27
PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A | 8.21.2022
A new champ will be crowned
in 4A-1 Conference
HAROLD MCILVAIN II
NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
It is out with the old and in with the
new for the 4A-1 Conference this year.
For the first time in four seasons, a new
conference champion will be crowned.
There has been plenty of shifting of the
conference landscape in recent history.
Gone is Shiloh Christian, the four-time
defending title winner. Gone is perennial
contender Prairie Grove. Long gone is
Pea Ridge. Those three programs have
earned every 4A-1 league title in the past
10 seasons.
The last team outside of those to win
it all? Enter the Ozark Hillbillies, who
join the conference for the first time since
2013. Ozark, selected first in the new
4A-1 Conference coaches' poll, hopes
what is old is new again after last winning
the 4A-1 Conference back in 2011.
The Hillbillies have had plenty of
recent success as well, winning the 4A-4
three times in the past four seasons.
"There is some uncertainty entering a
new conference," Ozark coach Jeremie
Burns said. "But we have a bit of an idea
going into this. We won't quite know how
teams will play us though. There will
be some additional logistics with longer
road trips, but we are excited for new
challenges and experiences. We want to
go out there and win another conference
championship and make a strong playoff
push."
Ozark has plenty of talent to contend
See Champ, Page 29
We'll Beat Our Competitors' Prices by 10%!
*
SupplementS • FitneSS equipment • AcceSSorieS
AppArel • reSidentiAl & commerciAl
www.ytfs.com
Fayetteville
|
479-521-3481
RogeRs
|
479-633-9837
FoRt smith
|
479-551-2799
little Rock
|
501-954-9837
* Some restrictions apply.
Logan Heath | Gentry
File Photo
