The MHHS Athletic Hall of Honor is preparing for another group of inductees to enshrine on Saturday. The Class of 2021 includes Samantha Mohler, Staci Wolkey, the 2000 boys’ cross country team, Larry LaFevers and Terry King.
Photo: Samantha Mohler
Mohler became Mountain Home’s most decorated athlete during her time from 2008 to 2012. She won 12 individual state titles in cross country and track and became the second female in Arkansas to win the cross country state meet as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Mohler also holds the Lady Bomber track records in the 3200-meter run (11:06.16) and 800-meter run (2:22.71). Alongside individual accomplishments, Mohler was an integral member of the 2008 and 2009 Class 6A state champion Lady Bomber cross country teams. In addition, she broke Mountain Home swim team records in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke and had six top-10 finishes in the state meet.
Mohler was also a varsity letterman at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She achieved NCAA Division I All-Region honors in cross country in 2014 and was selected to the NCAA Division I USTF College Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 2015. On the track, Mohler competed for the Razorbacks at the 2014 USA Junior National Track Championships and placed eighth in the 5k. As a “red-shirt” freshman in 2015, she received NCAA SEC Freshman First-Team All-Conference honors. While Mohler was a member of the Lady Razorback team, the Hogs won 12 NCAA Division I SEC team titles and two national championships (2015 indoor track, 2016 outdoor track).
Photo: Staci Wolkey
Wolkey was also a three-sport athlete for Mountain Home. The former Staci Zink was a point guard and helped lead the basketball team to a state championship in 1986 and state runner-up in 1987. Wolkey was selected All-State and All-District for both her junior and senior years and played in the Arkansas High School All-Star game in 1987. On the track, she and her teammates (Rhonda McKee, Lori Beck and Stacy Harris) won the state 400-meter relay event and set a new Mountain Home High School record in 1986. Wolkey also specialized in volleyball as a setter, and her quickness and setting ability helped lead the Lady Bombers to a conference title and a state semifinal appearance in 1986.
Photo: 2000 Mountain Home boys’ cross country team
The Mountain Home High School boys’ cross country team had been the state runners-up in 1998 and 1999 with four runners in the top 10. In 2000, the Bombers sprinted out of that second-place shadow, as they began with a perfect score at the Berryville Invite, placing 1-2-3-4-5 for a perfect score of 15. At the midway point of the state meet, Mountain Home was third behind Russellville and Rogers with a steady rain falling. The Bomber runners from fourth through seventh place made a big surge in the second half, propelling the team to victory against Rogers, 38-64. The Arkansas vs. Oklahoma All-Star Cross-Country Meet soon followed, and Mountain Home filled 20% of the entire Arkansas roster with Eric Gross, Logan Thomas, Peter Marsten, Barry Holland and Derek Curry. In addition, Patrick Carter, Chance Holland, Casey Dilbeck, Kane Farris, Jason McDonald and Kurt Markowski all signed to run on the collegiate level. Harrier Magazine, the preeminent cross country publication at the time, ranked the Bombers in the top 50 in the nation.
Photo: Larry LaFevers
LeFevers coached high school basketball for 30 years with 17 at Mountain Home. During that time, the Bombers won 58% of their games with a record of 275-201. During LaFevers’ time at Mountain Home, his team made it to the state tournaments 11 years. He was also selected for the All-Star game as an assistant coach in 1972 and as a head coach in 1979. He also coached the senior girls the first year they started playing again at Mountain Home, establishing a 12-3 record in that inaugural season. Along with basketball coaching duties, LeFevers also coached baseball for several years with a state runner-up finish and an honor of Arkansas Outstanding Baseball Coach.
Photo: Terry King
King, an alum of Calico Rock High School, moved to Mountain Home with his wife in 1973. King’s wife Gay taught for nearly four decades in the Mountain Home School District. Terry has been actively involved in Mountain Home Bomber football, all schools, as the public address announcer for several years and as clock keeper for Bomber Basketball since 1985. He was selected as an “Honorary Member” of Bomber Athletics in 2010.
The MHHS Athletic Hall of Honor induction ceremony will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Dunbar Auditorium on the high school campus. A reception will begin at noon. No tickets are needed to enter.
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