From the A.D. article

From the A.D.

Janet Wood

The latest news from Mountain Home Public Schools Athletics Director Janet Wood.

March 8, 2010

Congratulations to coaches Dell Leonard, Brenda Yancey, and the Lady Bombers for an outstanding season. After being picked seventh in the 6A East by the conference coaches, the young Lady Bombers surprised everyone and finished in a tie for third. Using the point system, the Lady Bombers had the #4 seed headed into the state tournament at West Memphis. After beating Sheridan in first round action, the Lady Bombers took the #1 seed from the 6A south, Watson Chapel, to the wire. Nicole Bolt, who led the scoring with 16 points, suffered a severe sprained ankle and was forced to leave the game for over two minutes late in the fourth quarter. After having her ankle taped, she returned to the game with cheers from the Mountain Home fans and the look of amazement from the Wildcat fans. Lone senior Jenna Gilbert hit a big three to keep the Lady Bombers in contention. A rare four point play by Lacy Hollingsworth, who has turned the heads of several college coaches, pulled the Lady Bombers to within one point with under a minute to play. Watson Chapel was able to make their free throws and hang on for the win.

Gilbert will be sorely missed, but with many young players returning, the future looks bright for the Lady Bombers. It has been fun to watch the Lady Bombers this year. When you have a team of athletes that are not concerned about playing time and a team made up of young ladies with impeccable character, coupled with parents who are supportive of the coaches and the program, the end result is a positive, memorable season.

Former Lady Bomber stand-out Leslie Marler Byrd, who coaches Watson Chapel, will meet Searcy for the state championship in Hot Springs.

To reiterate how tough the 6A east boy’s conference was this year, West Memphis and Little Rock Hall are playing for the state championship. We speculate that if our boys had been playing in the 6A south, we might have finished in one of the top four spots. West Memphis destroyed Watson Chapel who was the south’s number one seed and only team to advance one round in the state.

Both soccer teams picked up impressive conference wins over West Memphis. The Lady Bomber soccer team has jumped out to a 7-0 start thanks in part to Kirsten Peterson. Kirsten has picked up where she left off last season – being named the MVP of the 2009 state soccer championship game. Both teams play Little Rock Hall this Friday at Bomber stadium. Girl’s action starts at 5:00 followed by the boys.

After dropping their first two games, the baseball team looks to get on the winning track this week. The Bombers will host Viola at Cooper Park this evening starting at 4:00. Thursday, the varsity team will play at Paragould and the jv team will play at Greene Co. Tech. The 9th grade team won the Batesville tournament. They will travel to Bergman tomorrow, and will host Cave City at Twin Lakes Park this Thursday starting at 4:00.

With winter sports completely over, special recognition goes to our Student Council, Mollie Morgan, Jennifer Crawford, cheer coaches Dwana Osmon, Toni Rogers, and the cheerleaders for their support in building school spirit through entertaining pep rallies. Senior cheerleaders Amy Coleman, Ariel Wells, Jessica Wehmeyer, Alex Osmon, and Amber Butler are very talented young ladies and will be missed.

On a personal note, I received a congratulatory letter for being inducted into the high school Coach’s Hall of Fame from Ms. Bonnie, my fourth grade teacher and a very beautiful lady. I received many letters and notes, but this one was very special and dear to my heart. I remember a lot of things about my fourth grade year – how tough and demanding the homework was – how each of us were allowed to have our own fish in the aquarium – how we learned to dance the “Charleston”, etc., but what I learned most was how an eloquent lady can be as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

See you at the baseball game this afternoon and at Bomber stadium Friday for the soccer games.

Go Bombers,
Janet Wood, AD