Winter is still in the air, but spring is not far away, and GHS coach Trey Holloway is walking a fine line, trying to balance his time and attention between two sports, bowling and baseball. One is winding down and the other is just getting started, but he has high hopes for both.
In his second year at Greenwood, Holloway is the Head Coach for both sports, which just happen to overlap slightly. The bowling season ends with the conference tournament on February 9th and the state tournament a week later. And though baseball doesn't open its 2016 campaign until March 1st, the Bulldogs are hard at work getting ready for what they hope will be a championship season.
The Diamond 'Dogs have been working out after school since classes resumed earlier this month, and the team even reported for 6 a.m. workouts before school for several days. When the weather cooperates they practice outdoors on the field, and when conditions are unsuitable they use the football indoor practice facility.
The bowling teams, especially the Lady Bulldogs', are having a fine season too, and hope to make a run in the post-season. Counting this past Tuesday's match with Fort Smith Northside, they have three regular season contests remaining.
While results from this week's match with Northside were not available at press time, both squads are on a mini winning streak, having recently defeated Alma and Ozark. Coach Holloway offered the following comments on both sports.
Bowling
"We play two matches this week," he said on Monday, referring to Northside and Van Buren on Thursday at Bowling World in Fort Smith. "[We play] one [match] next week and then we have the conference and state tournaments.
"The [Bulldogs] have been led all year by [senior] David Whatcott," said the coach. "Talon Welch [a junior] and [senior] Walker Bedell have provided big games the past few weeks as well.
"The girls have been solid all year and have a good shot to contend for the conference championship. They've been led by senior Kelsy Knox and freshman Madison Zollicoffer. The conference tournament is at Fast Lanes in Rogers, and the state tournament is in Cabot this year," added Holloway.
Baseball
"I'm excited about this upcoming season," said the young coach who played his college ball at the University of Arkansas. "We have a good core returning. We return our [pitching] ace, Connor Noland, who's had numerous Division-I offers over the past few months."
As a freshman, Noland was the team's most reliable hurler last season, and has been tabbed as the state's top pitching prospect in the 2018 graduating class by Major League Baseball. He also played significant minutes splitting time with Luke Hales at quarterback for the football team that reached the state finals last month.
"We also return starters at catcher (Weston Sagely), third base (Ryan Daggs), second base (Cooper Van Kooten), left field (Connor Noland), and right field (Hunter Cardwell)," said the coach.
"Newcomers Blaise Lomon (RHP & 1B), Peyton Holt (SS & RHP), and Jake Phelps (left handed hitting OF) look to add depth on the mound and in the field," he added.
"I look for big years from senior Jax Burgess in center field and junior Dylan Montgomery on the mound and at the plate. Cody Smith and senior Grant Morgan will add depth on the infield.
"Morgan is really strong at the plate and brings great senior leadership to this year's team. Michael Panis and Ryan Reeves look to add depth to a senior-heavy outfield," said the coach.