FORT SMITH -- Lake Hamilton seventh grade swimmer Aubrey Schmitt won seven races and set three personal bests en route to earning the High Point award at the 2022 USA-Arkansas Long Course State Championships.
Schmitt set personal bests during wins in the 200-meter individual medley (2:38.67), dropping 2.15 seconds, 200-meter freestyle (2:20.80), dropping 1.53 seconds and 100-meter freestyle (1:05.28), dropping 0.96 seconds. Her time in the 100-meter freestyle also represented an AAA Central Zone Championship qualifying time.
Schmitt also registered wins in the 400-meter freestyle (4:52.19), 50-meter freestyle (30.49), 100-meter butterfly (1:12.80) and 50-meter butterfly (32.88).
COBRAS, WOLVES FACE OFF IN GC SHOWDOWN
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE -- The Fountain Lake boys golf team downed Lake Hamilton at the Cobras' home Magellan Golf Club in an early season matchup between two Garland Country teams.
Fountain Lake finished with a score of 229, besting the Wolves' 263 over 18 holes. The Cobras' Kolt Carden led the field as the medalist with a 1-under par 71. Fountain Lake's Carson McCoy and Dillon Dettmering finished the round with a 79.
Zac Pennington led the Wolves after tallying an 85, followed by teammates Jack Higginbotham (87) and Brodie Horton (91).
On the girls side, Jaylen Cameron finished as the medalist for Fountain Lake with a score of 47 through nine holes.
Lake Hamilton finished with a team score of 184 across the nine holes. Jordyn Garner (52) led the Lady Wolves, followed by teammates Reagan Carrouth (65) and Kenley Kincannon (67).
BISMARCK STARTS SEASON STRONGLY
The Bismarck boys and girls golf teams took down Cossatot River and Springhill at DeGray Lake Golf Course Thursday.
Bismarck's Riley Tuttle and Nick Tucker, along with Cossatot River's Brodie Dickerson, all finished the round with a score of 46. Tuttle took home medalist honors while Tucker and Dickerson shared the runner-up medalist title.
The Lions finished with a team score of 140, followed by Springhill (152) and Cossatot River (154).
The Lady Lions finished with a score of 181 while Cossatot River and Springhill did not register team scores on the girls side.
Bismarck's Ellie Norris (49) was the medalist, and Springhill's Baili Butler (54) finished as runner-up medalist.
The Lions took on Camden Harmony Grove at Highland Golf Course Aug. 1.
Camden Harmony Grove (117) cruised to a victory in the boys match over Bismarck (130) and Fordyce (139). The Lady Hornets (148) also took down the Lady Lions (184).
LAKE HAMILTON BEATS CENTERPOINT
GLENWOOD -- The Lake Hamilton boys and girls golf teams took wins over Centerpoint at Glenwood Country Club.
The Wolves (132) got the better of the Knights (146) scorewise on the boys side, but Centerpoint's Jace Clark took home medalist honors after tallying a score of 42.
Lake Hamilton's Ben Varner (43) and Jack Higginbotham (44) made promising starts to the season with scores better than their personal bests from last year.
The Lady Wolves finished with a team score of 180, securing the win over a Lady Knights team that did not register a team score.
Lake Hamilton's Jordyn Garner finished as the medalist with a score of 51, followed closely behind by Centerpoint's only two girls golfers in Makenzie Massey (54) and Bethany Massey (55).
HARDING VOTED PRESEASON FOOTBALL FAVORITE
RUSSELLVILLE -- The Great American Conference recently announced the results of its 2022 football preseason coaches' poll, and Harding beat out Ouachita Baptist for the top spot by a single point.
The Bisons received six first-place votes and are coming off an 11-2 record. Harding captured the GAC regular-season title and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs last season.
The Bisons boasted 390.1 rushing yards per game last season in the flexbone offense but will have to replace the GAC's all-time leading rusher in Cole Chancey.
OBU finished with five first-place votes after a 9-2 2021 season. The Tigers' TJ Cole ran for 1,528 yards and scored 17 touchdowns as OBU fileded the fourth-best running offense in the country last season.
Southeastern Oklahoma State finished third in the poll with one first-place vote. Henderson State came in fourth following last year's nine-win season. The Reddies lost the dynamic duo of Adam Morse and L'Liott Curry but have Xavier Malone returning.
Oklahoma Baptist finished fifth in the poll followed by East Central in sixth.
Arkansas-Monticello tallied a seventh place finish followed by Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech. UAM quarterback Demilon Brown threw for 2,383 yards and ran for 640 last season.
SAU head coach Brad Smiley begins his first season in charge of the Muleriders, and he inherits 2021 GAC Freshman of the Year Jariq Scales.
Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene rounded out the poll.
HARDING FINISHES SECOND IN VOLLEYBALL POLL
RUSSELLVILLE -- Oklahoma Baptist finished first in the GAC 2022 volleyball preseason coaches' poll, and Harding and SWOSU tied for second.
Harding received four first-place votes and return Sarah Morehead this season, the conference's leader in assists per set in 2021. The Lady Bisons also return All-GAC players Kelli McKinnon and Ally Stoner along with the Spring 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Logan Smith.
Arkansas Tech, the 2021 GAC champions, picked up one first-place vote and finished fourth in the poll. The Golden Suns lost GAC Female Athlete of the Year Tymber Riley but return Brianna Merkel.
HSU just beat out East Central for fifth in the poll. The Reddies must replace GAC Defensive Player of the Year Makenzie Thoman but welcome back All-GAC First Team selection Violeta Mendoza.
Southern Nazarene finished seventh, followed by SEOSU, NWOSU and OBU.
UAM registered an 11th place finish, just edging out SAU. Both teams feature first-year head coaches. Katrina English will be in charge of the Blossoms and Alli O'Banion will take the reins at SAU.