2019-2020 ALL-ARKANSAS PREPS
Virtual event celebrates state’s top athletes
Through championships and tough losses, high school sports have a way of unifying the communities in Arkansas.
Season after season, athletes across the state train hard and push each other to be the very best. The 2019-2020 season has been no different, but despite the efforts and motivation of these athletes, the world threw a curveball in the form of the coronavirus, which impacted the lives of everyone.
With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting Arkansas in March, state officials were quick to act to reduce the spread of this disease. School classes were moved online, and sports seasons were canceled.
Large events were also impacted by the disease, including the annual All-Arkansas Preps awards banquet, presented by CHI St. Vincent and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, that was scheduled to take place June 20 at the Wally Allen Ballroom in the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. All-Arkansas Preps recognizes the top athletes and coaches in the state, and the banquet gives the athletes and their families the chance to take the stage and hear from famous athletes and local personalities.
As cases of the disease in the state continued to rise, event organizers made the decision to cancel the live event and opted for a virtual awards ceremony instead, which was presented on the All-Arkansas Preps Facebook page on June 18. Event organizers said the pivot to a virtual event was the best way to keep the athletes and their families safe.
“It has always been our priority to recognize and celebrate our Arkansas athletes, coaches and their accomplishments,” said Amanda Copley, marketing and events director for the
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “So when the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, we immediately began working to find a solution that would enable us to stay safe and still honor our statewide athletes. This year, we hosted our event virtually. For the first time, Preps went live on our Facebook page to an audience even bigger than our usual banquet. While we missed seeing everyone in person, it was exciting to launch the event via livestream so that everyone could celebrate in honoring these remarkable Arkansas athletes and coaches.”
Another big impact on the 2019-2020 awards was the cancellation of four of the sports seasons: baseball, softball, track and soccer. As a result of the cancellations, it was impossible for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports staff to pick Athletes of the Year for those sports, Copley said. However, the newspaper did run a series in May called “Spring Salute” that shared the stories of several spring athletes in those sports.
“It was heart-wrenching, telling the stories of athletes who have been working for years to reach the heights of their sports at their schools,” she said. “It is even more heartbreaking that there are hundreds upon hundreds of stories just like those across the state. Many young people were robbed of memories through no fault of their own.”
This year, All-Arkansas Preps added girls wrestling to the event after the sport was sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association last June.
“We were thrilled to add girls wrestling to the Preps line up,” Copley said. “Wrestling has really grown in the state. It’s always exciting to see a sport develop and to celebrate its increasing popularity.”
Each year, the All-Arkansas Preps banquet welcomes a professional athlete to be the keynote speaker and to meet with the winners and their families. Previous speakers have included former Arkansas Razorback Hunter Henry, Denver Bronco Peyton Manning, New Orleans Saint Drew Brees, basketball analyst Dick Vitale, Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripkin Jr., Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith and Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
This year’s keynote speaker was scheduled to be Major League Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. A shortstop, Smith was nicknamed “The Wizard” for his acrobatic style of play. During his 19 years in the major leagues, Smith won 13 consecutive Gold Glove awards and was an all-time leader in double plays and assists.
Because of the COVID-19 situation, Smith has been rescheduled to speak at the 2020-2021 All-Arkansas Preps banquet instead.
“We are so lucky that baseball legend Ozzie Smith has agreed to postpone until 2021,” Copley said. “We are already looking forward to hearing from the shortstop on stage at the June 2021 awards.”
In addition to honoring more than 400 athletes from across the state, the virtual event recognized their accomplishments in eight sports. The event included three inspirational awards that were given to athletes who have made a difference outside of the sports arena. The CHI St. Vincent Health Award honors a student who has overcome a health challenge; the Hussman Community Award celebrates a student-athlete who has made a difference in his or her community; and the First Security Bank Keith Jackson Academic Award honors a student-athlete who has excelled in the classroom.
The 2019-2020 All-Arkansas Preps Virtual Awards broadcast had a variety of speakers and guests. KATV sports anchor Steve Sullivan was the master of ceremonies for the broadcast and was joined by special guest David Bazzel. Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette sports columnist Wally Hall stepped in to help announce the Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards, along with the Coach of the Year award. The inspirational awards were presented by Chad Aduddell, CEO of CHI St. Vincent; Eliza Gaines, managing editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; and Reynie Rutledge, chairman and CEO of First
Security Bank.
For those who missed the event or just want to watch it again, the video is available on the AllArkansas Preps Facebook page at www.facebook.
com/ all arkansas prep san don the Arkansas Democrat Gazette’ s You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/ arkansasonline.