Author: Tara Hughes
ATHLETIC DIRECTORS TIPPS, FIMPLE ARE FOCUSED ON STRIVING TO BE THE BEST SERVANT LEADERS By Don Lowe | Photos by Mark Strickland Photos As a new school year (2022-23) begins, there’s been a changing of the guard, so to speak, right here in Northwest Arkansas within athletic departments at two of this state’s largest programs. In Bentonville, new District Athletics Director Billy Tipps succeeds Scott Passmore, who resigned to take a similar position at Thaden School. Tipps most recently served as AD at Enid (Okla.) Public Schools since 2019. After being employed the past five years as…
DRAKE LINDSEY, JACOB JENKINS, CJ BROWN & LANE JEFFCOAT AMONGST A HOST OF OFFENSIVE STARS SHINING BRIGHT IN NWA By Don Lowe | Photos by Mark Strickland Photos High school football in Northwest Arkansas and across this state is producing more prolific numbers on offense with so many teams turning to a potent run-pass-option fast-paced style that leaves defenses scrambling to figure out if the ‘next play’ will be on the ground or through the air. There’s no shortage of terrifically talented skill players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver throughout Benton and Washington counties who are…
ELKINS ELKS QB DEAN AND RB CHAIRS ARE DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR OPPOSING DEFENSES By Don Lowe | Photos by Mark Strickland Photos After an impressive 2022 that culminated at 10-2 overall, along with a perfect 7-0 in 4A-1 play and outright conference championship, third-year Football Head Coach Zach Watson’s Elkins Elks bunch can’t help but be excited about the possibilities for greater success this Fall. Having the dynamic duo of senior quarterback Dizzy Dean (6’2”, 190 lbs.) and senior running back Da’Shawn Chairs (5’8”, 190 lbs.) returning sure helps give Elkins a chance to shine bright on offense,…
OVERTIME WITH SHILOH CHRISTIAN SAINTS 1ST YEAR FOOTBALL HEAD COACH TUCKER BARNARD By Don Lowe | Photo by Mark Strickland Photos Shiloh Christian Saints Senior High School 1st Year Football Head Coach Tucker Barnard returns to a familiar place, where he spent time in various roles from 2004–11, including Assistant Football Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Co-Defensive Coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator, and Junior High Football Head Coach, as well as Dean of Student Development, and Attendance and Student Discipline for 6th–12thgrade. Most recently, Coach Barnard had been at Stillwater High School in Stillwater, OK from 2011–22, where he guided that…
10 TEXTS WITH HAR-BER WILDCATS 1ST YEAR FOOTBALL HEAD COACH BRENT ECKLEY By Don Lowe | Photo by Mark Strickland Photos Har-Ber Wildcats 1st Year Senior High Football Head Coach Brent Eckley takes the helm here after developing a championship-caliber program at Jackson, MO High School. Coach Eckley’s Jackson squads were in the Top 10 final rankings for Class 5 eight of his 11 years there. Along with his work at Jackson, Coach Eckley previously served as the football head coach and PE instructor at Montgomery County High School in Montgomery City, MO; offensive coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator…
BENTONVILLE SOFTBALL STANDOUT KASEY WOOD SHINES BRIGHT ON A TEAM FULL OF STARS By Don Lowe | Photos by Mark Strickland Photos The phenomenal perspective Bentonville Tigers softball standout senior pitcher/third baseman Kasey Wood has after playing this sport for 12 years is evident and she recognizes, “As I grew older, and my game grew, I realized the most important part of who I am is reflected by what I do for my teammates and what they do for me. As for Wood’s passion, she says, “What makes this game so enjoyable is being part of something with the ability to affect it and seeing yourself reflected in the…
OVERTIME WITH LAUREN MAGRE By Don Lowe | Photos by Mark Strickland Photos Fayetteville Lady Bulldogs Senior Soccer Star Lauren Magre has been playing this sport virtually her entire life, as this 18-year-old young lady got her start in it 14 years ago. And she’s come a long way, while achieving a great deal of individual success thus far in a terrific high school career. As a sophomore two years ago, Magre was named to the Class 6A All-State team, as well as receiving Arkansas Preps 2nd Team recognition and 6A-West All-Conference 2nd Team honors, along with being…
NEXT LEVEL WITH MARCUS BROWN Oklahoma State baseball standout, Marcus Brown, is entering his Junior year for the Cowboys and is looking to improve on his outstanding performance from last year. The exceptional, former Shiloh Christian baseball player starts the 2023 season as an infielder and one of the best hitters on the OSU squad. His .316 batting average from 2022 was third best on the team. He had the longest hitting streak on the team last year at 13 games and he reached base safely 21 games in a row last year. These stats plus some solid fielding…
GAME CHANGER WITH BRIAN WALKER By Don Lowe | Photos by Mark Strickland Photos Rogers Heritage War Eagles Baseball Head Coach Brian Walker is in his 4th year at the helm here. Coach Walker was born and raised not too far from here in Tulsa, Okla. and he graduated from Tulsa Union High School in 2003. Although Coach Walker left his home state not long after, he didn’t venture too far away while opting for college at the University of Arkansas, where he was a catcher for the Razorbacks and played on three NCAA Regional teams, before graduating in 2007…