Author: Tara Hughes
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…
KAYLA SHORTT STANDS TALL AS THE WEST WOLVERINES HOOPS ASSISTANT BY DON LOWE | PHOTOS BY MARK STRICKAND PHOTOS While Bentonville West Wolverines Senior Boys Basketball first-year assistant coach Kayla Shortt will be in uncharted territory during 2022–23 as she helps hone the hoops skills of young men, it’s not such a tall order for her. Despite having never previously worked with a boys’ team, in considering why she chose to do so now, Coach Shortt confidently suggested, “Why not? It is a career opportunity along with a personal goal to shape as many young players as possible in…
SUPER SOPHOMORES MULDREW AND SEALY FILL STARRING ROLES FOR SPRINGDALE HOOPS BY DON LOWE | PHOTO BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS Following break-out performances as ‘fab’ freshmen last winter for the Springdale Bulldogs senior high boys basketball team, super sophomores Courtland Muldrew (6’3”, 160-lb. combo point guard/shooting guard) and Isaiah Sealy (6’6”, 185-lb. combo shooting guard/small forward) will be counted on heavily for big things throughout the 2022–23 campaign. It didn’t seem that either of these young men had difficulty transitioning from junior high to senior high a season ago. Muldrew netted 18 points per game in 2021–22, while…
GAME CHANGER WITH BRAD JOHNSON BY DON LOWE | PHOTO BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS Farmington Lady Cardinals Senior High Girls Basketball Head Coach Brad Johnson is in his 14th year at the helm here. Coach Johnson’s family is important to him with his wife of 24 years, Amber, being what he describes as “the greatest coach’s wife. She’s been my sounding board, biggest fan, trusted critic, and team mom for my entire career. She is what has allowed me to chase my passion in coaching and made sure it was never a job. It has always been our life.” The…
OVERTIME WITH BROOKE ROSS BY DON LOWE | PHOTO BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS Siloam Springs Lady Panthers Senior Basketball Star Brooke Ross hopes for a terrific finish to her career, while following up a solid junior campaign when she averaged nearly 13 points per game and grabbed 7.7 rebounds each outing along the way to being an All-State and All-Conference honoree. Ross isn’t quite sure what she’ll do after graduating from high school but is pondering the possibility of a career in the military. Either way, Ross is focused on helping the Lady Panthers put together a memorable 2022–23 season…
ELDRIDGE LEADS HIGH-FLYING CARDINALS FOOTBALL PROGRAM BY DON LOWE | PHOTOS BY MARK STRICKLAND PHOTOS In 2020, then North Little Rock Charging Wildcats 1st year Football Head Coach J.R. Eldridge sure seemed to be in an ideal spot as he put together a terrific debut campaign that culminated at 12-2 overall, while finishing as Class 7A runner-up to the Bryant Hornets. Despite having just gotten settled at one of this state’s largest and most successful pigskin programs, Coach Eldridge was given an opportunity that simply couldn’t be passed up and so he accepted the job as Farmington Cardinals…