Author: The Varsity Report

GAME CHANGER WITH KRISTEN WALKER BY DON LOWE | PHOTOS BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS  Kristen Walker has accomplished many great things in her life. Born in Oklahoma, she soon moved to Joplin, Missouri where she played youth sports including soccer. Kristen has always relied on faith, family and friends to help guide her choices. Kristen fell in love with the game of soccer at the age of seven and moved to Fayetteville as a teenager. She immediately noticed the lack of organized soccer programs in the area. Through a grassroots effort and the help of others, Kristen helped organize a…

10 TEXTS WITH STEVE JANSKI  Steve Janski is in his 8th year as Athletic Director at Fayetteville Schools. Steve had a successful high school football coaching and administration career at Heber Springs before arriving in Fayetteville. He has a proven track record as one of the most respected athletic directors in Arkansas. We recently had the opportunity to find out more about Steve’s career and his life outside of sports administration. Where did you grow up and attend school and what sports did you play? Little Rock, AR (Central High School) and I played Football and Track. What is your…

OVERTIME WITH COOPER DOSSETT BY DON LOWE | PHOTO BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS  Cooper Dossett committed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas very early in his high school career. The 6’0, 185-pound senior, right-handed pitcher and outfielder from Har-Ber High School has been excelling in baseball for years. Coach Dave Van Horn is getting a complete player on and off the field. Cooper is considered one of the top high school players in the nation and was recently named a Pre-Season 2022 First Team High School All-American as a multi-position athlete by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Head Coach…

MOUNTAIN BIKING GAINING SPEED BY DON LOWE | PHOTOS BY PATTY V PHOTOGRAPHY A new sport is emerging and seems to be gaining more and more popularity with student-athletes across Arkansas that gives young people who haven’t necessarily been involved in traditional team activities such as football, basketball and baseball a chance to excel. Since 2016, quite a few schools in this state have begun to compete in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), which specifically shines a bright light on Mountain Bike Racing. Although not part of the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), Bentonville coach Jeff Pierce has seen this…

BEELER LEADS SPRINGDALE TO SUCCESSES IN SOCCER BY DON LOWE | PHOTOS BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS In more than a decade and a half with Springdale Bulldogs Soccer Head Coach Donald Beeler in charge of this program, there’s a standard for success that is nothing short of spectacular. Under Coach Beeler’s watch, Springdale’s senior high boys’ soccer team has become a perennial powerhouse. There’s a simple approach Coach Beeler had in mind from the start, and he rationalized, “There are fundamental things that are part of every competitive group. If you’re not focused, hard-working and committed, you can’t even get…

Dick Rippee is in his fifth season as the head boys basketball coach at Bentonville High School. Coach Rippee is well respected as a leader of student athletes and a great teacher of the game. We recently had the opportunity to find out more about Coach Rippee‘s career and life outside the game of basketball. Where were you born and raised? I was born in Springfield, MO in 1967 and lived there for 48 years before moving to Bentonville in 2017. When did you know you wanted to be a basketball coach? I was a college student at Missouri State…

Playing golf at the University of Arkansas was always a goal and dream for Brooke Matthews of Rogers, AR. That dream is now a reality as she is one of the top college golfers in the country. Hard work, along with a great support staff of family, coaches and friends have been a big part of Brooke’s success. We recently spoke with Brooke about her golf career and her future plans. Q&A: THE VARSITY REPORT: How special has it been to be able to grow up in Rogers and now continue your playing career at the University of Arkansas? MATTHEWS:…