU[YVSSLK P[ H[ [OL LUK VM [OL NHTL ¹ 0[ ^HZ LZWLJPHSS` WSLHZPUN MVY 9\JRLY HUK OPZ KH\NO[LY 7H`[VU

¸)H`SLL WSH`LK TPU\[LZ HUK /H[[PL WSH`LK TVZ[ VM [OL NHTL 0»T Q\Z[ ZV OHWW` MVY HSS VM [OLT" [OL ^H` [OL` WYHJ[PJLK HUK [OL` ^H` [OL` Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK ¹

¸0U º ZOL 7H`[VU Z[VVK V\[ [OLYL VU [OL JV\Y[ ^P[O me ^OLU ^L ^VU P[ [OH[ `LHY HZ H ZLJVUK NYHKLY ¹ 9\JRLY ZHPK ¸:OL ^HZ V\Y IHSS NPYS 1\Z[ [V IL HISL [V ^PU H Z[H[L championship ^P[O `V\Y JOPSK [OH[»Z WYL[[` ZWLJPHS @V\ JV\SK ZLL [OL YH^ LTV[PVU ZOL OHK L]LU ILMVYL [OL NHTL was oveY ¹

¸0 YLHSS` ^HU[LK [V KV [OPZ MVY [OL ZLUPVYZ T` [LHT HUK T` MHTPS` ¹ 2PUN ZHPK

5V^ 9\JRLY JVU[PU\LK M\[\YL ;PNLYZ ^VU»[ OH]L [V OLHY HIV\[ HU`TVYL

(Z MVY [OL YLJVYK& 5V VUL JHYLZ PM `V\ ^PU [OL last game of the year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in the Hot Springs Convention

¸;OL` NL[ [PYLK VM TL [HSRPUN HIV\[ º ¹ OL ZHPK ¸0 [VSK [OLT UV^ ^L JHU [HSR HIV\[ [OL º [LHT ¹

2018 best of river valley preps |

5

ARVEST COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD

F

rom an early age, Bryant Burns was taught by his parents to make a KPÑ&#x153;LYLUJL PU [OL SP]LZ VM V[OLYZ

BRYANT BURNS

OZARK high schooL, SOPHOMORE by buck ringgold | Times record

(U PUJVTPUN Q\UPVY H[ 6aHYR ^OV WSH`Z IV[O MVV[IHSS HUK IHZLIHSS PZ [OL ZVU VM [OL /PSSIPSSPLZ» Z\JJLZZM\S MVV[IHSS JVHJO 1LYLTPL )\YUZ ;OLU )Y`HU[»Z TV[OLY 7LUUP )\YUZ OHZ OHK H Z\JJLZZM\S JHYLLY PU OLY V^U YPNO[

¸:VTL[OPUN [OH[ KLÃ&#x201E;UP[LS` Z[HUKZ V\[ [V TL ^HZ ^OLU 0 ^HZ NVPUN PU[V Ã&#x201E;M[O VY ZP_[O NYHKL ^L OHK H YLHSS` IHK [VYUHKV JVTL [OYV\NO [OL ULHYI` (S[\Z +LUUPUN HYLH HUK P[ RPSSLK H ML^ WLVWSL HUK YLHSS` SLM[ H SV[ VM OVTLZ Q\Z[ PU ZOHTISLZ ¹ )\YUZ ZHPK

7LUUP )\YUZ ZLY]LZ HZ [OL =PJL 7YLZPKLU[ VM 9LZV\YJL +L]LSVWTLU[ MVY <UP[LK >H` VM -VY[ :TP[O (YLH (UK ILJH\ZL VM [OL ]HYPV\Z M\UKYHPZLYZ 7LUUP )\YUZ HUK [OL <UP[LK >H` put together, it seemed natural that Bryant HUK OPZ `V\UNLY ZPZ[LY )YPSL` MV\UK [OLPY [Y\L JHSSPUN ¸4` TVT ZOL»Z WYVIHIS` Q\Z[ [OL ILZ[ WLYZVU 0 RUV^ ¹ )Y`HU[ )\YUZ ZHPK ¸:OL OHZ ZL[ H NYLH[ L_HTWSL MVY TL HUK T` ZPZ[LY VM OV^ WLVWSL ZOV\SK OLSW V[OLY WLVWSL no matter what and how we should go out VM V\Y ^H` [V THRL HUV[OLY WLYZVU»Z KH` IL[[LY ZV 0 [OPUR ZOL»Z KLÃ&#x201E;UP[LS` ILLU [OL IPNNLZ[ PUÃ&#x2026;\LUJL VM TL NL[[PUN [OPZ H^HYK ¹ )Y`HU[ )\YUZ OHZ ILLU ]VS\U[LLYPUN PU [OL 6aHYR JVTT\UP[` ZPUJL ILMVYL OL Z[HY[LK RPUKLYNHY[LU /L OHZ ILLU H <UP[LK >H` +H` 6M *HYPUN HUK -PSS [OL )\Z ]VS\U[LLY ZPUJL +H` VM *HYPUN WYVQLJ[Z PUJS\KLK WSHU[PUN Ã&#x2026;V^LY ILKZ H[ [OL 6aHYR 2PUKLYNHY[LU *LU[LY HUK [OL 6aHYR 5\YZPUN /VTL ^VYRPUN VU [OL WSH`PUN Ã&#x201E;LSKZ H[ [OL 6aHYR (YLH @V\[O 6YNHUPaH[PVU HUK [OL *P[` 7HYR )\[ )\YUZ OHZ ILLU PU]VS]LK PU THU` V[OLY LUKLH]VYZ /L OHZ ILLU H Y\UULY PU [OL :WLJPHS 6S`TWPJ ;VYJO Y\U MVY [OYLL `LHYZ 0U [OL Z\TTLY VM OL ]VS\U[LLYLK VU HU HYJOHLVSVNPJHS KPN ZP[L VU [OL 4\SILYY` 9P]LY UVY[O VM 6aHYR

¸/L 1LYLTPL )\YUZ KL]V[LK HU LU[PYL ^LLR VM Z\TTLY WYHJ[PJL [V NL[ [OL MVV[IHSS WSH`LYZ V\[ [OLYL HUK \Z V\[ [OLYL Q\Z[ [V OLSW WLVWSL WPJR \W Z[\Ñ&#x153; OLSW NL[ [OLPY ILSVUNPUNZ MV\UK HUK HU`[OPUN SPRL [OH[ OL JV\SK KV OL ^HZ HS^H`Z [OLYL [V KV P[ ¹ Bryant Burns added that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the little [OPUNZ [OH[ TH[[LY HZ ^LSS ^OLU P[ JVTLZ [V OLSWPUN V[OLYZ OZARKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BRYANT BURNS, left, accepts the Arvest Community Excellence Award from Rodney Shephard, President/CEO of Arvest Bank, Fort Smith and River Valley Region at the 2018 Best of River Valley Preps event on June 8.

During his sophomore year, Bryant wasa two-sport stand-out for baseball and football. However, he also made time to volunteer for a variety of special causes, including the Special Olympic Torch Run (pictured bottom left) for the last three years.

[BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/ TIMES RECORD]

/L OHZ HSZV ILLU H ]VS\U[LLY MVY 2PKZ *HTW\Z ^P[O [OL 6aHYR (YLH @V\[O 6YNHUPaH[PVU ZLY]PUN HZ H YLHKPUN HUK TH[O [\[VY MVY `V\UNLY Z[\KLU[Z

¸(S^H`Z W\[ V[OLY WLVWSL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ ¹ OL ZHPK ¸0M ZVTLVUL LSZL PZ NVPUN [OYV\NO HU`[OPUN T` MHTPS`»Z PU H WVZP[PVU ^OLYL ^L JHU OLSW V[OLY WLVWSL ¸:V PM ^L ZLL HU`VUL ^OL[OLY P[ IL Q\Z[ OVSKPUN H KVVY VY ZVTLVUL SVZPUN H MHTPS` TLTILY HUK ^L Q\Z[ OLSW [OLT NL[ [OYV\NO [OH[ 1\Z[ OLSWPUN WLVWSL OLSW THRL [OL ^VYSK H IL[[LY WSHJL SLH]PUN H IL[[LY WSHJL than where yo\ MV\UK P[ HUK OV^ `V\ MV\UK P[ ¹ Bryantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents also instilled in him the PTWVY[HUJL VM OH]PUN H NVVK LK\JH[PVU /L J\YYLU[S` V^UZ H NYHKL WVPU[ H]LYHNL ¸,K\JH[PVU PZ Ã&#x201E;YZ[ ¹ )\YUZ ZHPK ¸>L HYL Z[\KLU[ H[OSL[LZ HUK UV[ H[OSL[PJ Z[\KLU[Z ¹ )\[ L]LU [OV\NO OPZ VU [OL Ã&#x201E;LSK [PTL isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t his top priority, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turning heads there HZ ^LSS (Z H [^V ZWVY[ Z[HUKV\[ WLYMVYTLY MVY [OL 6aHYR /PSSIPSSPLZ PU IV[O MVV[IHSS HUK IHZLIHSS )\YUZ » ¹ WV\UKZ Z[HY[LK MVY [OL Hillbillies on both sides as a tight end and KLMLUZP]L LUK MVY [OL MVV[IHSS ZX\HK /L OHK [V\JOKV^U YLJLW[PVUZ HUK VUL Y\ZOPUN [V\JOKV^U

)Y`HU[ L]LU ]VS\U[LLYZ HZ HU \TWPYL HUK H NYV\UKZRLLWLY H[ [OL `V\[O IHZLIHSS Ã&#x201E;LSKZ PU 6aHYR

/L MY\Z[YH[LK VWWVULU[Z ^P[O MV\Y ZHJRZ ZL]LU [HJRSLZ MVY H SVZZ HU PU[LYJLW[PVU HUK ZVSV [HJRSLZ /L ^HZ UHTLK Ã&#x201E;YZ[ [LHT HSS JVUMLYLUJL MVY [OL ZLHZVU

¸0»T Q\Z[ [Y`PUN [V IL PU]VS]LK HUK THRL [OL JVTT\UP[` IL[[LY I\[ HSZV [OPUNZ SPRL [OL `V\[O VYNHUPaH[PVU OLYL PU 6aHYR ¹ OL ZHPK ¸<TWPYPUN Ã&#x201E;_PUN Ã&#x201E;LSKZ WHPU[PUN SPULZ VU Ã&#x201E;LSKZ JOHSRPUN Ã&#x201E;LSKZ TV^PUN Ã&#x201E;LSKZ HU`[OPUN [OH[ Q\Z[ YLHSS` ULLKZ [V IL KVUL ¹ SUBMITTED PHOTO

6 | 2018 best of river valley preps

And while it was his mother who made H IPN PTWHJ[ VU )Y`HU[ ILPUN PU]VS]LK PU OPZ JVTT\UP[` P[ ^HZ ZVTL[OPUN OPZ MH[OLY KPK ZL]LYHS `LHYZ HNV ^OPJO HSZV THKL HU PTWYLZZPVU

0U IHZLIHSS OL OLSWLK [OL [LHT H[ Ã&#x201E;YZ[ IHZL HUK OHK Y\UZ HUK H Ã&#x201E;LSKPUN WLYJLU[HNL

2018 best of river valley preps |

7

connor noland

male athlete of the Year

senior | greenwood high s by leland barclay | special to the Times record

T

wo championship games. Two bigtime performances. Two MVPS. Two championships. That’s how to leave a legacy, Connor Noland style.

Noland guided Greenwood to the Class 6A state championship in football in December and turned around and did the same in baseball in May. “That was my goal when I came here,” Noland said. “I wanted to get one in both sports. To do it in the same year is an amazing accomplishment. Kudos to all the guys on both teams, doing a great job and bringing it back to the city.”

5VSHUK ÄYZ[ SLK .YLLU^VVK [V H dominating 13-0 season in football, marching to the state title with a 52-14 win V]LY 7PUL )S\ќ PU [OL JOHTWPVUZOPW NHTL H[ Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.

Noland was named the Most Valuable Player after throwing for 305 yards and four [V\JOKV^UZ SLH]PUN [OL ÄLSK PU [OL MV\Y[O quarter to a roaring ovation.

“There are guys that coach their whole lives and never coach anybody close to him,” Greenwood head football coach Rick Jones said. “He can run it, he can throw it plus he’s a great kid. He’s a great kid to coach. You never had to worry about him not being a worker.”

For the season, Noland completed 225-of-323 passes for 2,820 yards and 34 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He HSZV YHU MVY `HYKZ HUK Ä]L [V\JOKV^UZ For his career at Greenwood, he completed 446-of-657 passes for 5,757 yards and 60 touchdowns.

For his four-year career, including his freshman year at Bishop Manogue in Reno, Nev., he completed 527-of-840 passes for 6,944 yards and 66 touchdowns.

“He’s got great feet, he’s got great speed as well,” Jones said. “When he turns it on

8 | 2018 best of river valley preps

I don’t know many people that can catch OPT /L ^VYRLK OPZ [HPS Vќ PU [OL VќZLHZVU We had to buy him a new pair of shoulder pads.”

Noland was just as dominating, maybe more, during baseball season.

Noland guided the Bulldogs to a 32-3 record and the Class 6A state championship with a 4-0 win over Benton at the University of Arkansas’ George Cole Field at Baum Stadium.

Noland was named the MVP after throwing 89 pitches in a complete-game [^V OP[ ZO\[V\[ ^P[O Z[YPRLV\[Z ÄUPZOPUN \W ^P[O HUV[OLY V]H[PVU HM[LY [OL ÄUHS V\[ [OL afternoon after high school graduation.

“It was an awesome experience for me to watch him dominate on the mound,” Greenwood head baseball coach Trey Holloway said.

For the season, Noland was a perfect 10-0 on the mound with a save. In 66-2/3 innings, he allowed 21 hits, four earned runs, walked 14 and struck out 123. He also hit .424 at the plate.

“This is just a stepping stone for him,” Holloway said. “You see the heart that he has, the warrior that he has. He’s a great kid.

He works super hard.”

Noland signed during the early signing period while his family was on a vacation at the Roman Colosseum in December to play football for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

He will also walk-on and play baseball for the Razorbacks. Ironically, both championships were at venues where the Razorbacks play.

“He has a big road ahead of him even with college whether it be in football and baseball, professional football or professional baseball, whatever he goes on to in the future,” Holloway said. “This is just a stepping stone for him. He has bigger games ahead of him.”

kelly carson

FEmale athlete of the Year

senior | southside high school cho ool

by KEVIN TAYLOR | Times record

K

elly Carson woke up one Sunday in mid-May thinking about what might have been.

The Southside senior had recently graduated from high school, disconnected herself from athletics as she knew it. But ...

“Like I told my parents, that Sunday, the weekend of the championship, I could have been a champion today,” Carson said.

A week after Southside’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Rogers in the 7A soccer ZLTPÄUHSZ *HYZVU ^HZ HZRLK PM ZOL»K OHK time to move on.

She had not. That was Kelly Carson.

“To answer your question,” she said, “No, I haven’t gotten over it.”

“With basketball, we didn’t win a lot, but it was fun to get to know the girls and get to play with the girls for a few years,” she said.

“I learned a lot about life.”

0[ ^HZ H KPќLYLU[ H[TVZWOLYL HS[VNL[OLY with soccer. The Mavericks won the 7A-Central conference championship this season.

Carson then scored three goals, including an overtime winner, to give the Mavericks a second-round win over Fayetteville. ¸>P[O ZVJJLY P[»Z H ^OVSL KPќLYLU[ story, because we won a lot,” she said.

“It was nice to play with girls who knew the game. Playing sports, it was nice to make lifetime friendships with all of them.”

*HYZVU ÄUPZOLK OLY ZVJJLY JHYLLY ^P[O 65 goals and 33 assists, most celebrated scorer in Southside history.

Carson decided before last Christmas that she wouldn’t pursue athletics in college.

The stress, the relentless practice time wasn’t worth it.

Carson didn’t have it bad on the basketball court, either. Despite being 5-foot-5, Carson established herself as a relentless scorer — especially from the 3-point line.

“I know that I’m going to miss it, probably soccer more than basketball,” Carson said.

“But i’m going to college to be a student. I want to play intramurals; I’ve seen how hard it is to be a student athlete.

She also learned how to lose with dignity.

“I think this is best for me.”

KELLY CARSON OF SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL with the 2018 Preps banquet guest speaker, Alex Collins.

2018 best of river valley preps |

9

rick jones coach of the year

greenwood green nwood head football coach

S

by leland barclay | special to the Times record pring footb football ball this year put last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dominating state championship team in championshi ip football tea perspective for Greenwood head coach Rick Jones.

J

touchdowns in every game and scored over WVPU[Z MV\Y [PTLZ ;OL` [YHPSLK PU VUS` MV\Y NHTLZ HSS ZLHZVU MVY H NYHUK [V[HS VM TPU\[LZ ZLJVUKZ ;OL` [YHPSLK H[ [OL OHSM once and were tied at the half another time.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always easy to t look back at a the ^OH[»Z Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK WYVK\J[ HUK JJVTWHYL P[ [V ^ ILPUN UV[ L]LU JSVZL [V IL LPUN Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK ¹ 11VULZ said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a prettyy good idea last year with that football team and the guys we had PU WSHJL ¹

¸;OL` ^LYL YLHK` I\[ [OL` ^LYL YLHK` L]LY` ^LLR ¹ 1VULZ ZHPK ¸;OL` ^LYL YLHK` [V YVSS ¹

Greenwood won the Class 6A state

JOHTWPVUZOPW ^P[O H KVTPUH[PUN ^PU V]LY 7PUL )S\Ñ&#x153; [V JVTWSL[L H KVTPUH[PUN ^PU V]LY 7PUL )S\Ñ&#x153; [V JV VTWSL[L H KVTPU JOHTWPVUZOPW ^HZ [OL ZLHZVU ;OL JO HTWPVUZOPW ^HZ school eighth in football in sch hool history and third undefeated season.

Jones is the Best of o Preps Coach of o the Year. ;OL JOHTWPVUZOPW JOHTWPVUZOPW W ^HZ HSZV 1V 1VULZ» `LHY JHYLLY PUJS\KPUN ZL]LU LPNO[O PU OPZ `LHY JH HYLLY PUJS\KPUN Z H[ .YLLU^VVK 1VUL 1VULZ Z PZ V V]LYHSS ^P[O H ZWSLUKPK THYR PU `LHYZ H[ ^P[O H ZWSLUKPK THYR PU `LH Greenwood.

0U [OL )\SSKVNZ )\SSK KVNZ V\[ZJVYLK [OLPY VWWVULU[Z I` H THYNPU VY VWWVULU[Z I` H THYNPU VY WLY NHTL ([ [OL OHSM .YLLU^VVK SLK I` HU WLY NHTL ([ [OL OHSM . .YLLU^VVK SLK H]LYHNL VM ;OL )\SSKVNZ ZJV ZJVYLK SLHZ[ MV\Y VYLK H[ SLHZ[

0U -LIY\HY` 4H_7YLWZ ]PZP[LK .YLLU^VVK HZ WHY[ VM P[Z UH[PVUHS ;V\Y VM *OHTWPVUZ HM[LY [OL )\SSKVNZ Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK [O PU [OL UH[PVU ¸;OL` SVZ[ [^V NHTLZ PU [OYLL `LHYZ VM OPNO ZJOVVS MVV[IHSS ¹ 1VULZ ZHPK ¸>L OHK NYLH[ SLHKLYZ PU [OH[ NYV\W ;OL` ^LYLU»[ HMYHPK [V ^VYR ¹ ;OL ZLUPVYZ ^LYL PU [OLPY JHYLLYZ with three appearances in the state championship game. ;OL` KLÃ&#x201E;UP[LS` ZH]LK [OL ILZ[ MVY SHZ[ ^P[O [OLPY KVTPUH[PUN WLYMVYTHUJL ^OPJO PUJS\KLK HSS [OYLL ^PUZ PU [OL WSH`VÑ&#x153;Z via the Arkansas Activities Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sportsmanship Rule that calls for a JVU[PU\V\ZS` Y\UUPUN JSVJR ^OLU H ZLJVUK OHSM SLHK YLHJOLZ WVPU[Z â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be a long time before we have HUV[OLY NYV\W L_HJ[S` SPRL [OH[ ¹ 1VULZ ZHPK â&#x20AC;&#x153;You feel like you have to hold them back ZVTL[PTLZ ¹

We had great leaders in that group. They werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afraid to work ... It will be a long time before we have another group exactly like that. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;rick jones greenwood head football coach

10 | 2018 best of river valley preps

2018 best of river valley preps |

11

true grit award JALEN CLOUD

alen Cloud can do a lot of things out on the basketball court.

He can take the ball down the Ã&#x2026;VVY /L JHU ZWV[ \W HUK ZOVV[ WVPU[LYZ ([ MVV[ OL JHU even block shots.

STIGLER high school, SOPHOMORE

¸0[ ^HZ 62" 0 KPK H SV[ IL[[LY [OHU 0 KPK SHZ[ `LHY ¹ *SV\K ZHPK ¸3HZ[ `LHY 0 ^HZ VUS` NL[[PUN HIV\[ H WVPU[ H NHTL HUK [OPZ `LHY 0»]L I\TWLK \W [V Ã&#x201E;]L

by buck ringgold | Times record

¸3HZ[ `LHY 0 KPKU»[ NL[ T\JO VM H YVSL VU [OL [LHT HUK [OPZ `LHY OL RPUK VM TV]LK TL into the rotation and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to start a little bit more than what I did last year so it was a ^OVSL SV[ IL[[LY [OHU P[ ^HZ SHZ[ `LHY ¹

0[ TH` HWWLHY [OH[ *SV\K ^OV Q\Z[ JVTWSL[LK OPZ ZVWOVTVYL `LHY H[ :[PNSLY PZ `V\Y [`WPJHS IHZRL[IHSS WSH`LY 5V[ [V TLU[PVU [OL MHJ[ [OH[ OL SP]LZ HUK IYLH[OLZ [OL ZWVY[

)HZRL[IHSS PZU»[ [OL VUS` ZWVY[ *SV\K WSH`Z /L PZ H KPZ[HUJL Y\UULY MVY [OL 7HU[OLY [YHJR [LHT HUK OHK WSH`LK MVV[IHSS \U[PS OPZ MYLZOTHU ZLHZVU ^OLU *SV\K KLJPKLK [V concentrate more on basketball.

¸/L»Z HS^H`Z ^HU[LK [V WSH` IHZRL[IHSS" OL»Z SV]LK P[ HSS VM OPZ SPML ¹ OPZ KHK >LZSL` *SV\K ^OV PZ HSZV [OL OLHK JVHJO H[ :[PNSLY said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always had a basketball in his hand. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always watching old Michael Jordan (highlights). ... Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always watched old basketball videos for as long as I can YLTLTILY ¹

Having one full hand wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only ZL[IHJR *SV\K OHK [V KLHS ^P[O NYV^PUN \W 0U ^OLU OL ^HZ [^V `LHYZ VSK OPZ IPY[O TV[OLY ,UNSPZO WHZZLK H^H` MYVT H ZLW[PJ PUMLJ[PVU >LZSL` *SV\K ZHPK OPZ Ã&#x201E;YZ[ ^PML OHK S\W\Z HUK [OH[ ZOVY[S` HM[LY 1HSLU [\YULK [^V ,UNSPZO JHTL KV^U ^P[O [OL Ã&#x2026;\ HUK OHK ZVTL YLJ\YYPUN PZZ\LZ ^P[O [OH[ PSSULZZ ^OLU ZOL WHZZLK H^H`

)\[ 1HSLU *SV\K PZ WSH`PUN [OL ZWVY[ OL SV]LZ KLZWP[L UV[ OH]Png the full use of his YPNO[ OHUK H JVUKP[PVU OL OHZ OHK ZPUJL IPY[O /L VUS` OHZ H JV\WSL VM Ã&#x201E;UNLYZ WYV[Y\KPUN from the ball-like structure of his hand.

>LZSL` *SV\K HKKLK OPZ ZVU KVLZU»[ have any vivid memories of his birth mother.

0[ OHZU»[ Z[VWWLK OPT MYVT KVPUN [OL UVYTHS [OPUNZ HU`VUL LSZL KVLZ ^OL[OLY P[»Z WSH`PUN IHZRL[IHSS VY [`PUN OPZ V^U ZOVLSHJLZ (UK *SV\K ZHPK OL [HRLZ KLSPNO[ in winning over doubters who believe his JVUKP[PVU OHTWLYZ OPZ WSH`PUN HIPSP[` ¸0 SPRL [V RUV^ [OH[ WLVWSL [OPUR 0 JHU»[ YLHSS` WSH` ^LSS ILJH\ZL 0»]L NV[ VUL OHUK so I use that to my advantage and their disadvantage. ... I love it when they think I JHU»[ KV ZVTL[OPUN ZV 0»T SPRL º0»T HIV\[ [V W\[ VU H ZOV^ YPNO[ OLYL IV`Z HUK [LHY [OLT \W »¹ *SV\K ZHPK ¸;OH[»Z T` MH]VYP[L WHY[ ZV P[ OHZU»[ ILLU H WYVISLT MVY TL 0 LUQV` P[ ¹

( `LHY SH[LY PU >LZSL` *SV\K YLTHYYPLK HUK ZHPK OPZ J\YYLU[ ^PML (ZOSL` PZ [OL VUL 1HSLU YLMLYZ [V HZ OPZ TVT ;OL JV\WSL HSZV OHZ [^V V[OLY JOPSKYLU â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has always been headstrong and OL OHZ HS^H`Z ILLU KL[LYTPULK ¹ >LZSL` said of Jalen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His mom and I have always W\ZOLK MVY OPT [V KV L]LY`[OPUN VU OPZ V^U

JALEN CLOUD, (left), a sophomore from Stigler, Okla. accepts the True Grit award from Melissa Vitale, owner of True Grit Running, during the 2018 Best of River Valley Preps event on June 8.

¸ 7YV]PUN WLVWSL ^YVUN PZ T` MH]VYP[L [OPUN [V KV ¹ ¸0 WYHJ[PJL L]LY` KH` 0 JHU" 0»]L ILLU WSH`PUN ZPUJL 0 ^HZ PU RPUKLYNHY[LU ZV P[»Z Q\Z[ ILJVTL SPRL H UH[\YHS [OPUN [V TL HUK P[»Z UV[ OHYK P[»Z Q\Z[ UVYTHS ¹ OL ZHPK ¸,]LY`[OPUN MLLSZ UVYTHS ¹ He also got a chance to showcase his ZRPSSZ L]LU TVYL HZ H ZVWOVTVYL ^OLU OL ^HZ PUZLY[LK PU[V [OL Z[HY[PUN SPUL\W *SV\K Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK ^P[O HU H]LYHNL VM ULHYS` Ã&#x201E;]L WVPU[Z YLIV\UKZ HUK HZZPZ[Z WLY NHTL HUK OHK H ZLHZVU OPNO VM WVPU[Z PU VUL NHTL 0U HKKP[PVU OL OHK H [V[HS VM Z[LHSZ PU NHTLZ HUK ISVJRLK MV\Y ZOV[Z

¸,]LU ^OLU OL ^HZ `V\UN OL HS^H`Z ^HU[LK [V KV Z[\Ñ&#x153; VU OPZ V^U HSS VM [OL [PTL OL KPKU»[ ^HU[ HU` OLSW 0[»Z OHYK MVY \Z [V ZLL [OH[ OL OHZ HU` KPZHIPSP[` >L UL]LY ZLL it and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always treated OPT ¹ Jalen Cloud added his teammates have HJJLW[LK OPT HZ VUL VM [OL N\`Z

,]LU ^OLU OL ^HZ `V\UN OL HS^H`Z ^HU[LK [V KV Z[\Ñ&#x153; VU OPZ V^U HSS VM [OL [PTL OL KPKU»[ ^HU[ HU` OLSW 0[»Z OHYK MVY \Z [V ZLL [OH[ OL OHZ HU` KPZHIPSP[` >L UL]LY ZLL P[ HUK [OH[»Z [OL ^H` ^L»]L HS^H`Z [YLH[LK OPT

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WESLEY CLOUD

JALEN CLOUDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FATHER

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great because they all know what I JHU KV HUK [OL` SPRL [V [LSS V[OLY WLVWSL [OH[ 0 JHU KV P[ 0»]L ILLU WSH`PUN ^P[O [OVZL N\`Z ZPUJL RPUKLYNHY[LU ZV P[»Z ILLU H ISHZ[ ¹ *SV\K PZ UV^ WYLWHYPUN MVY OPZ Q\UPVY ZLHZVU H[ :[PNSLY HUK Z[PSS OHZ HZWPYH[PVUZ VM WSH`PUN IHZRL[IHSS H[ [OL JVSSLNPH[L SL]LS /L HSZV WSHUZ [V Z[\K` WOHYTHJ` HUK ILJVTL H WO`ZPJHS [OLYHWPZ[ ¸/L SP]LZ [V WYV]L WLVWSL ^YVUN ¹ >LZSL` Cloud said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He looks forward to going and JVTWL[PUN HUK WLVWSL [OPURPUN OL JHU»[ KV ^OH[ [OL` JHU KV ¹

2018 best of river valley preps |

12

2018 best of river valley preps |

13

shoppers value comeback kid award hannah ladd

ozark high school, senior

H

annah Ladd was not going to be denied. Ladd endured not one but two ACL injuries.

Ozark’s leading scorer had just worked her way back MYVT H ÄYZ[ (*3 ^OLU [OL \U[OPURHISL happened.

“She hurt again her junior year, so the kids (players) had to go through it twice,” Ozark coach Bret Nagel said.

It was Aug. 25, 2016. School had started. Ladd was running down the court.

“We were running and my leg gave out on me,” she said. “I couldn’t put pressure on my leg and I’m back to the doctor. He told me I had torn my ACL again, along with my meniscus this time.”

Done? Finished? Not Hannah Ladd.

“I told my self I’m not going to let it stop me,” she said. “I got back on the court; I went to therapy every day. To get to be on the court my senior year was the most amazing thing. Everybody being me made me feel so much better.”

Ladd hit the ground as a freshman, helping lead Ozark on a magical state tournament run.

Then came the injuries.

“Hannah hurt her knee in the sixth game of her sophomore year,” Nagel said.

“Obviously, our team was devastated, because she was a big part of that team.”

For Ladd, the moment is frozen in time.

by KEVIN TAYLOR | Times record “We did an in-bounds play, to go [V^HYK [OL V[OLY LUK VM [OL ÅVVY ¹ ZOL said. “Our in-bounder tossed it over the top of everybody. I went up for a layup, and when I did, I got my legs taken out from underneath me.”

Before crashing to the ground, Ladd knew something wasn’t right. ¸>OLU 0 [OL ÅVVY 0 RUL^ [OL WHPU ^HZ unbearable,” she said. “I was sitting there and my stomach just dropped. It’s my biggest fear in the world. I went to the doctor to get the worst news an athlete could think of. I was like, ‘Oh boy.‘ “He told me you’ve torn your ACL, and it was literally the most sickening feeling in my whole life.”

Down, but not out, Ladd went to work almost immediately.

“Hannah’s recovery was all on her; she’s going to be the one there working hard every day,” Ladd said. “She never felt entitled to anything, she was just going to show up every day and do what she had to do, and that’s the way her recovery was.

“She went to therapy every day; she was dedicated.”

“As the year went on, I had so many people behind me,” she said. “Coach Nagel always believed in me, no matter what. My summer ball coach, my family ... everybody believed in me.

“And the process is long; it’s not easy.

I was sitting there and my stomach just dropped.

It’s my biggest fear in the world. I went to the doctor to get the worst news an athlete could think of.

—WESLEY CLOUD

JALEN CLOUD’S FATHER

OZARK’S HANNAH LADD, right, shoots as Charleston’s Payton Rucker, left, and Allie Green defend in Charleston.

[BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/TIMES RECORD]

2018 best of river valley preps |

14

Central Mall 1117636

2018 best of river valley preps |

15

SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LUCY SHELLY

BRANDON ULMER BOONEVILLE

CEDARVILLE

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY SHE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; ONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY HE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; ON Nâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Cedarvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior Lucy Shelly struck out 137 batters and had an earned-run average of 2.02. Opponents batted .211 against her. She was also a force at the plate. Shelly batted .532 with an on-base percentage of .648. She also had three home runs, 29 RBIs and 28 runs scored while hitting four triples and eight doubles.

Booneville junior Brandon Ulmer is a high-quality three-sport athlete, excelling in MVV[IHSS IHZLIHSS HUK [YHJR HUK Ă&#x201E;LSK 3HZ[ MHSS <STLY [OYL^ UPUL [V\JOKV^U WHZZLZ HUK YHU MVY Ă&#x201E;]L TVYL ^OPSL JVU[LZ[PUN ^P[O UHNNPUN PUQ\YPLZ ;OPZ ZWYPUN OL ZWSP[ [PTL as he had done a year ago, between baseball and track â&#x20AC;&#x201D; often hitting late at night in his family batting cage after doing track work and homework.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think I would prefer hitting because I get so much adrenaline when I step up in the box,â&#x20AC;? Shelly said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of my favorite parts of softball.â&#x20AC;?

Shelly may have been at her best in one four-game stretch in April, which were played on four consecutive days. In those four games, Shelly pitched the Lady Pirates to wins in each, getting a 1.84 earned-run average in 28 innings. She also batted .500, and hit home runs during a 9-3 win against Ozark on April 11 and in an 11-3 win against Booneville the following day. She also got a 2-0 shutout win against 4HUZĂ&#x201E;LSK VU (WYPS HUK ^HZ [OL ^PUUPUN WP[JOLY PU H ^PU HNHPUZ[ *OHYSLZ[VU VU April 10.

WHY HE WON 0U OPZ Ă&#x201E;YZ[ ZLHZVU as the Lady Eagles coach, he took a squad that had just won six games the previous season to winning 27 this year, and coming home with the 3A YLNPVUHS [P[SL ;OL` JYVZZLK VÉ&#x2C6; >HSU\[ Ridge in the state tournament before losing to Harmony Grove.

16 | 2018 best of river valley preps

.VPUN [OL L_[YH TPSL PZ WHY[ VM )YHUKVU <STLYÂťZ +5( ;OL ZVU VM JVHJO <STLY WSH`LK [YH]LS IHSS MVY OPZ KHK +HYI` ILMVYL OPNO ZJOVVS ;OLU PU OPNO ZJOVVS OL HNHPU answered to his dad. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He wanted to improve and do everything the right way,â&#x20AC;? Darby Ulmer said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Other kids want to work hard and have fun, but they also want to be kids. I think he was a little more mature at that age.â&#x20AC;? ¸0[ÂťZ YLHSS` UV KPÉ&#x2C6;LYLU[ H[ OVTL VY ^P[O [OL [LHT š )YHUKVU <STLY ZHPK ¸0 RUV^ 0 have a job to do, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to play hard and do whatever it takes.â&#x20AC;?

SOFTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

DONALD HART

GREG PAIR, JR.

PARIS

LAVACA

WHY HE WON Greg Pair, Jr., a fourth-year Lavaca baseball coach, led the Golden Arrows to a 17-5 Ă&#x201E;UPZO ^PUUPUN conference before losing the Ă&#x201E;YZ[ YV\UK PU [OL state tournament. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With baseball, you just take it one day at a time.â&#x20AC;?

ȁƌŮƵƐ¨ y¨Ƣā ¶ 0ȁ¨̲ěƐ Ƶƛǖ¨Ƣ̺ t Ɩù ® 0Ǵ ̸Ēƅ

pĒ ù̀ Qů̾

¨Ƣ ɒȁěƢú t TɒȊƌƵŚěěú ^J

¨Ƣ ɒȁěƢú t /Ƶȁȵ yƛŹȵŮú t ¨ƐāȁƵƢú t 7¨ȁȁŹȊƵƢú t HƵŮƢȊƵƢú t tƵŚěȁȊú t ěƢȵěȁȵƵƢú t yǖȁŹƢŚā¨Ɛěú t y¨ƐƐŹȊ¨̳ú ^J ¨ŮƐěǵɒ¨Ůú ^J yȵŹƐ̳ěƐƐú ^J

ǼljŤ ƅȤ ¨Ƣ ɒȁěƢú t HěƢƢ̺ MŹƢāú t ¨ŮƐěǵɒ¨Ůú ^J

oɂ ǴǴůĒǼ ¨Ƣ ɒȁěƢú t HěƢƢ̺ MŹƢāú t TŹāƐ¨Ƣāú t yǖŹȁƵú ^J ¨ŮƐěǵɒ¨Ůú ^J ^ƌ¨̺ú ^J

ŒȔƩŴȔĤŇŴŒɋȔLJ Ǯ ƨɂ Ɩ ɂůƅù ZƖ ZɂǴ pĒljɂȤ ȤůƨƖǯ ̵​̵​̵ǚ lj ÔÔĒƖȤǴ ƅůƖÔǚÔƨƏ

/ ĄĄĄ²²²sĄ¦s Ą²

2018 best of river valley preps |

17

GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JAMILYN KINNEY

ISAIAH JOE

VAN BUREN

NORTHSIDE

—WHY SHE WON—

—WHY HE WON—

1HTPS`U 2PUUL` Z[HY[LK VM [OL NHTLZ [OL 3HK` 7VPU[LYZ WSH`LK [OL SHZ[ MV\Y `LHYZ TPZZPUN Q\Z[ VUL Z[HY[ ^P[O [OL Å\ HZ H UPU[O NYHKLY I\[ Z[PSS WSH`PUN PU [OL ZLJVUK OHSM VM [OL NHTL HUK OLSWPUN =HU )\YLU [V H YLJVYK K\YPUN [OH[ [PTL ^P[O MV\Y Z[H[L [V\YUHTLU[ HWWLHYHUJLZ HUK ^PUZ PU HSS MV\Y Z[H[L [V\YUHTLU[Z ;OPZ PZ [OL ZLJVUK `LHY PU H YV^ [OH[ 2PUUL` OHZ ILLU UHTLK HZ )LZ[ VM 7YLWZ .PYSZ )HZRL[IHSS ([OSL[L VM [OL @LHY

5VY[OZPKL»Z ZLUPVY WVPU[ N\HYK 0ZHPHO 1VL SLK [OL .YPaaSPLZ PU ZJVYPUN [OPZ ZLHZVU I` H]LYHNPUN WVPU[Z H NHTL PUJS\KPUN PU [OL ( JOHTWPVUZOPW NHTL H SVZZ [V 5VY[O 3P[[SL 9VJR /L HSZV H]LYHNLK YLIV\UKZ HZZPZ[Z HUK Z[LHSZ WLY NHTL ^OPSL THRPUN WLYJLU[ VM OPZ MYLL [OYV^Z WLYJLU[ VM OPZ ÄLSK NVHSZ HUK ^HZ HSZV WLYJLU[ ZOVV[PUN MYVT WVPU[ YHUNL

¸>L»]L ILLU MVY[\UH[L [V OH]L H RPK [OH[ 0 JHSS H NLULYH[PVUHS WSH`LY" VUJL L]LY` `LHYZ `LHYZ [OH[ THRLZ H [LHT HUK [\YUZ H WYVNYHT HYV\UK ¹ *VHJO *OYPZ )Y`HU[ ZHPK

5VY[OZPKL YL[\YULK VUS` VUL Z[HY[LY MYVT H [LHT [OH[ OHK ^VU [OL ( Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW PU [OL ZLHZVU ;OH[ SVUL Z[HY[LY HUK 9HaVYIHJR ZPNULL ULHYS` OLSWLK [OL .YPaaSPLZ W\SS VɈ H YLWLH[ HUK OL KPZTPZZLK [OL UV[PVU LU[LYPUN [OL ZLHZVU [OL .YPaaSPLZ L]LU ^P[O OPZ WYLZLUJL ^LYL PU H YLI\PSKPUN TVKL

2PUUL` ZJVYLK WVPU[Z PU OLY MV\Y `LHY JHYLLY ^OPJO PZ [OL ZLJVUK OPNOLZ[ [V[HS PU ZJOVVS OPZ[VY` PU [OL VM LYH ILOPUK VUS` +H`UH :JO\S[a HUK [OL TVZ[ ZPUJL =HU )\YLU ^HZ LSL]H[LK PU[V [OL Z[H[L»Z SHYNLZ[ JSHZZPÄJH[PVU MVY [OL ZLHZVU :OL ÄUPZOLK ^P[O JHYLLY ZJOVVS YLJVYKZ PU HZZPZ[Z THKL WVPU[LYZ Z[LHSZ NHTLZ WSH`LK HUK ^PUZ :OL HSZV ZL[ ZPUNSL ZLHZVU ZJOVVS YLJVYKZ PU HZZPZ[Z PU ZLHZVU HUK THKL WVPU[LYZ PU

WHY HE WON +LZWP[L ZVTL I\TWZ PU [OL ZLHZVU *OHYSLZ[VU JVHJO Jason Rucker never SVZ[ ZPNO[ VM [OL WYVJLZZ ,]LU HM[LY losses that hurt — SPRL [OL -LIY\HY` SVZZ [V 6aHYR — Rucker buckled down with his squad to lead them to the ultimate win — the 3A state championship title.

18 | 2018 best of river valley preps

¸;OL` Q\Z[ KPKU»[ \UKLYZ[HUK [OH[ [OL `V\UN [HSLU[ [OH[ ^L OH]L PZ NYLH[ P[»Z [YLTLUKV\Z ¹ 1VL ZHPK ¸0»]L ILLU ^VYRPUN ^P[O [OLT ZPUJL KH` VUL 0U [OL .YPaaSPLZ» ( X\HY[LYÄUHS NHTL HNHPUZ[ )LU[VU]PSSL 1VL OHK WVPU[Z" [OLU PU [OL ( ZLTPÄUHS HNHPUZ[ -H`L[[L]PSSL 1VL SLK 5VY[OZPKL ^P[O WVPU[Z HZ [OL .YPaaSPLZ YVSSLK ^PUUPUN

GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

BOYS BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

JASON RUCKER

EDDIE LEWIS

CHARLESTON

ROLAND

WHY HE WON 30-year coaching veteran Eddie Lewis avoided what should have been a “down” year and took the team to a ÄUPZO ILMVYL losing to Heritage /HSS [OL L]LU[\HS Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZ PU [OL ( X\HY[LYÄUHS match-up.

an evening of fun!

BALTIMORE RAVENS RUNNING BACK ALEX COLLINS throws a signed football to some of the attendees who had posted to social media during the event with the designation #rivervalleypreps.

[BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/TIMES RECORD]

OG&E

is proud to sponsor the BEST OF RIVER VALLEY PREPS ^Óä£n " iÀ}Þ À«°

2018 best of river valley preps |

19

GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

KELLY CARSON

JASON MENDOZA

SOUTHSIDE

NORTHSIDE

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY HE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY SHE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; By the time the Southside Mavericks wrapped up conference with a No. 1 seed , celebrating a hard-fought 3-1 win on Northsideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home turf with a zillion team WOV[VZ 2LSS` *HYZVU OHK ZJVYLK NVHSZ HUK Ă&#x201E;UPZOLK [OL YLN\SHY ZLHZVU ^P[O career goals. She leaves Southside has the all-time leading scorer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I might be the one scoring, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not doing it without work from the other 10 players,â&#x20AC;? Carson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just because I get the credit for the goal, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re helping me.â&#x20AC;?

Southside expected to make a run at the 7A-Central crown this season. And, except for a hiccup against Bryant, the team didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disappoint. *HYZVUÂťZ Ă&#x201E;UHS NVHS HU V]LY[PTL IVV[ [OH[ NH]L OLY OLY Ă&#x201E;UHS OH[ [YPJR PU H Z[H[L X\HY[LYĂ&#x201E;UHSZ ^PU V]LY -H`L[[L]PSSL SLM[ OLY ^P[O JHYLLY NVHSZ

SOCCER COACH OF THE YEAR

MAURICIO MACIEL NORTHSIDE

Northside Senior Jason Mendoza had been through his share of disappointments.

(Z H MYLZOTHU OL ^HZ WHY[ VM [OL ZX\HK [OH[ ^HZ KLMLH[LK PU [OL Z[H[L Ă&#x201E;UHSZ I` Bentonville. His junior year, he and his teammates were in a state of shock after SVZPUN VU [OLPY OVTL Ă&#x201E;LSK [V 9VNLYZ /LYP[HNL PU [OL ( X\HY[LYĂ&#x201E;UHS YV\UK But as a senior, he knew what needed to be done. And this year, the Grizzlies JSHPTLK [OL ( Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW [OL WYVNYHTÂťZ Ă&#x201E;YZ[ ZPUJL ^P[O H ^PU HNHPUZ[ 9VNLYZ VU [OL ZHTL Ă&#x201E;LSK ^OLYL 4LUKVaH Z\É&#x2C6;LYLK H Z[H[L [P[SL SVZZ HZ H freshman. Mendoza was a big contributor to the Grizzliesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; success this season. He Ă&#x201E;UPZOLK OPZ ZLUPVY `LHY ^P[O NVHSZ HUK HZZPZ[Z /L ^HZ HSZV H IPN MHJ[VY PU Northsideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title game win, scoring two of the Grizzliesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been really for the whole team, it really hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been (anyone) individually, we all play for the team,â&#x20AC;? Mendoza said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come out here and play for just you, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the whole team.â&#x20AC;?

WHY HE WON The Grizzlies ended the 2018 season with six Z[YHPNO[ ^PUZ JHWWLK I` [OL WYVNYHTÂťZ Ă&#x201E;YZ[ Z[H[L championship since 2013 when Northside rolled past 9VNLYZ MVY [OL ( [P[SL While winning state may have come as a surprise to some, it really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come as a surprise to coach Mauricio Maciel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After you do these for a while, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m entering my 20th year, you kind of have a sense coming in of what kind of team you are and what kind of players you have,â&#x20AC;? Maciel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been telling these guys all along we have the roster, we have the possibility for a state championship because we do have quite a bit of talent and if they just focus in every single game,

20 | 2018 best of river valley preps

we have the potential to win every single time if we focus and do things right.

The Grizzlies did just that down the stretch, though during their drive to the state championship, they were also blessed with some good fortune.

5VY[OZPKL ^VU P[Z X\HY[LYĂ&#x201E;UHS NHTL I` KLMLH[PUN -H`L[[L]PSSL PU V]LY[PTL 0U [OL ZLTPĂ&#x201E;UHSZ HNHPUZ[ Springdale, Northside rallied from a 1-0 secondOHSM KLĂ&#x201E;JP[ ^P[O [^V Z[Yaight goals, the latter with approximately four minutes left, to pull out a 2-1 win. The Grizzlies were able to get it done in the 7A championship game. But there was no need for any late heroics or magic; instead, it was thorough domination by the Grizzlies, who raced out to a 3-0 Ă&#x201E;YZ[ OHSM SLHK LU YV\[L [V [OL KVTPUH[PUN ^PU

2018 best of river valley preps |

21

VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LEXIE CASTILLOW

KENNY WOOD

GREENWOOD

GREENWOOD

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY SHE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; 0U OLY Ã&#x201E;UHS OPNO ZJOVVS ]VSSL`IHSS TH[JO .YLLU^VVK»Z 3L_PL *HZ[PSSV^ ^HZ KLÃ&#x201E;UP[LS` H WYLZLUJL VU [OL JV\Y[ ( MVV[ ZLUPVY SPILYV ZOL YLJVYKLK KPNZ PU [OL ( Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW TH[JO HNHPUZ[ 1VULZIVYV H IPN YLHZVU ^O` [OL 3HK` )\SSKVNZ ^VU [OLPY Ã&#x201E;YZ[ Z[H[L [P[SL ZPUJL :OL SLK [OL 3HK` )\SSKVNZ PU KPNZ [OPZ WHZ[ ZLHZVU ^P[O HUK ^HZ HSZV [OL team leader in serve-receptions with 588 and service aces with 55, making her the )LZ[ VM 7YLWZ =VSSL`IHSS ([OSL[L VM [OL @LHY

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY WHY HE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; 9\UUPUN IHJR 2LUU` >VVK ^HZ HTHaLK ^OLU OL [VVR [OL OHUKVÉ&#x2C6; HUK ZH^ H ^PKL VWLU Ã&#x201E;LSK VU .YLLU^VVK»Z Ã&#x201E;YZ[ WSH` VM [OL *SHZZ ( Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW NHTL ¸;OH[ ^HZ WYL[[` PUJYLKPISL ¹ >VVK ZHPK ¸0[ ISL^ T` TPUK OP[[PUN [OL `HYK SPUL HUK Z[PSS Y\UUPUN 0[ ^HZ [OL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ WSH` VM [OL NHTL 0 ZH^ H JYLHZL HUK ^OLU 0 SVVRLK [OYV\NO [OL JYLHZL 0 ZH^ LUK aVUL 0 Q\Z[ [VVR VÉ&#x2C6; ¹

For her career, Castillow had 1,892 digs, 1,108 serve-receptions and 78 aces.

>VVK ^HZ HSZV Z\YWYPZLK UVIVK` ^HZ NHPUPUN VU OPT [OYV\NO OPZ `HYK touchdown run.

¸3L_PL PZ Q\Z[ H MVYJL [V IL YLJRVULK ^P[O ¹ .YLLU^VVK JVHJO 1LUUPMLY .VSKLU ZHPK ¸+LMLUZP]LS` ZOL KVLZU»[ SPRL [V SL[ HU`[OPUN OP[ [OL Ã&#x2026;VVY ¹

;OL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ WSH` HUK SHZ[ WSH` VM [OL JOHTWPVUZOPW NHTL ^PSS IL [OL TVZ[ TLTVYHISL MVY >VVK ^OV ZPNULK [V WSH` JVSSLNPH[LS` ^P[O [OL <UP]LYZP[` VM *LU[YHS (YRHUZHZ

-VY [OL WHZ[ ZL]LYHS `LHYZ *HZ[PSSV^ OHZ IH[[SLK [\TVYZ PU OLY YPNO[ RULLJHW and in her lungs, which was diagnosed as giant cell sarcoma, a cancerous blood KPZVYKLY +VJ[VYZ YLJVTTLUKLK [OH[ ZOL UV[ WSH` HU` TVYL ZWVY[Z )\[ *HZ[PSSV^ ^HZ determined to beat the odds.

>VVK ^HZ HU HSS HYV\UK [OYLH[ MVY [OL )\SSKVNZ 0U [OL Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW NHTL >VVK YHU MVY [^V [V\JOKV^UZ HUK JH\NO[ H [V\JOKV^U WHZZ

*HZ[PSSV^ ^PSS NL[ [V JVU[PU\L OLY ]VSSL`IHSS JHYLLY HZ ZOL ZPNULK [V WSH` MVY <(-:

WHY she WON Greenwood capped a dramatic season with a 3-1 win over Jonesboro [V [HRL [OL ( Z[H[L championship match. ;V KV [OH[ [OV\NO [OL` had to beat rival Siloam :WYPUNZ MVY H Ã&#x201E;M[O time. To do so, Golden worked with her team [V Z[\K` Ã&#x201E;ST HUK MVJ\Z VU PTWYV]PUN RL` [OPUNZ In the end, she and her star-studded squad, made it happen.

22 | 2018 best of river valley preps

+\YPUN [OL ZLHZVU OL YHU [PTLZ MVY `HYKZ HUK [V\JOKV^UZ >VVK HSZV JH\NO[ WHZZLZ MVY `HYKZ HUK ZL]LU [V\JOKV^UZ 0[»Z [OH[ K\YHIPSP[` HUK ]LYZH[PSP[` [OH[ THRLZ OPT [OL )LZ[ VM [OL 7YLWZ -VV[IHSS 7SH`LY VM [OL @LHY

VOLLEYBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

FOOTBALL COACH OF THE YEAR

JENNIFER GOLDEN

RICK JONES

GREENWOOD

GREENWOOD

WHY HE WON Rick Jones took the Greenwood Bulldogs on a dominating ride in 5A football, capping the 13-0 season with a 52-14 win over 7PUL )S\É&#x2C6; PU [OL ( State Championship game. Jones is now ^P[O ZL]LU state titles with the Bulldogs and 295-71 overall in his illustrious career with eight state championships.

2018 best of river valley preps |

23

GIRLS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BOYS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

KATE FILES

ETHAN EDDLEMAN

NORTHSIDE

SOUTHSIDE

—WHY SHE WON— It was an impressive debut season for Northside girls tennis player Kate Files.

As a freshman, she won her initial match. She didn’t stop there, though, as Files kept on winning throughout the season.

That included going perfect through the regular season, making her the Best of Preps Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year.

Files was just getting started. She went on to capture the 7A-Central championship, and her run continued at the 7A State Tournament. Files made it all the way to the title match, but was defeated in straight sets by Fayetteville’s Mary Houston, 6-0, 6-0.

0[ ^HZ Z[PSS X\P[L H ZLHZVU MVY -PSLZ ^OV ÄUPZOLK ^P[O H YLJVYK :OL THKL P[ [V [OL ÄUHSZ HM[LY H ^PU HNHPUZ[ 9VNLYZ» ,YPJH 1HNNLTH\[O PU [OL ZLTPÄUHSZ HM[LY WVZ[PUN H Z[YHPNO[ ZL[ ^PU PU OLY X\HY[LYÄUHS TH[JO

WHY HE WON :V\[OZPKL [LUUPZ JVHJO )YHKLU ,HKZ RUL^ [OL WV[LU[PHS IV[O OPZ 4H]LYPJRZ OHK PU [OL MHSS VM ;OL ZLHZVU ILMVYL ,HKZ» ÄYZ[ H[ [OL ZJOVVS ^OLYL he had played, there was a total of nine players that X\HSPÄLK MVY [OL ( :[H[L ;V\YUHTLU[ (S[OV\NO [OL Mavericks had slightly fewer players make it this past season, seven, it was still a successful one. ([ [OL ZHTL [PTL ,HKZ ZHPK OL OVWLK [V OH]L more players make state.

“Our goal for the season is always to make it to Z[H[L HUK ^L OHK [^V N\`Z HUK Ä]L NPYSZ THRL P[ ZV I was happy with that ... But I still can’t help but be disappointed for the ones who didn’t make it.”

Of all the big things the Mavericks were able to

24 | 2018 best of river valley preps

—WHY HE WON— -VY [OL ZLJVUK Z[YHPNO[ ZLHZVU :V\[OZPKL [LUUPZ WSH`LY ,[OHU ,KKSLTHU YLHJOLK [OL ( Z[H[L ZLTPÄUHSZ ,KKSLTHU ^HZ H Z[H[L ZLTPÄUHSPZ[ PU IV[O OPZ Q\UPVY HUK ZLUPVY ZLHZVUZ ^P[O :V\[OZPKL (Z H ZLUPVY OL ÄUPZOLK [OPYK H[ Z[H[L HM[LY WVZ[PUN H [OYLL ZL[ ^PU HNHPUZ[ 3P[[SL 9VJR *LU[YHS»Z (UPS *OHRRH ,KKSLTHU KYVWWLK VUS` [^V YLN\SHY ZLHZVU TH[JOLZ HZ H ZLUPVY HUK ^HZ H ( *LU[YHS JVUMLYLUJL ZLTPÄUHSPZ[ HZ ^LSS HZ H IHJR [V IHJR ( Z[H[L ZLTPÄUHSPZ[ “I loved the coaches and the team (at Southside), and the conference was very good, too, so I was able to play a lot of the top players in the state,” he said. ,KKSLTHU UV^ NL[Z [OL JOHUJL [V JVU[PU\L OPZ [LUUPZ JHYLLY YPNO[ PU OPZ V^U backyard. Following his senior season, he signed to play for the UAFS Lions.

accomplish on the courts, perhaps the biggest was the girls team capturing the 7A-Central conference championship.

Southside’s girls claimed the conference title in 3P[[SL 9VJR ^P[O H [V[HS VM WVPU[Z ;OL 4H]LYPJRZ were led by their doubles team of Amy Truitt and Mackenzie Shell, who won the conference championship in that division as well.

6U [OL IV`Z ZPKL ZPUNSLZ WSH`LYZ ,[OHU ,KKSLTHU HUK 1HJR 3LKIL[[LY IV[O X\HSPÄLK MVY Z[H[L I` ÄUPZOPUN [OPYK HUK ZP_[O H[ [OL JVUMLYLUJL tournament, respectively. At the 7A State ;V\YUHTLU[ ,KKSLTHU THKL P[ [V OPZ ZLJVUK Z[YHPNO[ ZLTPÄUHS HUK LUKLK \W [OPYK ^OPSL [OL doubles team of Truitt and Shell also reached the ZLTPÄUHSZ

TENNIS COACH OF THE YEAR

BRADEN EADS SOUTHSIDE

Paris Eagles

THR33 - P3AT

2018 best of river valley preps |

25

GIRLS GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BOYS GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SYDNIE GAMBLE

EVAN GRIFFITH

GREENWOOD

GREENWOOD

—WHY SHE WON— Sydnie Gamble has crisscrossed the continental United States playing golf. She’s played golf in North Carolina and California. But her biggest challenge to date took place in the fall at the state tournament.

“I really kind of learned what I was capable of, especially at the state tournament,” she said. “We had all prepared, and we sort of took it in stride. (But) I showed that I was capable of playing good golf, even if I wasn’t feeling a hundred percent.”

Gamble’s dominating 12-stroke victory for individual medalist helped the Lady Bulldogs win the 6A state championship. She is one of many First Tee of Fort Smith golf success stories. The drive to be the best taught her self discipline.

“The daily grind of practicing and the daunting school work can be tough, but when you hit that one shot, and it feels good, that’s when you feel like you can do anything,” Gamble said. “It keeps you going.”

—WHY HE WON— ,]HU .YPɉ[O LHYULK PUKP]PK\HS TLKHSPZ[ OVUVYZ H[ [OL ( Z[H[L NVSM [V\YUHTLU[ and helped the Bulldogs to a runner-up title.

After a fast-paced summer, then an even busier fall that included trying his hand H[ HJ[PUN MVY [OL .YLLU^VVK 5V]LTILY T\ZPJHS VM )LH\[` HUK [OL )LHZ[ .YPɉ[O ZHPK he actually zoned out at the state meet. Those two days at Jonesboro Country Club were like a blur.

“Looking back at it, and how I accomplished being the medalist, and trying to YLTLTILY [LL ZOV[Z 0 ^HZ Q\Z[ NVPUN ^P[O [OL ÅV^ 0 ^HZU»[ YLHSS` [OPURPUN HIV\[ HU`[OPUN¹ .YPɉ[O ZHPK ¸0 KV YLTLTILY VUL ZOV[ 4` JVHJOLZ ^PML ^HZ LH[PUN ZVTL WLHU\[ 4 4Z HUK ZOL NH]L VUL [V TL ¸)LMVYL 0 [LLK VɈ 0 JV\SK ZLL OLY VU [OL NYLLU HUK 0 [OPUR [OPURPUN 0 NV[ [V NL[ \W [OLYL ZV 0 JHU NL[ ZVTL TVYL 4 4Z ¹

WHY HE WON

second time in her four-year career.

Like any coach worth his weight in gold, Greenwood golf coach Ronnie Williams is already looking ahead to the 2018 golf season.

It will be hot this July when the Bulldogs assemble their team. It will be competitive, too.

7HJLK I` .HTISL»Z L]LU WHY VU [OL ÄUHS day of the tournament, Greenwood teammates Ella Austin and Jordyn Lane, the Lady Bulldogs blew it VWLU VU [OL ÄUHS KH` ^P[O (\Z[PU HUK 3HUL IV[O shooting 94.

Then again, nothing will ever compare to Greenwood’s magical 2017 season.

(SZV MVY .YLLU^VVK 1HLSLL 4VOL[H\ ZOV[ 109 (217).

The reigning 6A champs won it all last September. *VTWL[PUN H[ )PN *YLLR .VSM *V\U[Y` *S\I ULHY 4V\U[HPU /VTL [OL 3HK` )\SSKVNZ HJJ\T\SH[LK H [^V KH` ZJVYL VM ÄUPZOPUN Z[YVRLZ HOLHK VM runner-up Siloam Springs.

“Jordyn and Ella didn’t play a lot of golf before high school,” Williams said. “For them to out and win the state championship, it was awesome. Next year will be tough. >P[O YLJSHZZPÄJH[PVU ^L»SS NV from 16 teams to 32 years.

Sydnie Gamble led the charge with a two-round score of 145 — earning medalist honors for the

This coming school year, 5A and 6A will compete together in all sports except football.

26 | 2018 best of river valley preps

GOLF COACH OF THE YEAR

RONNIE WILLIAMS GREENWOOD

27 | 2018 best of river valley preps

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BOYS TRACK & FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR

KENNEDY TIMMERMAN

JOSEPH WITTIG

OZARK

GREENWOOD

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY SHE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; 2LUULK` ;PTTLYTHU Z\YTPZLK [OL Ã&#x201E;LSK H[ [OL Z[H[L [YHJR TLL[ HUK Ã&#x201E;N\YLK ZOL KPKU»[ OH]L T\JO VM H JOHUJL )\[ ;PTTLYTHU KLJPKLK [V Y\U [OL YHJL HU`^H`

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY HE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; 1VZLWO >P[[PN HU LSP[L SVUN KPZ[HUJL Y\UULY JHWWLK OPZ OPNO ZJOVVS [YHJR JHYLLY ^P[O H Ã&#x201E;YZ[ WSHJL Ã&#x201E;UPZO H[ [OL ( Z[H[L TLL[ PU 9\ZZLSS]PSSL

(UK ZOL ^VU ;^PJL PU MHJ[

>P[[PN ^VU [OL TL[LYZ ! HUK ^HZ ZLJVUK ! PU [OL

2LUULK` ^OV NYHK\H[LK ^P[O H .7( HKKLK [V OLY TVUZ[LY ZLUPVY ZLHZVU ^P[O H WHPY VM ]PJ[VYPLZ PU [OL HUK TL[LYZ

:V KVTPUH[L PU [OL TL[LYZ PU MHJ[ >P[[PN JYVZZLK [OL Ã&#x201E;UPZO SPUL ZLJVUKZ HOLHK VM Y\UULY \W 6THY 9HTVZ

;PTTLYTHU ^VU [OL ^P[O H [PTL VM ! ISP[aPUN OLY ^H` WHZ[ SVUN[PTL ULTLZPZ :R`SHY *HTWILSS VM YP]HS 7V[[Z]PSSL I` HSTVZ[ [OYLL M\SS ZLJVUKZ 7\ZOLK I` 6aHYR [LHTTH[L 2HSP 9PJOHYKZ ;PTTLYTHU ULLKLK H SH[L IVVZ[ [V OVSK VÉ&#x2C6; *LU[YHS (YRHUZHZ *OYPZ[PHU»Z (SSP 1VOUZVU I` H M\SS ZLJVUK PU [OL TL[LYZ

( -VY[ :TP[O UH[P]L >P[[PN H[[LUKLK .YLLU^VVK ZJOVVSZ MVY H ]HYPL[` VM YLHZVUZ TVZ[ UV[HIS` P[Z HJHKLTPJZ 0U MHJ[ MVY >P[[PN ^OV JHYYPLK H .7( P[ ILNPUZ HUK LUKZ ^P[O HJHKLTPJZ

;PTTLYTHU ^OV Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK Ã&#x201E;M[O PU [OL HUK LPNO[O PU [OL PU [OL 4LL[ VM *OHTWZ ^PSS JVU[PU\L OLY H[OSL[PJ JHYLLY H[ <*( UL_[ ZWYPUN

WHY HE WON 5V VUL ^HZ OHWWPLY [V IL OVTL SHZ[ MHSS [OHU +\Z[PU >PSSPHTZ ;OL 7HYPZ NYHK\H[L ZPNULK VU [V JVHJO NPYSZ IHZRL[IHSS HUK IV`Z [YHJR /L L_JLSSLK PU IV[O LZWLJPHSS` PU [YHJR )\[ Ã&#x201E;YZ[ OL OHK [V ILH[ [OL I\ZOLZ ZVTL ¸>P[O H ZTHSS ZJOVVS ^L ZOHYL H[OSL[LZ ^P[O IHZLIHSS HUK [YHJR ¹ >PSSPHTZ ZHPK ¸>L OHK ZVTL VM [OL IV`Z JHTL V\[ H[ [OL LUK [VV >L»]L NV[ H SV[ NVVK RPKZ HUK ^OLU [OL` NP]L `V\ [OLPY ^VYK `V\ JHU JV\U[ VU [OLT ¹ 7HJLK I` UL^JVTLYZ 1\SP\Z )`YK HUK 1HRVI :JOTHSa 7HYPZ [VVR ZLJVUK WVPU[Z H[ [OL JVUMLYLUJL TLL[

28 | 2018 best of river valley preps

3HZ[ `LHY >P[[PN ^HZ ZLSLJ[LK [V IL H NYV\W JVTTHUKLY PU OPZ .YLLU^VVK 96;* WYVNYHT /L ^PSS H[[LUK [OL (PY -VYJL (JHKLT` [OPZ MHSS [OV\NO OL»Z WYVIHIS` KVUL Y\UUPUN VU H JVTWL[P[P]L SL]LS

;OL 3HK` ,HNSLZ» [YHJR [LHT Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK [OPYK 3LK I` 2YPZ .YHOHT [OL ,HNSLZ» Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK Ã&#x201E;YZ[ ZLJVUK HUK [OPYK PU [OL [YPWSL Q\TW ^P[O 1\Z[\Z 3LL HUK )LU /HKKVJR WSHJPUN ZLJVUK HUK [OPYK YLZWLJ[P]LS` >PSSPHTZ ^HZ LZWLJPHSS` WYV\K VM :JOTHS[a»Z JVUMLYLUJL [P[SL PU [OL KPZJ\Z 5L^JVTLY 1\SP\Z )`YK ^VU [OL TL[LYZ )`YK TV]LK [V 7HYPZ MVSSV^PUN [OL LUK VM 9VNLYZ /LYP[HNL»Z MVV[IHSS ZLHZVU 0U HSS [OL ,HNSLZ OHK ZL]LU H[OSL[LZ X\HSPM` MVY [OL Z[H[L [V\YUHTLU[ PUJS\KPUN 1 7 7V[[Z ^OV ^HZ Ã&#x201E;M[O PU [OL PU[LYTLKPH[L O\YKSLZ HUK ;YLU[VU /PJL ZOV[ W\[

TRACK & FIELD COACH OF THE YEAR

DUSTIN WILLIAMS PARIS

2018 best of river valley preps |

29

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

TAYLOR KOETH

JOSEPH WITTIG

GREENWOOD

GREENWOOD

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY SHE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY WHY HE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Greenwood sophomore cross country runner Taylor Koeth expressed thankfulness PU ZL]LYHS HYLHZ :OL Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK OLY ZLHZVU VU H Z[YVUN UV[L NL[[PUN [OPYK PU IV[O [OL 6A-West Conference meet HZ ^LSS HZ [OL ( :[H[L TLL[ PU /V[ :WYPUNZ LHYUPUN OLY the Best of Preps Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year. ¸0»T ]LY` NYH[LM\S [OH[ [OL 3VYK OHZ ISLZZLK TL ^P[O HU HTHaPUN ZLHZVU [LHTTH[LZ HUK JVHJO ¹ 2VL[O ZHPK ¸;OPZ `LHY 0 OH]L OHK [V YLHSPaL [V [Y\Z[ .VK RLLW ^VYRPUN OHYK HUK Z[H` WVZP[P]L ¹ (UK VM JV\YZL 2VL[O ^HZ X\PJR [V NP]L M\SS JYLKP[ [V OLY JVHJO 1PT (UKYL^Z MVY OPZ YVSL PU OLSWPUN 2VL[O YLHSPaL OLY WV[LU[PHS 2VL[O ^PSS OH]L TVTLU[\T NVPUN PU[V OLY Q\UPVY ZLHZVU ([ [OL ( >LZ[ TLL[ ZOL WSHJLK [OPYK PU H [PTL VM ! ;OLU H[ [OL Z[H[L TLL[ ZOL Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK [OPYK PU H time of 20:30.60. ¸;OPZ `LHY HZ H ZVWOVTVYL ZOL WSHJLK H[ HSS TLL[Z HUK L]LU NV[ [V Y\U H[ [OL Arkansas-Oklahoma all star meet and set a new (personal ILZ[ .L[[PUN OLY [PTL KV^U ^HZ [OL Z[Y\NNSL I\[ P[ UL]LY MHaLK OLY ¹ JVHJO 1PT (UKYL^Z ZHPK

1VZLWO >P[[PN MVSSV^LK H ]LY` ZPTWSL WOPSVZVWO` K\YPUN OPZ ZLUPVY ZLHZVU Y\UUPUN JYVZZ JV\U[Y` MVY [OL .YLLU^VVK )\SSKVNZ

WHY HE WON .YLLU^VVK JYVZZ JV\U[Y` JVHJO 1PT (UKYL^Z ZHPK [OL KL[LYTPUH[PVU ZOV^U I` OPZ Y\UULYZ OLSWZ OPT LUQV` ^OH[ OL KVLZ L]LU TVYL ¸0 OH]L H NYLH[ NYV\W VM Y\UULYZ [OH[ THRL P[ LHZ` [V SV]L ^OH[ 0 KV ¹ (UKYL^Z ZHPK ¸;OL` ^HU[ [V ^VYR [V NL[ IL[[LY Andrews also had two of his male runners and two of his female runners each make the top 10 at the Arkansas State Cross Country Meet in Hot :WYPUNZ 1VZLWO >P[[PN H ZLUPVY Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK ZLJVUK PU [OL ( IV`Z WVY[PVU VM [OL TLL[ OLSK H[ 6HRSH^U 7HYR ^P[O H [PTL VM ! /PZ [LHTTH[L ZLUPVY AHJR 3VVWLY ^HZ MV\Y[O ^P[O H [PTL VM !

30 | 2018 best of river valley preps

¸4` ZLUPVY ZLHZVU [H\NO[ TL [V LUQV` [OL WYVJLZZ ILJH\ZL [OH[»Z ^OH[ `V\»SS YLTLTILY ^OLU `V\ YLHJO `V\Y KLZ[PUH[PVU ¹ >P[[PN ZHPK )` HSS HJJV\U[Z >P[[PN [\YULK PU H [YLTLUKV\Z Ã&#x201E;UHS JYVZZ JV\U[Y` ZLHZVU JHWWLK I` ZLJVUK WSHJL ZOV^PUNZ H[ IV[O [OL ( >LZ[ *VUMLYLUJL TLL[ HZ ^LSS HZ H[ [OL ( Z[H[L TLL[ PU /V[ :WYPUNZ ¸;OPZ WHZ[ ZLHZVU HUK [OL VWWVY[\UP[` [V Y\U H[ [OL 5PRL *YVZZ *V\U[Y` 9LNPVUHSZ ^HZ PUJYLKPISL HUK P[ THKL HSS [OL ^VYR HUK Z[Y\NNSL ^VY[O P[ ¹ >P[[PN ZHPK .YLLU^VVK JYVZZ JV\U[Y` JVHJO 1PT (UKYL^Z YLHSPaLK OV^ ZWLJPHS HU H[OSL[L >P[[PN ^HZ HUK L_WYLZZLK NYH[P[\KL MVY [OL JOHUJL [V JVHJO OPT ¸1VZLWO >P[[PN PZ H ZWLJPHS Y\UULY OL PZ H IVYU SLHKLY [OH[ ^VYRZ OHYK [V ZL[ HUK HJOPL]L NVHSZ H[ HSS JVZ[ OL PZ KYP]LU HUK OHZ ZVTL VM [OL ILZ[ MVJ\Z HUK TLU[HS LKNLZ 0 OH]L ZLLU PU H Y\UULY ¹ (UKYL^Z ZHPK ¸/L ^PSS UV[ IL LHZPS` YLWSHJLK ¹

;OL )\SSKVNZ HSZV Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK [OPYK PU [OL ( [LHT Z[HUKPUNZ HUK HUV[OLY Y\UULY 5H[OHUPLS .VUaHSLZ placed in the top 20 as he came in 19th.

6U [OL NPYSZ» ZPKL 3HK` )\SSKVN ZVWOVTVYL Taylor Koeth was third in the 6A meet in a time of ! ^OPSL MYLZOTHU 4HJPL *HZO ^HZ LPNO[O Y\UUPUN PU H [PTL VM ! (Z H [LHT [OL 3HK` )\SSKVNZ Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK ZP_[O Andrews added several of his top runners also OHK H NYLH[ ZOV^PUN H[ [OL 5PRL *YVZZ *V\U[Y` 9LNPVUHS OLSK H[ ;OL >VVKSHUKZ ;L_HZ ¸;H`SVY HUK 4HJPL YHU PU [OL YPZPUN Z[HY YHJL THKL \W VM [O HUK [O NYHKLYZ" ;H`SVY Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK [O HUK 4HJPL [O ¹ (UKYL^Z ZHPK ¸;OL ZLUPVY N\`Z [OH[ ^LU[ KPK ^LSS [VV 0[ ^HZ H NVVK L_WLYPLUJL Y\UUPUN ^P[O HUK HNHPUZ[ Z\JO NVVK JVTWL[P[PVU ¹

CROSS COUNTRY COACH OF THE YEAR

JIM ANDREWS GREENWOOD

SWIMMING PLAYER OF THE YEAR

WRESTLING PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SAVANNAH MARTIN

THAI TA

ALMA

SOUTHSIDE

—WHY SHE WON—

—WHY WHY HE WON—

Savannah Martin’s best days in the pool may be ahead of her. So says renowned Fort Smith swim coach Tom Bullock.

“She has a very natural ability in the water, and that’s hard to be taught,” Bullock said.

“Swimming has been a big part of my life for the past nine years,” Martin said. “It allows me to express myself through hard work, dedication, and countless hours I have spent in the pool and out of it.”

A scholar student as well, Martin will swim in college at Henderson State University.

The Jonesboro native who relocated to the River Valley with her family in 2013, earned four consecutive all-conference accolades and being named all-state three times. She is the Times Record Best of Preps swimmer for 2018.

“She’s been placing in the top three in the state,” Bullock said. “With her, she’s a pure racer.”

WHY he WON Tom Bullock icoaches the swimmers who represent Northside, Southside, Alma and Greenwood. Then in the summertime, Some of Bullock’s swimmers were able to qualify for the 6A/7A and 1A/5A state meets which were held in Bentonville last February, and several placed in the top 10.

;OHP ;H»Z Z[H[L JOHTWPVUZOPW PU [OL WV\UK JSHZZPÄJH[PVU VWLULK ZVTL doors, and makes him the Best of Preps Wrestling Athlete of the Year. But his success didn’t happen overnight.

“Eventually, I got the thought of being a state champion,” Ta said. “But not when I ÄYZ[ Z[HY[LK 0 RUL^ 0 Z[PSS ULLKLK [V PTWYV]L H SV[ TVYL ¹ Ta’s championship will allow him to wrestle on the collegiate level at Ouachita Baptist University. “It’s like another opportunity for me to get better in the sport, and maybe even go as far as the Olympics,” Ta said.

Ta is part of a revamped Southside program that’s on the upswing. Ta said the relentless push from assistant coach Robert Moore proved to be a big lift as well. ¸/L»Z [OL VUL [OH[ YLHSS` TV[P]H[LK TL ¹ ;H ZHPK ¸/L YLHSS` Z[HY[LK TL VɈ ^P[O L]LY`[OPUN ILJH\ZL OL W\[ ZV T\JO [PTL HUK LɈVY[ HUK TVUL` PU[V P[ [YH]LSPUN [V JHTWZ HUK KPɈLYLU[ JVTWL[P[PVU ¹

SWIMMING COACH OF THE YEAR

WRESTLING COACH OF THE YEAR

TOM BULLOCK

JOHN PETREE

NORTHSIDE, SOUTHSIDE ALMA & GREENWOOD

VAN BUREN

WHY HE WON John Petree knew the potential Van Buren’s wrestling program had when he coached against them while he was at Sallisaw. Petree then took over the Pointers and has helped push the program in the right direction. The Pointers set a school record for most dual wins in a season with 13. Also at the 6A/7A state wrestling tournament, junior Mason /H`LZ ÄUPZOLK [OPYK PU [OL 120 weight class.

2018 best of river valley preps |

31

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;WHY HE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

BOWLING PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Even though he and his Southside teammates knew a state bowling title was theirs, Hunter Humphries wanted to make his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last roll memorable.

HUNTER HUMPHRIES

Humphries did exactly that.

SOUTHSIDE

/L KLSP]LYLK [OL L_JSHTH[PVU WVPU[ ^P[O H Z[YPRL W\[[PUN [OL Ã&#x201E;UPZOPUN touches on the Mavericksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team championship at the 7A/6A state bowling tournament held at Bowling World in the middle of February. It also capped an individual state title for Humphries, a junior. ¸0 RUL^ ^L OHK P[ KVUL I\[ 0 ^HZ SPRL ^L»YL UV[ NVPUN [V Ã&#x201E;UPZO [V Ã&#x201E;UPZO ¹ /\TWOYPLZ ZHPK ¸>L»YL NVPUN [V NV M\SS V\[ HUK 0 ^HU[LK [V SLH]L H Z[H[LTLU[ ¹ <WVU /\TWOYPLZ» Ã&#x201E;UHS YVSS OL ^HZ PTTLKPH[LS` TVIILK I` OPZ [LHTTH[LZ ^OV OHK ZLUZLK [OL` ^LYL NVPUN [V ^PU K\YPUN [OL Ã&#x201E;UHS NHTL using the Baker System. /\TWOYPLZ ^HZ PUZ[Y\TLU[HS PU OLSWPUN :V\[OZPKL ^OPJO Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK second at state last season, win the 7A/6A team championship, which the Mavericks did with a total team score of 4,335 pins.

And Humphries also brought to his school some individual hardware.

Humphries won the 7A/6A individual state title by rolling a three-game score of 708, the only bowler to break 700.

He took a commanding lead after the opening game, in which he rolled a 256; then followed that up with a 223 in the second game and a 229 in the third. ¸0 OHK ILLU SVZPUN TH[JOLZ HUK 0 OH]L ILLU VUS` NL[[PUN ZLJVUK ¹ Humphries said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That motivated me to really do good and I just went out there and had all my work in, just keep in pocket and just kept throwing it.

WHY HE WON Southsideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bowling coach, Tadd Stewart, had a good feeling going into Februaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 7A/6A state tournament.

His instincts proved true as the Mavericks put together a dominating performance at the state tournament. Behind state individual champion Hunter Humphries, Southside won the event.

The Mavs won the 7A/6A team championship with a total team score of 4,335 pins. It was also the ZJOVVS»Z Ã&#x201E;YZ[ Z[H[L IV^SPUN [P[SL ZPUJL â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just like any other sport, when you play at your OVTL WSHJL `V\ MLLS SPRL `V\ OH]L H SP[[SL HK]HU[HNL ¹ Stewart said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You know the lanes and the lay of the land, so yes, we felt we had an advantage playing it here in our place. ¸>L Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK HZ Y\UULYZ \W SHZ[ `LHY I` HIV\[ VY WPUZ ZVTL[OPUN SPRL [OH[ >L RUL^ JVTPUN in that we could have easily won it last year and we really had the whole core of our team back and being able to host the tournament, we really liked V\Y JOHUJLZ ¹ ;OL 4H]LYPJRZ ^LYL HISL [V Ã&#x201E;UK [OL YPNO[ occasion to play their best match of the season.

32 | 2018 best of river valley preps

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The number one thing is your best players play their best game and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what it takes to win any JOHTWPVUZOPW ¹ :[L^HY[ ZHPK ¸@V\Y 62 WSH`LYZ ^PSS play good, your good players will play great, your great ones will play spectacular and we got that (at state); we got our best game of the year and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when you want it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You want to be peaking at the right time and you want to save your best for last. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly ^OH[ ^L KPK ¹ Humphries won the 7A/6A individual state title by rolling a three-game score of 708, the only bowler to break 700. He took a commanding lead after the opening game, in which he rolled a 256; then followed that up with a 223 in the second game and a 229 in the third. :LUPVY 5VHO ;H`SVY Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK PU ZP_[O WSHJL I` YVSSPUN H ^OPJO HSZV X\HSPÃ&#x201E;LK OPT for All-State honors. Braden Meyers, who along with Taylor are the only seniors on the Southside roster, Ã&#x201E;UPZOLK [O ^P[O H â&#x20AC;&#x153;The performance (at state) was awesome by [OL TVZ[ ZLSÃ&#x2026;LZZ NYV\W VM RPKZ `V\»SS L]LY TLL[ ¹ Stewart said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They love each other and they love WSH`PUN MVY VUL HUV[OLY HUK P[»Z H NYLH[ [OPUN [V ZLL ¹

BOWLING COACH OF THE YEAR

TADD STEWART SOUTHSIDE

boys ll basketba 2018

PAYTON BROWN

Isaiah joe

Northside Boys Basketball

cedric cobb

TYREN COLLINS

CAMERON DANIEL

kris graham

kentrell jacobs

Waldron Boys Basketball

Spiro Boys Basketball

Muldrow Boys Basketball

Roland Boys Basketball

Paris Boys Basketball

Northside Boys Basketball

evan johnston

Ike moore

brayden ross

jordan sheppard

jordan west

kade wood

County Line Boys Basketball

Southside Boys Basketball

Charleston Boys Basketball

Greenwood Boys Basketball

Van Buren Boys Basketball

Alma Boys Basketball

2018 BAsketball all stars girls ll basketba 2018

ALLI GREEN

Charleston Girls Basketball

cassie bell

Sara bershers

hannah boyett

taylen collins

BREANNA DORSEY

SHAKYRAH GLADNESS

Hackett Girls Basketball

Northside Girls Basketball

Muldrow Girls Basketball

Muldrow Girls Basketball

Lavaca Girls Basketball

Pocola Girls Basketball

JAMILYN KINNEY

HANNAH LADD

HATTIE NEWHART

Jalei oglesby

kieli robinson

ariel walker

Van Buren Girls Basketball

Ozark Girls Basketball

Charleston Girls Basketball

Howe Girls Basketball

Paris Girls Basketball

Ozark Girls Basketball

2018 best of river valley preps |

33

BOYS SOCCER 2018

christian chavez

Northside Boys Soccer

alex mendoza

Southside Boys Soccer

eric flores

Northside Boys Soccer

sydney oliver

Southside Boys Soccer

jason forsey

Northside Boys Soccer

jose paredes

Northside Boys Soccer

ricky iturriaga

Northside Boys Soccer

josue recinos

Van Buren Boys Soccer

jason mendoza

Northside Boys Soccer

aiden walker

Alma Boys Soccer

NORTHSIDE’S ERIC FLORES makes a save on a Rogers kick during the 7A state championship at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

2018 SOCCER all stars GIRLS SOCCER 2018

citlali aceves

NORTHSIDE’S MIRIAM MENDEZ, left, and Southside’s Hannah Schmidt get tangled up as they go for the ball.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

34 | 2018 best of river valley preps

KENNEDY BARNETT

KELLY CARSON

kaitlyn gilkey

dianna guerrero

Northside Girls Soccer

Northside Girls Soccer

Southside Girls Soccer

Northside Girls Soccer

Southside Girls Soccer

bella mora

camryn presley

hannah schmidt

rachel smith

breanna williams

Greenwood Girls Soccer

Greenwood Girls Soccer

Southside Girls Soccer

Southside Girls Soccer

Alma Girls Soccer

choctawcasinos.com

2018 best of river valley preps |

35

GIRLS Track & field 2018

TAYLEN COLLINS

DIANA OUDOMVILAY

MEGAN ROSE

KAYLEIGH SHANKLE

MARTIE SHOCKLEY

Muldrow Girls Track & Field

County Line Girls Track & Field

4HUZÄLSK Girls Track & Field

Poteau Girls Track & Field

Alma Girls Track & Field

LAUREN SUTHERLAND

ASHTAN SWANSON

LILLY TAYLOR

KENNEDY TIMMERMAN

HANNAH TOBLER

Southside Girls Track & Field

Paris Girls Track & Field

Booneville Girls Track & Field

Ozark Girls Track & Field

Spiro Girls Track & Field

(RIGHT) SOUTHSIDE’S LAUREN SUTHERLAND clears 11-6,matching her record for outdoor pole vault during the McDonald Relays in April.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

2018 TRACK & FIELD all stars tyren collins

Muldrow Boys Track & Field

parker edwards

Alma Boys Track & Field

christian jackson

Southside Boys Track & Field

cooper mcghee

Alma Boys Track & Field

marcus nichols

Booneville Boys Track & Field

boys Track & field 2018

raytel rone

Northside Boys Track & Field

ricardo savoy

Southside Boys Track & Field

36 | 2018 best of river valley preps

evan schlinker

Booneville Boys Track & Field

kaedon trejo

Booneville Boys Track & Field

Joseph wittig

Greenwood Boys Track & Field

ALMA’S PARKER EDWARDS competes in the 110M Hurdles during the McDonald Relays in April.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

2018 cross country all stars TRAVIS COOPER

Van Buren

NATHANIEL GONZALES Greenwood

aaron hubbard Southside

maliek lira

Heavener

zack looper

Greenwood

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY 2018

cameron rush Van Buren

tanner westbrook Clarksville

taran white

Southside

joseph wittig

Greenwood

2018 best of river valley preps |

37

2018 cross country all stars macie cash

Greenwood

Van Buren’s Julia Clark competes in the Van Buren Invitational cross country meet Oct. 2017. *SHYR ÄUPZOLK ZLJVUK [BRIAN D. SANDERFORD/ TIMES RECORD]

JULIA CLARK

Van Buren

TAYLOR kOETH

Greenwood

iris martinez

miriam mendez

Heavener

Northside

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 2018

HEATHER PADILLA Alma

KALI RICHARDS Ozark

MEGAN ROSE 4HUZÄLSK

KENNEDY TIMMERMAN Ozark

2018 golf all stars alec dominic Sallisaw

chandler fritsche Booneville

sydnie gamble

Greenwood

evan griffith

Greenwood

jordyn lane

Greenwood

kirsten matlock

matthew moran

Muldrow

Hackett

golf 2018

NATHAN MUNDAY

Greenwood

DALTON SMITH Trinity

38 | 2018 best of river valley preps

SYDNEY STATON

Southside

TERRY UHM

Southside

RYAN WARD

Poteau

2018 swimming all stars jevonn cobin

nicholas howard

Northside

delaney janz

Southside

william johnson

Greenwood

ryan ladmirault

Northside

savannah martin

Northside

madison mcghee

Alma

Southside

SWIMMI NG 2018

LILY MELENDEZ

micah murdock

Southside

luke pitts

Southside

PAIGE VIRE

Alma

Clarksville

CADEN WATSON

Clarksville

2018 bowling all stars SOUTHSIDE bowlers swarm Hunter Humprhies after he RUVJRLK KV^U [OL Ã&#x201E;UHS WPU and sealed their state title championship.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

DASHEA BRYSON

Southside

JUAN GARCIA

Van Buren

TY HOLT

Hackett

HUNTER HUMPRHIES Southside

BOWLING MATTHEW MORAN Hackett

THY NGUYEN

Southside

NOAH TAYLOR

Southside

MADISON ZOLLICOFFER

2018

Greenwood

2018 best of river valley preps |

39

2018 football—offense all stars

jason bartel :HSSPZH^ -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

TREVON BLANTON

Hackett -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

TAYE GATEWOOD

GARRET BROOKS

Stigler -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

BRADEN GLEASON

BRYANT BURNS

Ozark -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

WALTER GREEN

ETHAN DOBBS

Booneville -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

PEYTON HOLT

GRANT ENNIS

sean michael flanagan

Greenwood -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

GARRISON JENSEN

*OHYSLZ[VU -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

BRAYDEN JOHNSON

CONNOR NOLAND

:V\[OZPKL -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Muldrow -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Van Buren -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Greenwood -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Alma -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Alma -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Greenwood -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

CARSON RAY

JASON SERPAS

NOAH SEXTON

tyrese solomon

bodhi vann

NATHAN WESTBROOK

MASON WISDOM

Booneville -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

5VY[OZPKL -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Greenwood -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

:V\[OZPKL -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Vian -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

Van Buren -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

*OHYSLZ[VU -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

l— footbal offense DERRICK WISE

DAKOVAN WISE

5VY[OZPKL -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

7HYPZ -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

40 | 2018 best of river valley preps

KENNY WOOD

Greenwood -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

DANIEL WOOLSEY

Ozark -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

STEVIE YOUNG 5VY[OZPKL -VV[IHSS·6ќLUZL

2018

2018 football—DEFENSE all stars

CAMDEN BESHEARS

Greenwood Football—Defense

BAYLOR REE

coltin bowerman

Alma Football—Defense

noah reyes

javen bray

Roland Football—Defense

robert roxin

cade floyd

Muldrow Football—Defense

river simon

JAYDEN MENDEZ

Van Buren Football—Defense

toby sparkman

Ozark Football—Defense

Booneville Football—Defense

Mountainburg Football—Defense

Vian Football—Defense

Muldrow Football—Defense

locke stubblefield

gunnar thompson

anthony travis

nick vota

dylan vota

Northside Football—Defense

Poteau Football—Defense

Northside Football—Defense

Greenwood Football—Defense

l— footbal DEFENSE 2018

greg washington

Northside Football—Defense

race williams

Poteau Football—Defense

Greenwood Football—Defense

GREENWOOD’S COLE ERWIN sacks El Dorado quarterback Darius Holly.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

jon womack

Greenwood Football—Defense

2018 best of river valley preps |

41

ERICKA CALDERON

Greenwood Softball

NORTHSIDE’S Jaleyia Perry catches a hit.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/ TIMES RECORD

l softbal 2018

paxtyn hayes

Greenwood Softball

natalie scherrey Van Buren Softball

caroline davis Van Buren Softball

MACKENzie callahan

KAILA CARTWRIGHT

Waldron Softball

Greenwood Softball

whitney ellis

sydney green

Van Buren Softball

Northside Softball

audrie chaney

madi conklin

Hackett Softball

Southside Softball

mariah hamilton

jadyn hart

Greenwood Softball

Paris Softball

2018 SOFTBALL all stars

lacey mckenzie Charleston Softball

lucy shelly

Cedarville Softball

42 | 2018 best of river valley preps

sophie morrison Alma Softball

sydney ward Paris Softball

caroline nicodemus

dayven pledger

4HUZÄLSK Softball

Clarksville Softball

beth wilkinson

brianna winchester

Booneville Softball

Lavaca Softball

GREENWOOD’S Ericka Calderon puts away a >HSKYVU Å`IHSS OP[ [V SLM[ÄLSK BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

kale barcheers

draven grill

brennan james

Panama Baseball

4HUZĂ&#x201E;LSK Baseball

Lavaca Baseball

kaleb glass

Vian Baseball

eddie graham Ozark Baseball

Greenwood Baseball

trevor johnson

evan jones

rey lozano

mac moody

Van Buren Baseball

Van Buren Baseball

Lavaca Baseball

peyton holt

Southside Baseball

2018 baseball all stars

JAVIER RAMOS OF VIAN works the second inning of a match against Chandler.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

chase moore

Van Buren Baseball

connor noland

Greenwood Baseball

cooper passmore

Greenwood Baseball

javier ramos

Vian Baseball

jackson scrivner Northside Baseball

basebal l brandon ulmer Booneville Baseball

jackson webb

Greenwood Baseball

landrey wilkerson Van Buren Baseball

josh williams Ozark Baseball

hunter willsey 4HUZĂ&#x201E;LSK Baseball

TRENT WOOLDRIDGE

2018

Booneville Baseball

2018 best of river valley preps |

43

KATE FILES of Northside completes a backhand return.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

kate files

girls tennis 2018

olivia gaston

lindsey gillis

abby harris

jenna hunter

Northside Girls Tennis

Greenwood Girls Tennis

Greenwood Girls Tennis

Southside Girls Tennis

Southside Girls Tennis

addison mcdougal

sunny ray

mackenzie shell

amy truitt

breanna williams

Northside Girls Tennis

Northside Girls Tennis

Southside Girls Tennis

Southside Girls Tennis

Alma Girls Tennis

2018 tennis all stars

eli butler

Greenwood Boys Tennis

ethan eddleman Southside Boys Tennis

andrew eveld

Subiaco Academy Boys Tennis

jack ledbetter Southside Boys Tennis

robert remy

Subiaco Academy Boys Tennis

BOYS tennis 2018

ty saniseng

Van Buren Boys Tennis

will sayers

Northside Boys Tennis

auston shown

Greenwood Boys Tennis

will thames

Northside Boys Tennis

DAVID woodring Greenwood Boys Tennis

SOUTHSIDEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ETHAN EDDELMAN competes in the 7A State Tournament.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

44 | 2018 best of river valley preps

2018 VOLLEYBALL ALL STARS

emily bass

abby cagle

haley carter

lexie castillow

Southside Volleyball

Greenwood Volleyball

Booneville Volleyball

carrie ciesla

alexis evans

chloe fitzgerald

ryleigh hardwicke

riley owen

hannah parsons

rylea weaver

Greenwood Volleyball

Northside Volleyball

Northside Volleyball

Greenwood Volleyball

Paris Volleyball

maddie herrera

hannah holland

jenna lowery Paris Volleyball

Paris Volleyball

lilliah pugh

brooke shortes

brynn simmons

rae smith

Booneville Volleyball

Greenwood Volleyball

Southside Volleyball

Greenwood Volleyball

Paris Volleyball

Alma Volleyball

Lavaca Volleyball

4HUZÄLSK Volleyball

GREENWOOD’S ZOIE BENTON hits a kill shot past Farmington’s Kally Stouth.

BRIAN SANDEFORD/TIMES RECORD

2018 best of river valley preps |

45

2018 wrestling all stars preston hailey

mason hayes

isaac johnson

ross johnson Poteau Wrestling

Greenwood Wrestling

colton tuck

hunter williams

Southside Wrestling

Van Buren Wrestling

Greenwood Wrestling

Alec phetchareun

walter soto

thai ta

ty moose

ng wrestli 2018

SOUTHSIDE’S THAI TA [HRLZ ÄYZ[ WSHJL PU [OL ( ( Z[H[L [V\YUHTLU[ PU 3P[[SL 9VJR LHYSPLY [OPZ `LHY

Northside Wrestling

)90(5 :(5+,-69+ ;04,: 9,*69+

Sallisaw Wrestling

Southside Wrestling

Greenwood Wrestling

Sallisaw Wrestling

river valley 2017/18 state champions In honor of all those who represented their school and the River Valley region at the very top of the competitive stage for high school athletes in Arkansas, the Times Record recognized athletes and teams who claimed state titles in the 2017/2018 school year. This list was an attempt to include sports with local athletes who truly compete on a statewide level.

charleston girls BASKETBALL Kim Byrd, Gracie Furr, Alexis Grandison, Allie Green, Anna Hudson, Madison Huggins, Tayli Jones, Baylee King, Jada McDowell, Lacey McKenzie, Emma McKinney, Hattie Newhart, Raegan Oldridge, Payton Rucker, Reagan Stubblefield and Coach Jason Rucker

southside bowling Hunter Humphries, Hunter Salisbury, Nathan Berrie, Colby Harger, Braeden Myers, Dillion Still, Noah Taylor, Ryan Beallis, Zach Oetzel, Judge Walters, Trace Dillinger, Skotland Irvin and Coach Tadd Stewart alma cheerleading (2018 uca national champs & 2017 state champs) Landi Bowen, Jordan Brown, Anna Grace Chapen , Lauren Evans, Kylee Jacobs, Jordyn Johnson, Kate Keener, Caityln Malone, Amanda O’Neal, Sarah Patton, Jaden Petree, Katytlin Ray, Bradi Rogers, Kenzie Sindle Kennedy Stockburger, Carlie Westra Abby Wilson and Head Coach Christy Law Assistant Coach Kenra Newton

46 | 2018 best of river valley preps

booneville cheerleading (2017 national champs — cheer) Lindsey Bastion, Landon Beckett, Lane Beckett, Austin Dobbs, Taylin Draper, Jacob Gregory, Abbie Heissler, Michael Hesson, Carleigh Ingram, Allyson Lindley, Brooklyn May, Raven McCubbin, Andrew Robertson, Lexi Ross, Brianna Smith, Brooklyn Zarlingo and Head Coach Rachael May

greenwood girls golf Erin Gilbert, Jaelee Mohetau, Sydnie Gamble Jordyn Lane, Olivia Walker, Ella Austin and Coach Ronnie Williams

greenwood volleyball Bella Mora, Brooke Shortes, Reagan Scifres, Lexie Castillow, Abby Cagle, Sarah Snodgrass, Lillah Pugh, Jillian Bateman, Meredith James, Camryn Presley, Izzy Davis, Kayley Lawson, Zoie Benton, Carrie Ciesla, Josie Chapple, Alex Webb, Kimmie Colyer and Coach Jennifer Golden

paris volleyball Eliciah Kury, Alyssa Cunningham, Lexi Oldham, Riley Owen, Jenna Lowery, Kylie Morris, Ryleigh Hardwicke, Ciara Boswell, Joni Inman, Caroline Hart, Ashtan Swanson, Brynn Simmons, Alanna Jones, Paiton Forbis, Kaylor Braswell, Shyann Johnson, Lexie Hatcher, Eliza Vincent, Faith Mainer, Kelsey Edwards, enleigh Robertson, Maria Oliveira, Paige Baine, Hannah Alderson and Coach Wes Davis

2017/18 cheerleading champs

BOONEVILLE’S CHEERLEADING SQUAD, the 2017 National Champs for Cheer, assisted at the 2018 River Valley Preps event at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

LEFT: ALMA’S CHEERLEADING TEAM poses with Alex Collins at the 2018 Best of River Valley Preps event on June 8. The team, which sports the 2018 UCA National Championship title, as well as the 2017 State Champion title, were on hand to help escort and cheer on winning Preps athletes from all over the River Valley.

state champions continued greenwood football Hayden Allen, Lazaro Angel, Austin Archer, Trent Bailes, Nathaniel Barker, Josh Barlow, Easton Barrett, Trey Beckman, Isaiah Belue, Camden Beshears, Bo Brisendine, Hayden Cantrell, Halen Carter, Cole Ceniceros, Aydin Chatfield, Eric Cook, Michael Cook, Michael Coonce, Travis Cox, Brayden Cullen, Fredrico Dal Bon, Treyton Dawson, Jacob Dewey, Kevin Douglas, Ryan Duncan, Phillip Dygryn, Matthew Earnhart, Timothy Earnhart, Michael Emberson, Grant Ennis, Cole Erwin, Coleton Erwin, Ethan Escalante, Noah Fox, Tristan Goodwin, Greg Grivera, Camden Hall, Morgan Hanna, Zane Harmon, Caleb Harris, Brayden Hayden, Brayden Hedge, Peyton Holt, Jesse Howard, Dawson James, Luke Johnson, Marc Jones, Preston Jurecka, Patrick Kelleher, Stone Lee, Luke Leonard, Aniken Lewis, Max Lovelace,

Wyatt Manes, Michael Marsh, Eli Martin, Jayden Martin, Josh Maze, Cole McDaniel, Gus McKusker, Blaze Moore, Tyler Moose, Nathan Nethers, Garrett Newman, Traven Nichols, Connor Noland, Aaron Ohl, Kade Orlicek, Gunner Perkins Jackson Petty, JR Powell, Jace Presley, Justice Randolph, Jacob Rhodes, Gage Roberts, Cory Rogers, Sam Sandifer, Isaac Schwartz, Paul Scott, Noah Sexton, Nathan Sharp. Jacob Simmons, Colton Simpson, Landon Sloan, Jackson Stewart, Josh Synoground, Caden Taylor, Ryan Thacker, Colton Tuck, Max Vickery, Dylan Vota, Nick Vota, Brett Walker, Hunter Webb, Jackson Webb, Garrett Whitlock, Bryce Womack, Jon Womack, Kenny Wood, Trey Woods, Logan Workman, Austen Youngwolfe and Coach Rick Jones

greenwood baseball

northside soccer

Blake Pschier, Brandon Woolsey, Cade Lynch, Chance Eoff, Chance Sneathern, Colton Sagely, Connor Noland, Cooper Passmore, Ethan Williams, Isaac Schwartz, Isaiah Belue Jace Presley, Jackson Webb, Jake Smith, Jayden Jasna, Landon Karnes, Landry Jurecka, Nick Phelps, Peyton Holt, Ryan Daggs, Timothy Earnhart and Coach Trey Holloway

Alejandro Iturriaga, Andy Duangdara, Carlos Guzman, Carlos Uribe, Christian Chavez, Diego Hernadez, Enrique Garcia-Cartagena, Eric Flores, Jarvin Nieto, Jason Forsey, Jason Mendoza, Jeovani Gonzalez, Jose Paredes, Juan Iturriaga, Kelvy Trinidad, Luis Mendez, Luis Paredes, Marco Picazo, Mickey Zambrana, Oscar Ramirez, Osvaldo Lopez, Oved Lopez, Ricky Iturriaga, Salomon Parama, Coach Mauricio Maciel, Assistant Coach William Lovvorn, Volunteer Coach Ismael Ihmeidan and Volunteer Coach Ismael Salazar.

2018 best of river valley preps |

47

When your family needs back-to-school vaccinations, or school or sports physicals, we’ve got you covered. We’re also here to treat illnesses and injuries for your whole family. Our convenient locations are staffed by kid-friendly physicians. To make an appointment, call 479-782-CARE (2273) and ask about same-day appointments.

-«>À Ã* Þà V > ðV

SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS.

PHYSICALS AND VACCINATIONS. ONE NUMBER:

479-782-CARE.

2018 best of river valley preps |

48