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CRAWFORD COUNTY SPORTS 2019
A Special Section of the Press Argus-Courier SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019
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Van Buren Pointers Team members include — Demarius Newton, Seth Humphrey, Bryce Waters, Haden Roark, Connor Johnson, Simon Wheeler, Laiken Stikeleather, Cade Richesin, Mason Patrick, Noah Newell, Tanner Callahan, Hagan George, Easton Reichart, Noah Lipe, Chad Ferguson, Jackson Hurst, Grant Shankle, Caleb Most, Wesley Painter, Dakota Peters, Trevor Johnson, Landrey Wilkerson, Braxton Durrough, Caleb Ferguson, Sam Seegar and Trevor Jasna.
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Alma Airedales Team members — Ledger Anderson, Peyton Canfield, Alec Brown, Sebastian Herrera, Jacob Machen, Zack Holt, Garon Taylor, Lucas Hayes, Devin Poole, Josiah Weaver, Nathan Smith, Caden Gifford, Chandler O’Kelley, Lane Gates, Parker Sieminskie, Logan Taylor, Drew Montgomery, Logan Hatcher, Brayden Taylor, Kevin Mills, Jacob Fraley, Austin Bailey, Wyatt Fletcher, Brilee White, Cameron Ray, Tyson Shepherd and Kaleb Burdick.
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Van Buren Lady Pointers Team members include — Maddie Mills, Ashlynn Kinsey, Ally Rauser, Katianne Bramlett, Cali Jones, Alexcia Trejo, Janelle Parga, Brook Kannady, Haylie Girvin, Rialee Matevia, Alexis Gibson, Belle Brown, Richelle Stacy, Madilyn Limon, Brook Fancher, Madison Eagle, Mia Napier, Kyah Grubbs, Leah Wilkins and Kirstyn McMillian.
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is Gibson,
Alma Lady Airedales Team members — Bailey Webb, Kelsey Shepherd, Halyn Carmack, Lydia Swarnes, Mariah Squires, Baley Williams, Peyton Barnhill, Sophie Morrison, Jacklyn Petree, Taelynn Perry, Niah Parks, Mackenzie Martin, Valerie Oswald, Laynee Robins and Sydnee Hesson.
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Van Buren Pointers Team members include — Christopher Mendoza, Kylan Almond, Kevin Sandoval, Luis Romero, Abraham Estrada, Adalberto Flores, Jose Zarate, Ivan Rubio, Jimmy Vilela, Isaac Delafuente, Samel Linares, Adrian Cuevas, Isaac Ochoa, Chris Flores, Jason Rubio, Dylan Portillo, Fernando Romero, Adan Rubio, Jose Landin, Moises Torres, Erick Johnson, Dainel Gonzalez, Jacob Marrone, Owen Chnoweth, Juan Abrajan, Manases Delafuenta and Noah Hendrickson.
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Van Buren Lady Pointers Team members include — Logan Granados, Alainnah Ceballos-Wright, Serena Sengchanthavong, Eliza Sandoval, Aishlynn Ortiz, Hannah Acosta, Joselyn Recinos, Zaira Cruz, Nikki Houck, Katherine Alonzo, Keila Rameriz, Ashley Perkins, Janette Zarate, Stephanie Romero, Angie Ortiz, Ashley Galdamez, Ashley Alvarado, Elizabeth Good, Alexis Trentham, Vanessa Guiterrez, Georgia Serrano and Perla Castro.
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Alma Lady Airedales Team members include — Brianna Sullivan, Lydia Bowerman, Courtney Bates, Jasmine Higgins, Kenzie Rushing, Emily Banks, Annabeth Sanderson, Alisha Allred, Ansley Kirkendoll, Haven Frazier, Diana Zarate, Kyeleigh Cravens, Victoria Guth, Fira Malik, Kayla McCain, Kaslyn Hatton, Chloe Ray, Leigha Wilkinson, KyliAnna Faucette, Kelsey Bush, Alyssa Thomas, Maria Morales, Chole Gilmore, Ashlyn Chronister and Ava Wilkinson.
Alma Airedales Team members include — Seth Seegers, Blake Williams, Jacob Coursey, Poom Tejavanija, Dane Martin, Coltin Bowerman, Gavin Todd, Samuel Midkiff, Eric Dover, Aryn Wilkinson, Joseph York, Brandon Combs, Yoon Lee, Derick Johnson, Francisco Pina, Dakota Caplena, Jose Gonzalez, Kamden Meinardus, Christopher Black, Ashton Outlaw, Austin Cater, Brody Hughes, Adam Cater, Logan Burress, Logan Chronister, Andrew Duncan, Hannes Vonkiekenbusch, Johnathon Beard, Mario Gonzalez, Grayson Bailey and Camren Marshall.
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Alma Airedales and Lady Airedales
Track team members include — Kylie Cravens, Annika Duncan, Chesnee Ellifrits, Chole Gilmore, Audrey Hampton, Chyna Henson, Josephine Meinardus, Chloe Ray, Jolee Grober, Whitney Higgins, Alissa James, Hillarie Mata, Kayla McCain, Zoie Mcgee, Bethany Milam, Rane Orick, Lakin Scott, Michelle Wells, Krystal Wise, Andi Bull, Sidney Hatley, Paige Henson, Jasmine Higgins, Karah Kizer, Reagan Moore, Brooke Phenis, Destiny Smith, Ariel Towns-Robinson and Haley White. Eli Aleck, Nathan Alexander, Coltin Bowerman, Dakota Burkhart, Zac Henson, Riely Mitchelle, Fransico Pina, Levi Prestidge, Keegan Rosebeary, Montana Webb, Karsten Beneux, Landon Blair, Dakota Caplena, Josh Davis, Matthew Hamblin, Logan Ingram, Gabriel oll, HavenJensen, Caedmon Johnson, Marquis Peter, Taelon Peter, Colton Atha, Logan Chronister, Trey Fuselier, Kyle Jones, Easton Koiser, Zach McCoy, Bradyn Meinardus, Martin Nunez, Jonathan a Morales,Pulido, Jason Releford and Joseph York.
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Van Buren Lady Pointers Team members include — Amberlee Burnett, Daisy Gutierrez, Josie Ward, Callie Pixley, Jacqueline Martinez, Lauren Griffin, Haileigh Knights, Susana Salazar, Samara Camyn, Madeline Davis, Amberlie Ming, Chloe Cazzell, Gracie Carter, Taylar Christensen and Julia Clark.
Van Buren’s Clark gets back on track Julia Clark doesn’t have many bad days. The Van Buren senior track standout is rarely without a smile. But last fall, as the Lady Pointers’ long-distance runner was trying to stay on course, rehabbing a nagging leg injury in hopes of getting back for her final season of cross country, there were some difficult days. A spell of injuries, including the stress fracture to her femur that kept her sidelined as a sophomore, were always in the back of her mind. Sidelined at the start of her senior cross country season, Clark was told it was “unlikely” she would be able to compete at at high level. Yet, with encouraging words from coaches Rod Ray, Hays Lemley, and her teammates, Clark persevered. “I was really devastated, but I tried to stay positive,”
Clark said. “It’s always been my dream to run for a DI (Division I) school, and I felt like that was no longer possible.” Clark made it back last fall, signed with the University of Central Arkansas, and today will show off her signature smile as she zooms around the track in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Pointer Relays. Julia Clark is back. “I’ve had a pretty great season,” Clark said. “I love being able to put my feet down hard and run. It’s been really good to compete again. I felt like God had a bigger plan through all of this. “Now, looking back on it, I can’t believe how all of it was orchestrated so perfectly.” Clark has enjoyed a nice spring for the Lady Pointers. Two weeks ago, she dominated at the Alma Relays. She
hopes to finish strong today while pushing her times in preparation for next month’s state track meet in Lake Hamilton. Clark missed a huge chunk of the 2018 cross country season. But it wasn’t as if she was MIA. She took to the pool to strengthen her legs, traversing Hwy. 59 north to Summer Mulloy’s house to swim. It worked. “I would do really intense strength workouts while they were running, and then when they were done, I would go to Cedarville and swim for about an hour,” Clark said. “I usually swam for 30 minutes to an hour.” Back on the course, Clark didn’t just make it back, she had a PR at the 2018 Arkansas-Oklahoma All-Star meet, placing third overall. Clark has carried the momentum into track as well.
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“It definitely feels good to compete for our home town, and especially now that we get to compete on our home track,” she said. “To have the support of our community, it means a lot. It’s great to have people honk at us whenever we’re running and yell supportive things at us, because we know they’re proud of us and the work that we’re doing. It’s great to have some ownership at this point, too, to know that we’re not just representing ourselves, but our teammates and our community of Van Buren. “It’s an honorable thing to be a part of this and to have such amazing training from coach Ray and coach Lemley and coach Brown.” — KEVIN TAYLOR
Van Buren distance runner Julia Clark (right) warms up during the Pointers’ track practice on April 11 at the Van Buren High School track facility. (photo by JAMIE MITCHELL)
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nclude — tt, Daisy ard, Callie Martinez, Haileigh Salazar, Madeline ng, Chloe ter, Taylar lia Clark.
Van Buren’s Callie Pixley (left) makes her first run in the long jump on April 12 during the Pointer Relays in Van Buren. (photo by JAMIE MITCHELL)
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Van Buren Pointers Team members include — Tyler Lemley, Eric Marcos, Luiz Conde, James Gibson, Andrew Wagoner, Cody Lowry, Isaac Davis, Zach Hewett, Bobby Theplama, Cha’raun Page, Conrad Walters, Blake Wilkens, Caleb Lawley, Hunter Boyle, Kaleb Dudley, Tyson Kutter, Dawson Freeman, Guillermo Palafox, Garrett Standifird, Xavier McCormick, Christian Morrow, Marcos Rodriguez, Isaac Carter, Brayden Gilmore, Caden Smith, Robert Futch and Easton Mongold.
Standifird keeps standing tall Garrett Standifird swears he used to be painfully shy. To see him now, though, working the floor over at Planet Fitness, you’d never know the Van Buren senior — throwing around one-liners like a seasoned pro — was ever bashful. “I usually just fill in for people and work three days a week,” Standifird said. “But lately, I’ve been working more — five days two weeks ago and four days last week.” What is unique to the Van Buren senior track standout, however, is his work ethic. Chatting among the people? He can do that, too. “I can talk to anybody now,” Standifird said. “I don’t like to … but I can.” Standifird, squinting in the early afternoon sunlight, is smiling. He’ll take center stage today at the McDonald Relays in Fort Smith, competing in the discus and shot put. But Standifird’s athletic career, including the track
scholarship he would sign with Little Rock three months shy of graduating from Van Buren High School, may not have happened without some serious perseverance. When Standifird was 14, he lost parts of two fingers on his left hand in his grandfather’s workshop. “My grandpa (Ed Standifird), he has a woodshed with all the basics to make projects,” Standifird said. “He wasn’t there at the time, but he had taught me a lot of stuff about safety. I was in there making a project for a friend of mine. It was a little dark in there, and I had been outside all day, and my eyes hadn’t adjusted. There was a knot on the board that I was cutting. My hand slipped forward and …” Standifird blacked out. “I had no idea what had happened when I woke up,” he said. Standifird’s mom, Tammy, called 911, grabbed Garrett and — in one fluid motion — hit the gas. Because they were so far out in the “sticks,” as Garrett explained, they
met an ambulance at a convenience store and he was rushed to St. Frances Hospital in Tulsa. The accident happened near Porum, a rural stretch of Oklahoma, less than 100 miles from Tulsa. “They took great care of me; they were very nice,” Standifird said. “My entire arm was wrapped up.” Standifird returned to school; life quickly returned to normal. But sports? Could Garrett Standifird play football? Would he become limited? “I was kind of worried but I never really showed that to anybody,” he said. “I kept it all my head. Anytime someone asked me what I was going to do sports-wise I would say, ‘What about it?’ “I wasn’t going to quit unless somebody made me quit.”
More trauma Standifird, who had played football for his dad Daryl’s fifth-grade Pointers team, working his way up to high
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school, hit another snag late in his freshman season. “Our next to last game, my ring finger, the only one they were able to save, got caught in another player’s shoulder pads,” Standifird said. “So, my ring finger was kept at a 45 degree angle for two years.” The pain was agonizing. “Every day the pain just got worse,” Standifird said. “But I never told anybody. It was six months prior to my next surgery.”
Garrett’s humor
“My original hand doctor, Dr. (Kenneth) Chekofsky, he didn’t sugarcoat things — he told me straight out how it was,” Standifird said. “He was very polite to me, and I was very polite to him, and he told me I was one of his favorite patients.” And Standifird trudges forward. “Right after the accident, I was making jokes about it,” Standifird said. “And I haven’t stopped making jokes.” One joke, Standifird said, was on his former offensive line coach, Mike Lowrey. “My sophomore year, I had to wear a strap on my left hand, to take all the weight off my hand whenever I lifted weights,” Standifird explained. “It took me a little longer to grab onto the weight to get it up. Coach Lowery came over and yelled at me and said, ‘We don’t use d Walters,straps at this level.’ Rodriguez, “I took off my hand and said, ‘Coach’ (revealing his hand) and he said, ‘OK.’ We never talked about it.”
all
Second surgery
Standifird hit the weight room soon after, but hit another bump in the road when the titanium plate inserted in his hand proved to be too thin. Two weeks later, a thicker plate was inserted. The accident, which he soon began joking about as a way to move past what had happened, doesn’t affect his d he wasability to heave the shot put. The mental aspect, however, was a different story. stretch of “It affected me with life, and it affected me with football,” Standifird said. ry nice,” up.” turned to
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Family legacy Standifird’s dad was a starting left tackle on one of Van Buren’s best teams from the 1980s — the Gary Autry-coached 1987 squad. That team, in fact, beat Alma, 21-20, on the final week of the season in one of the best Crawford County battles ever, driving 80 yards for the go-ahead score in the final minute. Van Buren then blasted Bentonville and Newport to open the playoffs before losing to eventual state champion Arkadelphia — coached by the late John Outlaw — in the ’87 semis. Three decades later, another Standifird is proudly blocking for the Pointers. “Sports has always been a part of my life,” Garrett Standifird said. “It was one of my dad’s, too. It was one of those things that he would teach me and that helped us bond. “Especially football, because that’s what he excelled at.” Shot put
Sandifird has been on point this spring. He won the Alma Relays on the last Friday of March. He placed second at last week’s Pointer Relays. Track suits him well, says assistant Van Buren track coach Christopher Elliott. “Throwing the shot and the discus is really something he (Standifird) enjoys doing,” he said. “In track and field, to find a kid that buys in, no matter what the sport, is really hard these days. It really kind of sets them apart and makes them a unique individual to begin with.” Last week, after he had finished throwing the discus, Standifird remained in the infield adjacent to the Pointers’ track, helping officials retrieve discs from other competitors. “Since I’ve gotten to know him as a ninth-grader, his work ethic is really what kind of sets him apart from other throwers I’ve had over the years,” added Elliott. “A lot of this came naturally to Garrett, but he also put the work in to really try to excel and be the best that he personally could be.” — KEVIN TAYLOR
Van Buren’s Garrett Standifird makes his first throw in the shot put on April 12 during the Pointer Relays in Van Buren. (photo by JAMIE MITCHELL)
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Van Buren joins esports league When it was announced that Arkansas was going to partner with PlayVs to bring esports to the Natural State, Van Buren jumped aboard. However, Van Buren and the other schools had about two weeks to prepare for the first competition. “We’ve been running since Day One and kind of learning as we go,” said Wes Yandell, the Van Buren School District Media Technician. “Esports is so brand new in a lot of ways there’s no manual or instruction book on how to coach or prepare. PlayVs has been really good working with us and helping us get started.” Yandell had coached his kids’ soccer teams and found there wasn’t much difference in working with these new competitors. However, the biggest thing to stand out was how the players stepped up to take early ownership of the teams. “We have kids who are leaders and are very good at it,” said Yandell. “Players like Daniel (Palafox) would research how the other teams compete and see how we can exploit their weaknesses.” Other players, like An Tran, would break down previous game films (all games are recorded and streamed at https://www. twitch.tv/vbhsesports) for their teammates to
help devise strategies for upcoming matches. Team captains for this season include Tran, Cris Ayala, Drew Serjeant, Jordan Deuley, Robert Futch, and Alex Yarbrough. Each of the teams have done well this season with the League of Legends team rank No. 1 in the state at one point. The team will begin the playoffs, which will require the schools to travel to the event. The participants will be treated like other esport players and placed in the spotlight with cameras and lights on them as well having their games streamed live with commentators. League of Legends and Rocket League will compete at single venue while Smite will be done in-house at the participant schools. “I’m really excited about the playoffs. I think we have a good shot, but I’m really excited to get these kids in the spotlight,” said Yandell. “They’ve worked hard and I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished so far.” Van Buren also recently scrimmaged against a college team. “That’s another thing about what’s so great about esports… right now, it’s all one classification,” said Yandell, and he added there’s an opportunity in the future to perhaps have teams scrimmage against
Van Buren junior Daniel Palafox practices Smite on April 11 at the high school. Palafox is one of the inaugural players for the Van Buren esports team.
international teams as well. Yandell was originally involved when the school district asked him what kind of hardware would be needed to for the competitors. After getting the platforms set up, Yandell, who has been with the school district for 14 years, soon found himself
wanting to be the coach for the teams. “I jumped at the opportunity,” he said. “This is something all kids could participate. It’s treated like another sport. We encourage and motivate each other.” This season, Van Buren and other school districts compete in three games: Rocket League, Smith and
League of Legends. When it was announced there were over 200 students at the initial meeting expressing interest to play. The esports teams do adhere to the same guidelines as outlined AAA handbook in regards to grades, so some were unable to compete and others lost interest when their game wasn’t offered.
For Palafox, playing Smite competitively for Van Buren has helped him in the classroom. “Most of us who play used to spend our team thinking about what game we’re going to be playing after school…. now we know,” Palafox said. “I’ve been able to focus more in class and school work knowing after school I
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ue
ying ely for lped oom. o play r team hat game playing w we id. “I’ve s more ol work hool I
either have practice or match to play.” Palafox also earned a rare accomplishment recently in which he “killed” all five of his opponents singlehandedly during a single match. The teams compete about once a week and will practice when not in competition. Yandell said more games will be offered next season and he hopes to double the size of the participants to over 50. “This isn’t just to have them play video games… there’s a lot of opportunity for scholarships for them as well,” said Yandell. “Every day I’m looking online or chatting with colleges about helping these kids.” Yandell is hoping to add freshmen next season once some logistics are worked out as many of the competitions begin by 3:30 p.m. — GEORGE “CLAY” MITCHELL
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High School Esports Games These games are available across multiple platforms (console, PC or Mac). Rocket League. A vehicular soccer game. Two teams comprised of three rocket cars each battle to knock a large ball into a goal. The game also resembles a demolition derby. Van Buren teams: VB Kingz and J-Crew Smite. A cooperative tactical combat game. Two teams comprised of five players each chose a mythological figure as their avatar in a capture-the-flag type of game by destroying each other’s Phoenix in order to take out the opposing team’s Titan. Smite does have a world championship with a $1 million prize pool. Van Buren teams: True Prestige and Dawn of the Glass League of Legends. A cooperative tactical combat game. Two teams comprised of five players each choose a champion to battle against another team. The goal is usually to destroy the other team’s Nexus. League of Legends has one the largest footprint in electronic gaming with an estimate of over 100 million active players. The 2017 World Championship had 60 million unique viewers and total prize pool of over $4 million. Since 2009 the Super Bowl has averaged over 100 million viewers. Van Buren teams: VB Dream Team and VB Ctrl
Mulberry Yellow Jackets Team members include — Tony Garvin, Ricky Gonzalis, Rick Reeves, Adam Hoyle, John Wilmoth, Garrett Cagle, Joey Fleener, Joseph Lewis, Tristan Hamby, C.J. Roberts and Brayden Bartlett.
We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter. Brad Howe
1302 Main St Van Buren, AR 72956 479-474-9000 BHowe@ShelterInsurnace.com AUTO • HOME • LIFE
FS-0001228992-01
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Cedarville Pirates Team members include Austin Swaim, Cody Dickens, Heath Earnhart, Hayden Fleming, Dylan Murray, Greyson Polk, Jacob Richards, Hayden Partain, Darryl Kattich, Noah Mize, Weston Reed, Dillon Smith, Devon Wiley, Colby Maxwell, Taiylen Estes, Brayden Russell, Kolby Beals, Cameron Goines, Alex Ascencio, Darrien Skinner, Casey Knight and William Henson.
Cedarville Lady Pirates Team members include Halea Carter, Allysa Langley, Cara Swaim, Katey Oden, L i n s e y R i l e y, H e a t h e r Hudson, Kristen GArner, Lindsey Jordan, Elizabeth Morton, Paige Matthews, Chanel Kattich, Angelina Terciera, Janne Raasch, Laura Sevenstar, Sydney Seegers and Faith Weaver.
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Cedarville Pirates Team members (above) include — Jacob Kattich, Connor Templeton, Dillon Murray, Colby Beals, Kevan Jones, Taylor Humble, Shaliko Sahakyan, and Jon Stewart. Not pictured — Kelin Mitchell and Max McGill.
Cedarville Lady Pirates Team members (left) include — Chanel Kattich, Kamryn Vinson, Chloe Morrow, Janne Raasch and Katie McBroom.
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Mountainburg Dragons Team members include — Houston Morris, Luke Rose, Brady Kimes, Zane Rtherford, Blake Byron, Jayden Nixon, Ridge Bonewell, Colton Robbins, Isaac Cowett, Harley Clark, Austin Byron, Zach Jones, James Vanourny, C o l to n G re g o r y, Et h a n Gregory, Ryan Gassaway, Jesse Maguire, Kade Spradlin and Ryan Steinsiek.
Mountainburg Lady Dragons Team members include — Kaylee Hampton, Desmond Bull, Gracie Farmer, Rylli Hammond, Rylan Nelson, Kaylynn Joslin, Annie Beasley, Kaylie Ayala, Mia Mclendon, Raegan Huffor, Alexis Byron, Laurel Hyman, Mahaley Fletcher, Madelyn Beasley and Jordan Watkins.
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Chitwood nabs national championship Madi Chitwood, the former Van Buren standout won the 2019 National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship held in Georgia held in March. The former Van Buren standout went into the final round with leading 5-over par 72 on the second day of the event at the International Disc Golf Center’s “Steady” Ed Headrick Memorial course held during March 28-30. After the second day, SAU finished one singles round and one doubles round with a nine-stroke lead, but Chitwood had just a two-stroke lead in the individuals. “We had to stay focused and positive not to lose our lead over the next two doubles rounds,” said Chitwood. “I tried to just stay out of my head and play like I had the first round and hope for the best in singles. I was absolutely honored to win singles and have Southern Arkansas bring home the women’s championship.” Chitwood finished at 5-over as she shot an even-par 31 on the final nine holes of the event. She bogeyed the first hole but finished one under on the final to even it out. Southern Arkansas finished 15 strokes ahead of Liberty “A” team. “We went into it definitely hoping to win the team title, but I was just striving to place better than fourth in individuals,” Chitwood said. The national event is just Chitwood’s fifth tournament event on her PDGA player page. She began just playing with some of the guys on the team. “There wasn’t a girls team at the time, so it was all for fun, but there were other girls who had boyfriends on the team who would sometimes play as well, and we always had a great time,” said Chitwood. Once she expressed her desire to start a team, Ethan Bolick, who was the team’s president at the time, “wasted no time” to help her get the team started. “Before we knew it, we had four teammates and made a plan to go to nationals,” Chitwood said. “The school was super open to the idea and happy to help and support Former Van Buren standout Madi Chitwood won the women’s national title in disc golf while competing for us. They have a course Southern Arkansas during a three-day event in Georgia back in late March. The SAU women’s team also won on campus which is su- the national title. Chitwood finished fourth overall last season. per helpful and makes practices convenient.” Last season, the team finished runner up and Chitwood qualified as an All-American as she finished fourth overall. Chitwood, a junior nursing major, ran cross country and track for Van Buren. — GEORGE “CLAY” MITCHELL
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