Athletic History and Excellence on Full Display

By Phillip Bridges, Director of Marketing and Communications

When the doors of Warrior Arena opened in December 2019, everything was ready except for one unfinished and empty room connected to the lobby. Athletic Director Johnny Watson had a surprise up his sleeve that he had planned since the first drawings for the arena were made. The Warrior Arena Champion Room is exactly as it sounds, a “Hall of Champions” that contains all of the state championships and rings, state runner-up, and conference championship trophies. The Champion Room invites visitors into a state-of-the-art experience with ideas for the space borrowed from similar displays across the country. The

Champion Room was a way to put the school’s athletic history on display in an interactive way that reflected the excellence of the program. One reason the Champion Room is so fun for visitors is the interactive touchscreen kiosks. These two kiosks contain fun facts, the history of Warrior Athletics, along with every All-State athlete in the history of the school. You can search by sport, year, or player to get a snapshot of an individual sport or player.

Coach Watson was the sole collector and curator of the trophies and state rings. He has worked the past several years tracking down any missing rings. For Coach Watson, it was worth the effort to make sure these Warrior legacies were remembered and recognized by others. Currently, every state ring is on display except for one - the 2009 Boys Soccer ring (Coach Watson commissioned a replacement ring that is currently on order). The funding for the room was built into the original plans and budget for the arena, all of which was provided through generous donations. Prior to the room’s construction, items were stored in spots all over campus including the old athletic trailer and various closets. When asked his favorite part of the Champion Room, Coach Watson said, “The state ring display." The ring display has a Smithsonian-like feel; and looking at the rings, visitors can feel the rich legacy of Warrior Athletics. Step inside the Champion Room and there is no denying the force that is Warrior Athletics. Alumni can reminisce of their time as a Warrior athlete. Young Warriors can step in and be inspired to pursue their own dreams of being a champion. Visitors can see the passion, integrity, and hard work that has gone into each trophy. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the gold, silver, and shine of the trophies and rings, but as visitors exit the room they can’t miss the sign above the door that says, "Jesus Is The Way;" a not so subtle reminder that Warrior Athletics is first and foremost Christ-centered.

Little Rock Christian joined the Arkansas Activities Association in 2000, while operating under the name Walnut Valley Christian Academy. The following year, WVCA officially became Little Rock Christian Academy. Since joining the AAA, the Warrior Athletic program has won numerous conference and state titles in almost every one of its athletic offerings and has been recognized as one of the best overall athletic programs in the state. As a part of the total education program, coaches and athletic administration strive to develop student-athletes into spiritually alive, intellectually alert, and physically disciplined individuals.