Dozens of local athletes sign with college programs

High school student athletes
High school student athletes

FOOTBALL

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William Hawkins of Prairie Grove Signing with Henderson state university

William Hawkins

SCHOOL Prairie Grove

HEIGHT 6-4

WEIGHT 305

COLLEGE Henderson State

THE SCOOP Hawkins played a huge role in Prairie Grove's long playoff runs the past two seasons as a three-year letterman for the Tigers. ... Hawkins averaged six pancake blocks and five knockdowns per game in the 2017 season when the Tigers shared the 4A-1 Conference title.

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Blaze Brothers Springdale Har-Ber signing with Pittsburg State

Blaze Brothers

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

HEIGHT 5-10

WEIGHT 173

COLLEGE Pittsburg (Kan.) State

THE SCOOP The two-way starter was a defensive back and receiver for the Wildcats as a three-year letterman. ... Brothers was a two-time all-state selection and a member of the All-NWADG Division I team. ... He is also an all-conference member of the Har-Ber baseball team and carries a 3.52 grade-point average. ... Brothers had 34 total tackles and 3 interceptions, and averaged 16.3 yards on punt returns.

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Springdale Har-Ber RB Payton Copher

Payton Copher

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 190

COLLEGE Pittsburg (Kan.) State

THE SCOOP Copher played all over the field for the Wildcats during his three-year career. ... This past season Copher moved from quarterback to running back while also seeing time at receiver and in the defensive secondary. ... Copher is one of the state's top track athletes in the sprints, winning the state 100-meter title last spring. ... Copher carries a 3.7 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. ... Copher rushed for 665 yards on 114 carries and scored 5 TDs ... Had 13 catches for 107 yards and 3 TDs.

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Tevin Eckwood Springdale Har-Ber signs with Northwest Missouri State

Tevin Eckwood

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 145

COLLEGE Northwest Missouri State

THE SCOOP Eckwood was a lock-down defender for the Wildcats as a free safety. ... He was a two-time all-state selection and a member of the All-NWADG Division I football team in 2017. ... Eckwood is also a track star for the Wildcats, winning the 400-meter state championship last spring. ... Eckwood was a standout on special teams as a kickoff (33.6 return average) and punt returner (12.4 average), with one kickoff return for a touchdown. ... Defensively, he had 54 total tackles and 3 interceptions.

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Matt Scirto, cornerback from Har-Ber High, signed a letter of intent with Hendrix College. He was a three-year letterman.

Matt Scirto

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 150

COLLEGE Hendrix College

THE SCOOP Scirto was a star on and off the field for the Wildcats. ... A three-year defensive back letterman on the football team, Scirto garnered a number of leadership honors as a junior Chamber of Commerce leadership member, earned the Presidential award three times and is a member of the National Honor Society. ... Scirto carries a 3.9 GPA, was the SIFE Award winner and was the runner-up for the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame scholarship. ... Scirto had 46 total tackles and 1 interception.

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Nick Parchman Springdale Har-Ber signs with Harding University

Nick Parchman

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 190

COLLEGE Harding University

THE SCOOP Parchman was a top receiver for the Wildcats offensively and a two-year letterman. ... Parchman was second on the team in catches with 25 for 350 yards and 2 TDs.

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Jesus Zizumbo Springdale Har-Ber

Jesus Zizumbo

SCHOOL Springdale Har-Ber

HEIGHT 5-9

WEIGHT 165

COLLEGE Arkansas Tech

THE SCOOP One of the state's top kickers and a standout on the Har-Ber boys soccer team. ... Zizumbo was named to the all-state team in 2015 and 2017 and a selection on the All-NWADG Division I team. ... Zizumbo had 49 touchbacks on 68 kickoffs. ... He was 44 of 47 on extra-points and 6 of 12 on field goals with a long of 54 yards.

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Jakota Sainsbury

Jakota Sainsbury

SCHOOL Pea Ridge

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 190

COLLEGE Henderson State

THE SCOOP Sainsbury quarterbacked the Blackhawks to the Class 4A state semifinals twice and the state title game as a junior, compiling a three-year record of 36-7. ... As a senior, he was 167 of 269 passing for 2,419 yards and 28 TDs with 9 interceptions. ... Also a key member of the Blackhawks' baseball team.

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Jordan Witcher

Jordan Witcher

SCHOOL Pea Ridge

HEIGHT 6-2

WEIGHT 180

COLLEGE Missouri Western

THE SCOOP Transferred to Pea Ridge from Bryant prior to his senior season and had a huge impact in the Blackhawks' 12-2 season. ... Witcher caught 56 passes for 809 yards (14.4 average) and 10 touchdowns.

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Holtgrewe

Hayden Holtgrewe

SCHOOL Pea Ridge

HEIGHT 6-1

WEIGHT 170

COLLEGE Henderson State

THE SCOOP Was a team leader on both sides of the ball. ... Holtgrewe caught 83 passes for 1,271 yards (15.3 average) and 15 TDs. ... Defensively, he had 52 total tackles and 1 interception as teams avoided his side of the field. ... Holtgrewe was also a star on special teams, averaging 23.6 yards per kickoff return and 14.8 on punt returns with a long of 94 yards and 2 return touchdowns.

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Drew Winn

Drew Winn

SCHOOL Pea Ridge

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 180

COLLEGE Pittsburg (Kan.) State

THE SCOOP Set the school single-season rushing record with 2,285 yards on 276 carries (8.3 yards per carry) and single-season touchdown record with 32 in leading the Blackhawks to a 12-2 record. ... Also a threat in the passing game with 16 catches. Over his two-year career, Winn compiled 3,671 yards rushing and 55 TDs. ... Was named the All-NWADG Division II Offensive Player of the Year.

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Bailey Soule' Gravette

Bailey Soule'

SCHOOL Gravette

HEIGHT 6-2

WEIGHT 260

COLLEGE Henderson State

THE SCOOP Soule' was a do-it-all player for the Lions, playing roles all over the field in a stellar three-year career. ... He scored four rushing touchdowns as a fullback and had one catch as a tight end on offense. ... On defense, Soule' was a force in the middle of Gravette's D-line with 82 total tackles, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, 10.0 sacks and 35 quarterback hurries.

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Chris Childress Gravette

Chris Childress

SCHOOL Gravette

HEIGHT 6-4

WEIGHT 176

COLLEGE Hendrix College

THE SCOOP Childress was a top player in all three phases for the Lions. ... One of the state's top punters, Childress averaged more than 40 yards per punt and was named to the All-NWADG Division II first team. ... Also handled the kicking duties with 30 of 33 on extra point attempts and 4 field goals with a long of 37 yards. ... Offensively, Childress had 8 catches and on defense, he had 79 total tackles and 3 interceptions.

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Jon Faulkenberry Gentry sings with Henderson State University

Jon Faulkenberry

SCHOOL Gentry

HEIGHT 6-1

WEIGHT 190

COLLEGE Henderson State

THE SCOOP Faulkenberry is likely the most athletic quarterback in Northwest Arkansas regardless of classification. He is a multi-sport standout in football, basketball and track. ... Led the Pioneers to a playoff berth last fall. ... Had an incredible 7 rushing touchdowns against Greenland. ... The dual-threat Faulkenberry passed for 1,789 yards and 15 TDs, and ran for 1,453 yards and 19 TDs. ... Also had 2 interceptions on defense and 1 defensive touchdown.

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Bentonville High senior offensive lineman Adam Brazell signs his national letter of intent to play football at Central Oklahoma.

Adam Brazell

SCHOOL Bentonville High

HEIGHT 6-6

WEIGHT 230

COLLEGE Central Oklahoma

THE SCOOP Moved to Bentonville during the offseason from Azle, Texas, where he was a defensive tackle, but was turned into an offensive tackle with the Tigers. ... Started at right tackle and was one of three Tigers' offensive lineman to earn all-state honors ... Graded out the highest among Bentonville's offensive linemen at 85 percent with 25 knockdowns. ... Didn't decide on his school of choice until earlier this week as he weighed out a number of offers from colleges and universities.

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Bentonville High senior Easton Miller signs a national letter of intent to play football at Harding.

Easton Miller

SCHOOL Bentonville High

HEIGHT 5-10

WEIGHT 181

COLLEGE Harding

THE SCOOP Earned all-conference honors after being the Tigers' leading ground gainer, finishing with 839 yards and 12 touchdowns on 150 carries before his season ended with a leg injury during the season-finale against Bentonville West. ... Also caught 12 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. ... Surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in 4 of 10 games, including a 132-yard performance against Conway and a 131-yard outing against Springdale Har-Ber.

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Michael Toney

SCHOOL Bentonville West

HEIGHT 6-3

WEIGHT 300

COLLEGE Pittsburg (Kan.) State

THE SCOOP A two-year starter with the Wolverines, where he earned all-state honors last season, and was selected to play in the All-Star football game in June. ... Was the leading blocker for a West offensive unit that averaged 456 yards total offense and more than 42 points per game. ... Graded out at 92 percent this season by the West coaches.

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Bentonville West senior linebacker Hunter Swoboda signed with Ouachita Baptist.

Hunter Swoboda

SCHOOL Bentonville West

HEIGHT 6-3

WEIGHT 225

COLLEGE Ouachita Baptist

THE SCOOP Earned all-state honors after finishing the season as the team's leading tackler with 98 (62 solos, 36 assists), 6 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries. ... Transfered to West from Pulaski Robinson before the season started. ... Started all 11 games after recovering from surgery after breaking two bones in his leg at a football combine in Little Rock. ... Had his best game in his last one as he recorded 15 tackles in a playoff loss to Conway.

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Bentonville West senior defensive back Tyrae Medlock signed with Southern Nazarene.

Tyrae Medlock

SCHOOL Bentonville West

HEIGHT 5-8

WEIGHT 160

COLLEGE Southern Nazarene

THE SCOOP Saw limited action on defense and special teams. ... Finished the season with five tackles (four solos, one assists), and three of those came in West's first two games. ... Received offers from a number of small private schools.

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Dotson Schaefer

SCHOOL Fayetteville

HEIGHT 6-4

WEIGHT 235

COLLEGE Texas State

THE SCOOP Had 78 tackles, including 25 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. ... On Leadership Council for Bulldogs at Fayetteville High ... All NWA Democrat-Gazette and NWA Touchdown Club nominee for defensive lineman of the year.

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Layne Hutchins Springdale High signs with Rose-Hulman

Layne Hutchins

SCHOOL Springdale High

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 180

COLLEGE Rose-Hulman

THE SCOOP Was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Bulldogs and led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances. ... Started 22 consecutive games at quarterback. ... Named the NWA Touchdown Club Student-Athlete of the Year. ... Carries a 4.75 GPA. ... Was 295 of 497 passing for 4,029 yards and 35 TDs in his career. ... Also rushed for 567 yards and 4 TDs.

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Brayden Johnson Alma Signing with Ouchita Baptist University

Brayden Johnson

SCHOOL Alma

HEIGHT 6-3

WEIGHT 212

COLLEGE Ouachita Baptist

THE SCOOP A two-time all-state selection for the Airedales and selected most outstanding wide receiver in the 5A-West Conference and a first-team selection on the All-NWADG Division I team. ... In 2017, caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and 16 TDs. ... In his career, caught 220 passes for 2,926 yards and 26 TDs. ... Selected to the West all-star team for this summer's game.

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Garrison Jensen Alma High School Signing with Ouchita Baptist University

Garrison Jensen

SCHOOL Alma

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 190

COLLEGE Ouachita Baptist

THE SCOOP Was a force on both sides of the ball for the Airedales as the rare quarterback-linebacker combo. ... A two-time all-state selection. ... Played quarterback for the first time in 2017 and passed for 2,430 yards and 27 TDs to go along with 1,051 rushing yards and 18 TDs. ... Selected for the AHSCA All-Star Game this summer.

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Jacob Gray, Farmington football

Jacob Gray

SCHOOL Farmington

HEIGHT 6-2

WEIGHT 190

COLLEGE Henderson State

THE SCOOP Gray caught 17 passes for 212 yards, an average of 12.5-yards-per-catch with 4 touchdowns. ... He was named Outstanding tight end for the 5A West Conference twice, winning the honor as both a junior and a senior. ... Gray plans to major in business management.

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Layne Evans

SCHOOL Elkins

HEIGHT 5-10

WEIGHT 170

COLLEGE Culver-Stockton

THE SCOOP Huge impact player on both sides of the ball for Elkins in helping the Elks reach the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. ... In 2017, caught 66 passes for 1,074 yards and 10 TDs. ... Defensively, had 104 total tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss, 3 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. ... Was named all-state.

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Dalton Stewart

SCHOOL Elkins

HEIGHT 6-1

WEIGHT 260

COLLEGE Missouri Valley

THE SCOOP Offensive and defensive lineman helped pave the way for the Elks high-powered offense. ... Was named to the all-conference team and the winner of the Burlsworth Character Award. ... Recorded 35 tackles in the 2017 season.

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Ethan Cox

SCHOOL Elkins

HEIGHT 6-2

WEIGHT 240

COLLEGE Missouri Valley

THE SCOOP Starting offensive tackle graded out 91 percent for the season and started all 12 games for the Elks. ... Was named all-conference.

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BASEBALL

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Luke Johnson Shiloh Christian

Luke Johnson

SCHOOL Shiloh Christian

HEIGHT 6-3

WEIGHT 225

COLLEGE Pittsburg (Kan.) State

THE SCOOP A two-year starter as a pitcher/first baseman for a team that played in two straight state championship games, winning the title in 2016. ... At the plate, Johnson has batted .345 with a .412 on-base percentage over two seasons with 40 RBIs. ... On the mound, he has 38 strikeouts and a 4.03 ERA.

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Connor Clark Shiloh Christian

Connor Clark

SCHOOL Shiloh Christian

HEIGHT 6-0

WEIGHT 175

COLLEGE Independence (Kan.) Community College

THE SCOOP Clark has been a key cog on teams that back played in back-to-back state championship games, winning the state title in 2016. ... As a pitcher over the past two seasons, Clark has 85 strikeouts and a sterling 2.75 ERA. ... At the plate, the infielder has a .383 batting average with 24 RBIs and a .430 on-base percentage.

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SOFTBALL

Natalie Scherrey

SCHOOL Van Buren

COLLEGE Ranger (Texas) Junior College

THE SCOOP The outfielder has been a key member of Van Buren's program as a .263 hitter. ... She will end her career as one of the top players in program history in put-outs and assists by an outfielder. ... She will also be in the top 10 in career innings played.

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VOLLEYBALL

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Carley Galloway

Carley Galloway

SCHOOL Fayetteville

HEIGHT 5-6

COLLEGE Graceland (Iowa) University

THE SCOOP Member of three-time state champions at Fayetteville High. ... Started her senior season at Libero and led the team in receptions and digs.

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BOYS SOCCER

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Bentonville West senior Tyler Guentz signed a national letter of intent to play soccer at Harding University. He becomes the first member of West's boys soccer team to sign.

Tyler Guentz

SCHOOL Bentonville West

HEIGHT 5-9

COLLEGE Harding

THE SCOOP Becomes the first boys soccer player from West to sign a national letter of intent. ... Was the Wolverines' co-captain and their leading scorer during their inaugural season. ... Was a member of Bentonville High's state championship team as a sophomore in 2016.

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GIRLS SOCCER

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Bentonville West senior Alissa Carlson became the school's first girls soccer player to sign a national letter of intent when she signed with Northwest Oklahoma State.

Alissa Carlson

SCHOOL Bentonville West

HEIGHT 5-7

COLLEGE Northwestern Oklahoma State

THE SCOOP Becomes the first girls soccer player at West to sign a national letter of intent. ... Became the first Lady Wolverine to score a goal (Feb. 28, 2017, vs. Green Forest) and record a hat-trick in a match. ... An all-state player who scored 17 goals in West's first 12 matches, but a stress fracture sidelined her for the remainder of the season.

Sports on 02/08/2018

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