Physicals and tryouts for 2010-11 athletics have been scheduled at Bryant Middle School. According to assistant principal Lesa Lindberg, all athletes must have a current physical to tryout.

The school will provide transportation to physicals given at OrthoArkansas for boys on May 3 and girls on May 6. There is a $10 cash fee.

By Rob Patrick

“You know, 30 years ago when I started coaching, the coaches did all the taping,” recalled Bryant athletic director Tom Farmer. “If there was an injury, we’d go out and say, all right, put some ice on it, and move on.”

The other variation of that scenario is the classic (exaggerated, of course) instance when a coach would be looking down on an injured player and saying something like, “Okay, rub a little dirt on it and let’s go.” Then helping the player up.

But times have changed. With the advances in medicine and health care in a broad array of fields, a little more expertise is called for. And more and more, public schools are following the lead of colleges and professional athletics by making sure there’s an athletic trainer available.

Bryant, as Farmer related, is one of those schools.

Members of the Bryant Boys and Girls Club participated in the Little Rockers Kids Marathon on Saturday, March 6, led by Kathy Wishard of Bryant and Club volunteers. (Photos courtesy of Jennifer Cantrell-Benning)

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FAYETTEVILLE — Two Bryant Cross Country runners competed in the annual Arkansas vs. Oklahoma All-Star Meet on Saturday in Fayetteville. Lady Hornet Hannah Raney was part of a victorious Arkansas squad, placing 38th in a time of 21:33. The Arkansas girls team, coached by Bryant girls coach Danny Westbrook, scored a convincing 60-131 victory over the Oklahoma girls.

Each team's top nine runners were scored, instead of the traditional five runners used in most meets.

In the boys race, Bryant's Luke Lindsley placed 32nd in a time of 17:16, but it wasn't enough as the Oklahoma boys team earned a narrow 85-90 victory over the Arkansas squad, which was coached by Bryant boys coach Steve Oury. There were a total of 67 finishers in the boys race.

Bryant’s all-State performers Luke Lindsley and Hannah Raney will be among those representing Arkansas in the 15th annual Arkansas/Oklahoma High School All-Star Invitational cross country race to be held at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville on Saturday, Nov. 14.

In addition, Bryant’s Dan Westbrook will coach the Arkansas girls team and Bryant’s Steve Oury will coach the Arkansas boys team, both in conjuction with Lake Hamilton’s Karl Koonce.

The event pits the top 25 cross country athletes from each state in a head-to-head challenge race. The top nine finishers from each state are scored as opposed to the traditional five scorers. Medals will be awarded to the top 25 finishers in each race. Each member of the winning team (Arkansas or Oklahoma) will also receive a medal.

MOUNTAIN HOME — The northwest Arkansas domination of the Class 7A Girls Cross Country Championships continued Saturday, Nov. 7. Teams from the 7A-West Conference took the top four spots.

The Bryant Lady Hornets had to settle for fifth place.

Bentonville won the championship with an impressive 40 points. Rogers was runner-up with 85, followed by Fayetteville with 123, Rogers Heritage with 134, and then Bryant with 147. There were 16 teams and 118 total finishers.

The Lady Hornets had hoped to break the streak of championship wins over the last several years by northwest Arkansas teams. Bentonville has won four and Rogers has won three. The last central Arkansas team to win a state title was Bryant in 2002, and since that time Bentonville and Rogers have dominated.

MOUNTAIN HOME — The Bryant Hornets battled the hills and heat of Mountain Home Saturday to earn a ninth place finish in the Class 7A State Cross Country Championships. Bryant scored 229 points to finish behind team champion Bentonville (85), Fayetteville (94), Rogers (99), Conway (118), Russellville (132), Cabot (142), Rogers Heritage (147), and Sprindale Har-ber (215).

Luke Lindsley again led the way for the Hornets with a seventh place finish in a time of 17:19, earning a top 10 medal and All-State honors along the way.

CABOT — The Bryant Junior Lady Hornets cross country team ended their season Saturday with a fourth-place finish at the Wal-Mart Invitational Cross Country Championship held in Cabot.

Russellville won the meet with 70 points. Lake Hamilton was runner-up with 75 points, followed by Heber Springs with 90. Bryant scored 96 points. There were eight teams in the competition.

CABOT — The Bryant Lady Hornets turned in a dominating performance to take home the 7A-Central Conference title at the league’s cross country championships held at the Rolling Hills Golf Course Monday.

The Lady Hornets placed all five of their scoring runners in the top 11 places to claim the crown with 42 points. Van Buren was runner-up with 71 points followed by Conway (74), Mount St. Mary (111), Russellville (126), Cabot (142), and North Little Rock (158).

As they have all season, the Lady Hornets used their “pack attack” strategy to perfection, establishing a lead pack right from the start and pretty well staying in control of the team race the entire way.