Clara Parker
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: VOLLEY BALL .................
Ending her career at Jonesboro High School with 25 doubledoubles for the past season and back-to-back state tournament Most Valuable Player honors, Clara Parker has been named the All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Player of the Year for Volleyball for the second year in a row. “I didn’t think I was going to get it last year,” Parker said. “There are so many other players, not only in my area of the state but also around the state, that have just as much talent as I do, so to be considered for the second year was crazy.” After the 2018-2019 season, the outside hitter spent about six months recovering after having surgery to remove a benign tumor in her ankle that caused a torn tendon and restricted her mobility. Parker was back in top form this season, racking up 432 kills, 344 digs, 44 blocks and a .45 kill percentage. She led the Cardinals to their third undefeated season in the program’s 40-year history and set a program record with 1,450 kills in her career. “Besides being a talented volleyball player, Clara has natural leadership traits and a knack for saying the right thing at the right time in the right way,” head volleyball coach Craig Cummings said. “She sets the tone by working hard to improve herself and supporting her teammates.” Clara’s mother, Lynn Parker, said her daughter’s work ethic is the reason for her success. “I’ve never made her go to a workout. I’ve never made her go to a practice. Those are her choices,” Lynn said. “I’ve never really had to make her study for school, so she’s very driven.” Clara will continue her volleyball career at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville this fall, where she will be a fourth-generation Razorback. “Being a student athlete, especially at an SEC school, is going to be very tough,” Clara said. “Time management is going to be a key factor, and I think that’s something I have learned very well, especially growing up through the Jonesboro Public School System.”