Alma Sports Notebook
Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
AAA releases numbers for ’24-26 classification years
The Arkansas Activities Association has released its projected conference alignments for the 2024-26 school years. The Alma Airedales are the 22nd largest 5A school with 770.33 students.
Benton and Van Buren are the largest 6A schools on the list with 1,323 and 1,264.67 students in grades 10-12, per the AAA. Greenwood is the 12th largest 5A school.
It’s projected that Alma’s 5A-West conference (everything but football) will include Alma, Van Buren, Greenwood, Siloam Springs, Russellville, Farmington, Harrison, and either Mountain Home or Greenbrier. No final conference alignments have been announced, Alma athletics director Doug Loughridge said.
The projected 5A-West football conference will likely include Alma, Farmington, Harrison, Gravette, Huntsville, Clarksville, Prairie Grove, and Shiloh Christian.
Harrison and Farmington, coincidentally, are the smallest 5A schools with 643 and 641 students, respectively.
Cabot and Bentonville are the largest 6A schools with 2,486 and 2,454 students, respectively.
Umpire High School is projected to become the smallest high school in the state with an enrollment of 19.67 students.
Bottoms enjoying new gig
First-year Alma girls basketball coach Chanlee Bottoms knows there is plenty of work ahead for her young squad.
But she’s been encouraged this summer.
“The first step is learning how to practice hard with a competitive purpose,” Bottoms said. “Our players are starting to understand sense and urgency, and sense of detail with each practice. Another area that is a primary focus is shooting the basketball with more of a conditioning emphasis attached.”
Bottoms played on former coach Madelyn Flenor’s 2005 state title team. She’s coached for some outstanding coaches, including the late Louis Whorton and former Alma standout Daryl Fimple.
“We are in the process of implementing a new defensive system that will take the preseason to fully adjust and prepare for the (2023-24) season,” Bottoms said. “I am excited and proud to coach this group of Lady Airedales.”
Bakenhus new softball coach
Dustin Bakenhus hasn’t been in the head coaching business very long.
But he’s already closing in on 150 victories.
Bakenhus, a native of DeQueen, was selected as Alma’s new softball coach Thursday night. He’s just the second head coach in the program’s 25 seasons.
Charla Parrish retired following the 2023 season.
In addition to softball, he will assist veteran volleyball coach Kim Weaver. He was head softball coach and assistant volleyball coach at Magnolia for the last four years. Previously, he coached softball and football for the Horatio Lions between 2015-19.
Bakenhus has a 126-65 career record, with six of his eight teams reaching postseason. He’s led four different teams to conference championships, and six of his former players received college softball offers.
Good summer turnout
Alma boys soccer coach Cory Sturdivant said the kids have enjoyed working with coach Kirk Benson in Alma’s SPARQ program, which is designed to make kids stronger and quicker.
“Our kids are working hard and energetic about the SPARQ workouts with Coach Benson,” Sturdivant said. “It’s been great to watch all of our sports groups mesh and sweat together under the only one Airedale philosophy.”
He said there have been more girls (35) working out than boys (22). “That’s a nod to buying in from all our girls, coaches, and the energy that coach Benson brings to every workout,” Sturdivant said.
The Airedales have open fields this summer, Sturdivant said, as opposed to a regular summer league.
“The idea behind open field is player-led and organized small-sided games for soccer kids in the seventh through the 12th grade,” he said. “(That) lets our older players take ownership of organizing and getting to know our younger kids while creating a fun environment for the kids to jump right into playing.”
Pitching depth
Alma baseball coach Brian Fry likes the way his 2024 pitching staff is evolving. The third-year Airedales’ coach figures to have more than one option next spring - and some more players, too.
Eli Risley recently joined the team after moving to Alma from Pocahontas. He is a left-handed pitcher. Michael Taylor, another transfer, can catch and play outfield.
Even without using pitchers Piercen Howell and Camden Curd much this summer, Fry likes what he’s seen from Eli Risley, Cash Wilson, and Braden Green.
“I’ve been impressed with our staff the past couple of weeks,” Fry said. “We have such a mixture of arms from the left side and right side that gives us so many options. I feel like we could play six games a week and have an arm on the mound that gives us a chance.”
Left-hander Landon Taylor, an incoming freshman, threw five innings at Ozark this week on just 50 pitches. Taylor struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.
Risley went five scoreless innings last week during a win over Forsgren.
“I’ve seen guys pitching into the fifth and sixth inning, which tells me they care in shape and keeping their pitch counts down by filling up the zone,” Fry said.
Ayulo named head girls coach
Macy Ayulo has been named the new head soccer coach for the Alma Lady Airedales. She’ll also coach junior high volleyball.
“This is a very exciting moment for our girls' program,” Alma boys soccer coach Cory Sturdivant said. “We have seen good growth on our girls' side and our homegrown youth program is feeding players coming up to high school, which includes 16 to 17 potential freshmen next season.”
Sturdivant started the program in 2018.
“We have reached the point in the overall soccer program where we are ready for two head coaches,” he said. “Working alongside coach Ayulo the past two seasons has been great and she overwhelmingly had my recommendation to be the head girls coach. She’s a great coach and knowledgeable of the game and she does a great job with our girls. I am proud to work alongside her.”
Volleyball working hard
Alma volleyball coach Kim Weaver is happy with the way things are progressing this summer.
“Our girls are working hard, and you can almost feel a shift of focus and excitement,” Weaver said. “We are talking a lot about increasing kills and aces - putting more points on the board in 2023. We have implemented a few new priorities with our serve, and coach (Josh) Stark is doing a great job working with our hitters.”
Weaver and the Lady Airedales are headed to Branson for a team camp before the two-week dead period. When they return, they’ll host a team camp.