Alma girls snap losing skid
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Alma girls soccer coach Macy Ayulo might have had difficulty sleeping following Tuesday’s match with Van Buren.
The Lady Airedales’ first-year coach watched her team celebrate a dramatic 3-2 win over Van Buren, which snapped a 23-game 5A-West win-less streak.
Alma hadn’t celebrated a conference win since beating Vilonia, 1-0, on April 14, 2022. The team finished 2-9-3 that season, then dropped to 0-14 in 2023.
“Beating our team’s long-standing rival for the first time in conference play in school history was an indescribable feeling; it was exhilarating and monumental,” Ayulo said. “The victory was not just about the score, it symbolized breaking barriers and rewriting our school’s athletic legacy.”
Paced by keeper Alexis Rayburn’s 10 saves, Alma jumped ahead quickly Tuesday thanks to a pair of early goals by freshman Brianna Viveros and senior Lexi Julian, who hit the back of the net in the sixth and ninth, minute, respectively.
Julian provided the game-winner in the 85th minute.
“The win was such a confidence boost for them, and I hope they take this win into the rest of our conference games,” Ayulo said.
Alma (3-5, 1-3) dropped a 5-0 decision to Greenbrier Thursday.
BASEBALL
The Alma Airedales will head into next week trying to get back on track following a trio of tough losses.
Alma (6-7, 2-2) dropped the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader with Siloam Springs by a score of 4-3. They also fell 4-2 to Vilonia and 7-5 to Southside this week.
In between, the Airedales scorched the Panthers, 14-4, in Game 1 of Tuesday’s twinbill. Michael Taylor and Easton Boggs had three hits apiece.
Cash Farris also earned his second consecutive victory. Piercen Howell pitched well but took the loss in the second game against the Panthers.
Thursday, Taylor worked 2-plus innings and absorbed the loss against the Mavericks. He also added two more hits, a double and a single, to raise his team-leading batting average to .463.
Taylor has three home runs, three doubles, and 14 RBIs.
Alma will play four varsity games this week, starting with Monday’s nonconference game with Ozark. The Airedales travel to Russellville on Tuesday and host Lavaca on Friday.
TRACK
The Alma Airedales girls and boys track teams competed at the Siloam Springs Relays Thursday afternoon.
Sophomore Sam Schlegel won the 300 intermediate hurdles (42.99) and was part of the Airedales’ second-place finish in the 1600 relay (3:44.37). The group included Byron Standridge, Josh Releford, and Ayden Parker.
Sophomore John Crump was second in the 110 hurdles (16:32) and eighth in the 300 hurdles. Schlegel placed fourth in the 110 hurdles and was part of the Airedales’ third-place finish (45.94) in the 400 relay with Crump, Standridge, and Landon Morris.
Morris and Standridge finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 200 meters. Morris was eighth in the 100 meters and Parker placed fifth in the 400.
Alma junior Jackson Mitchell was third (46-9 ¾) in the shot put and seventh in the discus. Alma junior Noah Ingle placed fifth in the shot put.
Alma’s Kenadie Farris was seventh in the high jump and Nevaeh Kangas placed seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 800 and 1600 meters.
SOFTBALL
The Alma Lady Airedales’ softball team dropped a doubleheader to Siloam Springs on Tuesday in 5A-West play.
The Lady Panthers (4-5, 0-2) snapped a 26-game 5A-West losing streak by taking the opener, 13-2. Siloam won the nightcap, 13-2.
Alma (0-9, 0-4) will face Quitman and Rogers today at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively, at the Van Buren Tournament.
The Lady Airedales resume 5A-West play Tuesday at Russellville.