Steady play lifts Airedales to scrimmage win over Heritage

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

The Alma Lady Airedales defeated 7A-West foe Rogers Heritage, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13, Thursday in a benefit match at Charles B. Dyer Arena. 

“I think we played well for 75 percent of the match,” Alma coach Kim Weaver said. “I think for us to be on the court for the first time, and playing to 25, I was really impressed.”

Senior Grace Peters led the Lady Airedales with eight kills, followed by Maggie Brogan with seven, and Breella Hughes with four. 

Chloe Gregory and Emberly Kimes added three kills apiece. 

“Offensively, and serve-receive, I thought we did really well for the first time out.”

Both of Alma’s defensive specialists, Ashtyn Carmack, and Ava Sharp, also played well, Weaver said.

The Lady Airedales open the regular season Monday at Ozark, then head to Florida to compete in a tournament before coming home on back-to-back road games at Paris and Pottsville. 

The Lady Airedales open 5A-West play on Sept. 10 against Farmington. 

Alma 9th grade volleyball 

Coach Whitney Adams and the Lady Airedales’ ninth-grade team played well during a scrimmage with Rogers Heritage. 

Jaeili Morris led the way with four kills, two blocks, and an ace. Teammate Madie House added four kills, three digs, and a pair of aces. Ryleigh Floyd finished with three kills, four digs, three assists, and one ace. 

Chloe Kovalck added eight assists, four digs, one ace, and one kill for the winners. Mallory Taylor led the way nine assists, four digs, one kill, and one ace. 

Olivia Whipple had three kills and three aces, and Grace Routt and Haven Baxter each had three kills. Camryn Waters finished with two digs, one assist, and one ace.

Also for Alma, Ellyse Wright had two kills, two digs, and one assist; Leah Wilson added two digs and one ace; and Bentley Vaungh had three digs, led the way with a 1.86 serve-receive average, and added one ace and one assist. 

Golf 

Alma sophomore Grady Farmer took a quick liking to Glenwood Country Club Thursday morning. 

Farmer took medalist honors with a 71 as Alma carded a season-best 308. 

Fellow sophomore Chase Wood scored 78, and senior Miles Kendrick carded a 79. Jack Taylor and Piercen Howell both shot 80 and 82, respectively. 

Sophomores Carson Curd and Parker Morland both finished with 79 and 85, respectively. 

Also this week, Alma shot a 319 team score at Rogers, with Howell leading the way with a 79. 

Taylor, Kendrick, and Curd each shot 80, while Farmer had an 83. Wood and Morland both fired matching 84s. 

Tennis 

Josh Smith and Jeremiah Schlegel opened 5A-West play with impressive wins over Van Buren Thursday. 

Smith defeated the Pointers’ Anthony St. Michael, 6-1, 6-1, in straight sets. Schlegel topped Van Buren’s Wyatt Teague, 6-4, 6-0. 

In boys' doubles play, the Alma duo of Tapia Reagan and Layne Goins dropped a tough 6-6 (8-7), 6-6 (7-8), 8-10 decision to the Pointers’ St. Michael and Josiah Hamby. 

Austin Rosenberry and Paul Gillman earned a 6-2 doubles victory. Brock Davis and Landon Wilson suffered a 6-1, 6-2 setback in doubles play. 

In girls' singles play, Van Buren’s Daniel Symonds defeated Alma’s Juliet Hargis, 6-1, 6-0. The Lady Airedales’ Lola Thang dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision. 

Alma’s No. 1 doubles team of Lacey Haughton and Kensington Wadkins earned a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over the Pointers’ Molly Black and Averi Martin. 

Also for the Lady Airedales, Alexis Stowe and Arista Martin earned a doubles victory. 

Football 

Quarterbacks Michael Taylor and Chase Parker helped the Airedales amass 485 yards of total offense during the team’s two-quarter 26-14 scrimmage win over Southside Monday. 

Senior Israel Towns-Robinson ran for 146 yards on just eight carries, including touchdown runs of 69 and 47 yards. 

Parker led the quarterbacks with 119 yards passing on 16 attempts. Taylor threw for 95 yards, including a 56-yard toss to Jacob Dollard. 

Dollard also ran for 33 yards on seven carries. Junior Logan English added 65 yards rushing on eight carries, including a 44-yard scamper that led to one of two Daniel Rodriguez field goals. 

Sam Schlegel caught six passes for 82 yards.