Important to appreciate all fall sports
Pumpkin spice returned to Starbucks Thursday, signaling the unofficial, or to some the very official, start of fall.
Although temperatures around The Natural State have not been kind this week, nothing says it’s the start of autumn like football season in Garland County.
Lake Hamilton, Lakeside, Hot Springs and Jessieville kick off their 2023 campaigns tonight with all the hope and anticipation a new season brings.
Just as the Garland County football landscape has changed in terms of 8-man football, don’t be surprised at a shift in power in 11-man play this season.
Lakeside holds perhaps its best chance to down the Wolves after Tommy Gilleran’s team graduated a bulk of its defense and some of its offensive stars. However, a trip to Pearcy will be no easy task for first-year head coach Garren Rockwell.
For the first time in a long time, Darrell Burnett’s Hot Springs Trojans head into the football season as one of the hyped, if not the most hyped, teams in the county. Troy’s first test of the season comes on the road at Vilonia, and I expect senior quarterback Matthew Contreras to handle business.
The picture is cloudier for Jessieville. The Lions take to a remodeled Phillips Field tonight against Mineral Springs with plenty of questions to be answered about personnel and the identity of the squad, but experienced receivers and the return of an injured quarterback could be the spark the Lions need.
While pumpkin spice and football are two great things that appear at the start of the fall, don’t forget about the other sports in Garland County that deserve attention, too.
Perhaps not first on everyone’s mind, the county produces quite a bit of volleyball talent every season.
Rhonda Thigpen’s Lakeside squad boasts a roster chocked full of collegiate talent, and the Lady Rams have their eyes set on a deep run in the state tournament this season. With hard hitters like Madi Belle Landry and Lauren Latham leading the charge for a MTXE squad that’s developed since seventh grade with Thigpen, opposing defenses have their work cut out for them.
Tucked away just about 15 minutes northeast of downtown, Fountain Lake head coach Tina Moore churns out good ball clubs and college-level talent every season for the Lady Cobras in volleyball. While standouts like Sophie Skinner and Kara Martin have departed Garland County for collegiate programs over the last couple of years, there’s no doubt Fountain Lake will be a handful for teams of all classifications this season.
Don’t forget that the county boasts its fair share of quality tennis players and golfers. Lakeside boys tennis claimed the Class 5A state championship last season but with Ben Hollis graduated, it’ll be interesting to see who leads the Rams forward this year.
Fresh off competing in the Junior PGA Championships, Will Gordon returns to the Lakeside golf team. The Rams are no stranger to challenging for the state title in golf, and the Lady Rams won the Class 5A state championship last season.
While most of the eyes will be on the county’s football teams this fall, there’s no shame — I even highly recommend it — in taking joy in your school’s other sports aside from football.
No matter if your football team is winning game after game or struggling to get in the win column, you can always show your school pride by cheering on student-athletes in other sports that wear the same colors and play under the name of the same mascot.
Being a well-rounded sports fan gives you more rooting interests, more things to celebrate and yes, more things to get heartbroken about.
We love sports, the ups and downs, the passion, the excitement, the nervousness. Why not give yourself more opportunities to experience all of those things — no matter on the gridiron, the volleyball court or the 18th green at Glenwood Country Club.